UGA Bulletin Logo

Human Physiology


Course Description

Human physiology with an emphasis on cell membranes/transporters and organ systems as targets and modifiers of drug action.

Additional Requirements for Graduate Students:
Graduate students will be administered different examinations that will require them to demonstrate greater critical thinking skills by applying concepts from the course in the design and interpretation of experiments. In addition, graduate students will be assigned a contemporary topic beyond the typical content of the course. They will have to independently research this topic and prepare an informative report or presentation on this topic.


Athena Title

Human Physiology


Equivalent Courses

Not open to students with credit in PMCY 4020E or PMCY 6020E


Prerequisite

(BIOL 1107 or BIOL 1107E) and BIOL 1107L


Semester Course Offered

Offered fall


Grading System

A - F (Traditional)


Student Learning Outcomes

  • The student should be able to understand and explain the physiology of the major organ systems of the human body covered in this course.
  • The student should be able to understand the role membranes and transporters play in the function of the major organ systems.

Topical Outline

  • Intro to Cells and Biological Membranes
  • Membrane Transport I
  • Membrane Transport Ion Channels
  • Action Potential
  • Excitable Cells, Synapses, and Neuromuscular Junction
  • Muscle I (Power stroke/EC coupling)
  • Muscle II (Mechanics, metabolism, smooth muscle)
  • Motor System
  • Autonomic Nervous System I
  • Autonomic Nervous System II
  • CNS I
  • CNS II
  • Sensory Systems I (Overview, mechanosensation, thermosensation, nociception)
  • Sensory Systems II (Hearing, balance, taste)
  • Sensory Systems III (Vision and smell)
  • Cardiac I (Overview, anatomy, electrophysiology)
  • Cardiac II (Electrophysiology + pump)
  • Circulation I (Peripheral, microcirculation)
  • Circulation II (Blood pressure, regulation)
  • Renal I (Overview, anatomy and filtration)
  • Renal II (Tubular reabsorption & secretion)
  • Renal III (Secretion and urine concentration)
  • GI I (intro/anat/Motility)
  • GI II (Digestion, absorption)
  • GI III (Liver function)
  • Pulmonary I (Overview, ventilation and mechanics and blood flow)
  • Pulmonary II (Ventilation-perfusion and gas exchange)
  • Pulmonary III (O2 and CO2 transport, regulation)
  • Endocrine I (Pituitary, hypothalamus, growth)
  • Endocrine II (Thyroid, adrenal, pancreatic)
  • Endocrine III (Female reproduction, pregnancy, male reproduction)

Syllabus