Animal Physiology (Bio380)

Fall Semester 2008

Instructor:  Charles J. Welsh, Ph.D.
Office: Steffee B303b
Phone: 332-3021
email:  cwelsh@allegheny.edu
Office Hours: M 10-11; W 1-4; F 1-3 and by appointment

Class Time: Lecture: MWF: 11:00 -11:50; Room: Steffee B102
Laboratory: Mon, Tues: 1:30-4:20; Room: Steffee B302

Required Text:   Stuart Ira Fox's "Human Physiology (10th Edition)" - McGraw Hill

Optional Texts:   Student Study Art Notebook for Fox "Human Physiology" 10th Edition.
                             Linda Costanzo's "Physiology - Board Review Series (4th Edition)" - Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

Online Learning Center: Access to the online learning center comes with the purchase of the text. Follow the instruction on the card in your book to register and create a username and password. The best features of the OLC are the chapter summaries, chapter objectives, labeling exercises, and the chapter quizzes.

Course Objectives:

Animal Physiology is the study of "how animals work."  The objective of this course is for you to integrate concepts from Chemistry, Physics, Cell Biology, and Zoology in an attempt to understand the various physiological systems within animals.  The physiological systems that will be emphasized are:  the Nervous, Endocrine, Muscle, Circulatory, Respiratory, and Excretory systems.  Although we will use a human physiology text, the physiology of both mammals and non-mammals will be presented to compare the special physiological adaptations that some animals have made in response to unique environments.

Exams:

Although there will be some matching, and multiple choice questions, many of the questions will be short answer or problems that test your ability to integrate topics. There will be no make-up exams. If you have a conflict with a test date let me know at least two weeks in advance of the test date. Tests will be discussed in more detail in class and during the review sessions.

Laboratory:

Laboratory attendance and completion of all laboratory work is required for course credit.  Because of limited laboratory space and equipment, students must attend their assigned laboratory section.  I strongly recommend keeping thorough notes of all laboratory work.  The notes you make on laboratory exercises will be invaluable to you in preparing for the lecture exams, which will include concepts introduced during the lab periods. Each laboratory will have a data sheet that must be turned in at the end of the laboratory. These data sheets and the laboratory instructions should be printed out and brought to the lab.

Case History Problems:

The case history problems will help you review for the exams and help you to develop critical thinking and problem solving abilities. Links to specific case history problems and the due dates are indicated in the class schedule below. Each case history is worth 10 pts and is to be printed out with your answers typewritten by the due date. You may use any source to help answer the case study questions (textbooks, web pages, etc) but it is expected that you work on the case studies by yourself.

Grading:

Exam I
100 pts
Exam II
100 pts
Exam III 
100 pts
Final Exam
200 pts
Laboratory Data Sheets (5 x 5)
25 pts
Case Study Problems (5 x 5)
  25 pts
Total
550 pts
 

Course Schedule:

Date

Topic

Assigned Readings

Laboratory Schedule


I.  INTRODUCTION TO PHYSIOLOGY/CELL MEMBRANES

Aug 29 F 
 Introduction to Course/Physiology Fox 3-10
History of Physiology		  

Sep 1 M 

 Membranes, Channels, and  Transport Fox 131-146

 
Sep 3 W 
Membrane Potentials Fox 147-150
  


II.  NEUROPHYSIOLOGY

Sep 5 F
 Organization of the Nervous System Fox 154-162, 194-199
MRI Imaging Article
Age of Cells Article		  
Sep 8 M
Action potential / Propagation Fox 170-177
 1. Animal Use in Teaching
2. Electrical Terminology
3. Instrumentation
4. Data Sheet
Sep 10 W
Synapses/Post-Synaptic Potentials Fox 178-196
  
Sep 12F
Synapses/Neurotransmitters I Fox 178-196
  
Sep 15 M
Neurotrans. II/Synaptic Integration
 Fox 178-196
 Human Nerve Conduction
BioPac File Template
Sep 17 W
Autonomic Nervous System

Physiology PP ... Endocrine PP 		Fox 228-244  

 

Some Course Resources