Unit information: Health sciences: Physiology in 2013/14

Unit name	Health sciences: Physiology
Unit code	ORDS10009
Credit points	40
Level of study	C/4
Teaching block(s)	Academic Year (weeks 1 - 52)
Unit director	Dr. Goodhead
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	None
Co-requisites	None
School/department	Bristol Dental School
Faculty	Faculty of Health Sciences

Description including Unit Aims

This Unit is taught in year 1 and spans the whole year. Taught by staff in the School of Physiology and Pharmacology. Covers the physiology and histology of: nerve membranes, muscle, body communication, cardiovascular system, respiratory system, body defences, endocrine system, thermoregulation, gastrointestinal physiology, somatic sensation and pain, stress, movement control, human reproduction, renal system and whole body pH.

Covers: introductions to IT skills, data handling and statistics General aims of unit: To provide dental students with a knowledge of general physiology and histology.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Students should obtain a knowledge and understanding of the following:

• How cells maintain their resting potential and how specialized cells general propagating signals.
• The basic physiology and histology of mammalian skeletal, smooth and cardiac muscle.
• The main ways in which communication in the body is effected via neural and endocrine signals.
• The structure, function and regulation of the cardiovascular system.
• The structure, function and regulation of the respiratory system.
• The physiological mechanisms that contribute to body defence in man.
• How normal body function is controlled by hormones.
• How mammalian temperature regulation is controlled.
• The structure and function of the gastrointestinal tract and its normal functioning during digestion and absorption.
• The structure and function of the skin and bone.
• The different classes, roles and properties of primary afferent neurones and the central projections and pathways taken.
• The concepts of acute and chronic pain.
• The physiological responses of the body to stress.
• The processes involved in the generation and control of movements in man.
• The human reproductive system with emphasis on the female system.
• The role of the kidney in homeostasis.
• The importance of the regulation of body fluid pH.
• How disturbances in any of the above physiological systems can result in conditions that may have relevance to dental practice and patient management.
• Basic statistical tests and data handling.
• The student should acquire the skills and attributes necessary for:
• Developing academic potential, critical faculties and skills in reasoning, problem solving, teamwork, interpretation of data and project planning.
• Basic computer operation including Microsoft Word and Excel.
• Applying a knowledge of physiology and histology to subsequent courses in medicine, surgery and pathology.
• Applying a knowledge of physiology and histology to the practice of dentistry and to keep apace with developments in science that may be applied to dental practice.

Teaching Information

• Lectures (approx 3 per week across 24 weeks of term)
• Tutorials (approx 7 hours)
• DSE (approx 30 hours)
• Laboratory sessions – physiology (approx 35 hours)
• Laboratory sessions – histology (approx 16 hours)
• eBiolabs (approx 2 hours per physiology practical)

Assessment Information

Formative - Test of basic computer skills – must pass

Summative:

• Midsessional exam (1.5 hours, data interpretation, extended matching, true/false paper) – 10%
• Statistics assessment (50 min, true/false paper) – 5%
• Research project (team research project, data collection and analysis, summative assessment by poster presentation) – 10%
• Assessment of scientific writing skills (30 min, essay) – 5%
• Summer exam (3 hours, data interpretation, extended matching, true/false paper) – 70%

Reading and References

• Physiology – Costanzo
• Principles of Physiology – Berne and Levy
• Textbook of Medical Physiology – Guyton and Hall
• Lecture notes on Human Physiology – Peterson et al.
• Wheater’s functional histology – Wheater et al.