Human Physiology

After completing the course students should be able to define basic physiological concepts, understand the mechanisms of the various bodily functions and explain how the regulatory mechanisms maintain equilibrium and function following a disturbance of equilibrium in a given physiological system.

The course will provide an understanding of the biological basis of human physiology.

The course covers topics such as neurophysiology, blood cells and function, cardiovascular physiology, respiratory and exercise physiology, heat balance and temperature regulation, renal regulation and acid / base balance, endocrinology and reproduction, digestion and nutrition.

At the end of the course, the student should have the following learning outcome in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence:

Knowledge: Students should have..

• a broad knowledge of the basic physiological concepts and mechanisms of different organs and organ systems in terms of normal function and interaction in human.

• a broad knowledge of the body's regulatory mechanisms for maintaining balance and function in pathological conditions that lead to disruption of the body's physiological system- within the themes of:

  • The nervous and muscular systems and the senses
  • The blood and the immune system
  • Cardiovascular physiology
  • The respiratory system and exercise physiology
  • Heat balance and temperature control
  • The renal system and acid-base balance
  • The endocrine system and reproduction
  • The digestive system and nutrition
• a basic knowledge of how social conditions affect people's access to and choice of food, and what nutrition policy tools can be used to improve the general nutrition and health condition of humans based on sustainable food production systems.

Skills: Students should be able to..

• use simple equipment to make physiological measurements and carry out and evaluate relevant experiments such as:
• Electromyography (EMG)
• Blood typing and differential counting of white blood cells
• Plethysmography, ECG and measurement of blood pressure
• Spirometry and measurement of maximum oxygen uptake
• use knowledge of physiology to explain the function of different organs and organ systems in physiological processes
• use their professional knowledge and relevant results to explain the background for relevant clinical issues

General competence: Students should ..

• have insight into the physiological interactions between organs and organ systems and can use their knowledge to convey key subject matter both in writing and orally
• be able to use their knowledge to exchange ideas and experiences with others with a background within the subject area to understand normal function and disease processes