HUMAN PHYSIOLOGY

Spring 1998
T-Th 9:30 am - 12
section 1382

Phone: (310) 287-4234
email: finks@laccd.edu
to S. Fink's homepage

Introduction to

HUMAN PHYSIOLOGY

Prerequisite: College Biology with a grade of "C" or better; concurrent enrollment in or successful completion of English 28.

Strongly Recommended: Anatomy

Course Description: This course presents the biochemical & biophysical principles underlying the physiological processes of the human. Lecture topics include the electrical properties of tissue cells, chemical influences on cell function, neural & hormonal regulation of bodily processes, and the integration of the organ systems to maintain a constant fluid environment within the body. Special emphasis will be placed on the evaluation of body temperature, blood pressure, breathing, and urine output, as well as the interpretation of clinical laboratory tests. Laboratory exercises will introduce the student to the spectrophotometer, EKG machine, blood pressure cuff, and urinalysis tests. This course is intended to meet the requirements of students majoring in nursing, dental hygiene, occupational therapy, psychology, physical education, and life sciences, or for those who wish to extend their knowledge of the human body beyond the scope of introductory biology.

Course Objectives: The general goals of Introduction to Human Physiology will be to provide an understanding of:

(1) electrical properties of tissue cells

(2) neural & hormonal regulation of bodily processes

(3) the control of body temperature, blood pressure, breathing, & urine output

(4) the use of clinical laboratory tests in the diagnosis & treatment of disease

(5) the homeostatic reflexes in response to hypo- and hyper-thermia,

circulatory shock, acidosis and alkalosis, hypo- and hyper-glycemia, and exercise

(6) basic electrocardiography and its use in the diagnosis of cardiac arrythmias

(7) the multiplicity of factors affecting each and every measurable parameter

within the body

Required & Recommended Books & Materials:

S. Fink; Physiology Syllabus; 1998

G. Tortora & S.R. Grabowski; Principles of Anatomy & Physiology (8th ed.);

HarperCollins; 1996 [ISBN 0-673-99355-8]

G. Tortora & S.R. Grabowski; Student Study Guide for Principles of Anatomy &

Physiology (8th ed.); HarperCollins; 1996

L. Sherwood; Fundamentals of Physiology; A Human Perspective; West

Publishing Co; 1995 [ISBN 0-314-04272-5]

A. Vander et. al; Human Physiology (6th ed.); McGraw-Hill Pub.; 1994

[ISBN 0-07-066992-9]

M. Griffiths; Introduction to Human Physiology; Macmillan Pub. Co.; 1981

[ISBN 0-02-347230-8]

PHYSIOLOGY Laboratory Voucher Fee

Lecture Examination Schedule (Tentative):

Lecture Examination I.................................................... February 5

Lecture Examination II................................................... March 10

Lecture Examination III.................................................. April 9

(Lecture Examination IV................................................. May 5)

FINAL EXAMINATION................................................... May 21

Computation of the Course Grade:

3 (of the 4) highest Lecture Examinations.......................... 55% of Course Grade

2 Laboratory Exams................................................................ 15% of Course Grade

Final Examination................................................................... 30% of Course Grade

Assuming you take all 4 lecture examinations, the lowest one will be dropped, and the 3 highest will count 60% towards your Course Grade. All examinations will consist of both objective-type questions (ie., True/False; Multiple Choice; & Matching questions) that will be answered on SCAN-TRON forms, as well as short answer/essay questions. You will be expected to provide a SCAN-TRON 882 (available at the bookstore) and a soft lead pencil (no. 1 or no. 2) and a good eraser for each examination for computer scoring. The Final Examination is comprehensive for the entire semester. There are no make-up examinations.

Grading Policy:

88 - 100% A

77 - 87% B

62 - 76% C

50 - 61% D

below 50% F

Attendance Policy:

Roll will be taken. There is a strong correlation between poor attendance and

poor grades. You are responsible for information, exam announcements, date changes, etc. presented in class, whether or not you are present. Students who are absent for 3 consecutive class meetings or 6 class meetings throughout the course without informing the instructor with a valid excuse will be dropped.

Students who are given add slips must complete the process by the 3rd class meeting. No replacement add slips will be signed.

Withdrawal from Class:

You are responsible for your credit and enrollment status. Any student

withdrawing from class must inform the admissions office of this decision. Students failing to follow the correct procedure for withdrawals will receive a grade of "F" for the semester. No withdrawals are permitted after Friday, April 17.

Cheating/Academic Dishonesty:

Each student is expected to do his/her own work on all assignments, reports,

examinations, etc. A first offense of academic dishonesty will result in a zero grade on that assignment or exam plus a filing of a report with the Dean of Students giving your name and describing the incident. A second offense anywhere in the college or an especially egregious first offense will result in disciplinary action by the Professor or the Dean which can include failure in the course and dismissal from the college.

Here is a list of some actions that are considered cheating:

Looking at a fellow student's paper during an exam or quiz.

Showing a fellow student your paper during an exam or quiz, or passing

information in any way.

Using "cheat sheets" of any kind.

Turning in someone else's work.

Providing your work for someone else to copy.

Recommendations for Succeeding in Class:

1. Expect to Work. This is not supposed to be easy.

2. Get to class on time, every time, and stay the whole time.

• Never miss class unless you're dead, & take good notes.

3. Be organized! Use a personal calender and a wall calender to

mark the dates of exams & class assignments in red ink. Update it.

4. Find someone in the class to contact if you miss a meeting.

5. Study & Review each night the class is given.

• Spend 2-3 hours studying for each 1 hour you spend in class.

• Review your class notes before the next class meeting.

• Read the relevant chapters in your textbook & add these notes to your

class notes.

• Use associations to help you remember things.

6. Begin preparing for your exams at least 1 week in advance.

7. Anything you turn in should look neat.

Physiology self-test questions are available in the LRC at computer stations 6 and 13 on the second floor.