Syllabus

Human Physiology: Introduction to Human Body Systems

Syllabus, Spring 2014 (Tentative)

Instructor: Samita Bhattacharya, PhD

sbhattacharya@bhsec.bard.edu

BHSEC: Science Office- Room 308

(212) 995 - 8479 ext. 3081

Mon, Wed and Thur: 3rd Period; 10:50am – 11:45am; Room 306.

Three 50-minute lectures per week

Office Hours: 9:40 am to 10:10 am, Mon, Wed and Thr or by appointment.

Objective: Human Biology is a first semester college introductory Physiology/ Human Biology course equivalent to one taken by students majoring in physiology, pharmacy, nursing or other branches of health sciences. This is not a laboratory-based course. The overall goal of this course is to develop a level of appreciation and a comprehensive understanding of the human body and its fundamental relationship with the environment. Apart from this, the broader objective of this course is to incorporate the development of reasoning skills, critical thinking and communication skills, by application of knowledge to real life situations largely through the writing of case reports and class participations.

Course Description: The main focus of this course is on understanding the different body systems and how they work individually and in combination to maintain a stable internal environment called, homeostasis, essential to survival. At the completion of Human Biology, the student will be able to organize, discuss, interpret, and integrate topics related to:

1. Chemistry of Life: Connecting the living with the non-living environment -

Review levels of complexity from atoms to molecules to cells up to whole body systems.

2. The general hierarchy of the human body organ systems and maintenance of homeostasis - the internal environment of the body, using the example of Integumentary system

3. The phospholipid bilayer and cellular transport as modes of communication between cells.

4. The principles of nervous and endocrine (hormonal) regulation and comparison of the nervous...