Last modified: 21 Dec 2023 15:16
Do you know how your body functions? The body is analogous to a complex machine that depends on appropriate functioning of all of parts. Physiology is the study of how the parts work and interact with other parts to support the normal functioning of the organism.
This course introduces the basics of animal physiology, highlighting similarities and differences in animals across the tree of life.
Lectures provide theoretical understanding of the processes that underpin the functioning of and communication between cells, tissues and organs.
Practicals allow you to apply concepts and develop lab skills.
Through the study of examples from across different phyla, you gain an appreciation of processes fundamental to all animals, and of differences across groups.
The assessments give you the opportunity to consolidate your learning, explore a topic of interest in more depth and develop transferrable skills.
| Study Type | Undergraduate | Level | 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Term | Second Term | Credit Points | 15 credits (7.5 ECTS credits) |
| Campus | Aberdeen | Sustained Study | No |
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This course takes a comparative approach to the study of animal physiology. The aim is to understand the mechanisms of animal body functions from cells to the whole organism. The course builds on the introduction to evolutionary relationships and structures from Diversity of Life 2 and is the bridge to the more advanced course, Comparative Physiology 2.
The course is divided into three parts:
Part 1: Foundations of animal physiology. This part introduces the basic building blocks necessary to understand animal physiology. These blocks include biochemical reactions that allow cells to survive through to biophysical reactions that allow neurons to transfer information.
Part 2: Body homeostasis. This part explores how organisms communicate internally to ensure that physiological homeostasis is maintained. This includes an understanding of structure and function of the endocrine, digestive and circulatory systems. It also includes the fundamentals of the immune and excretory system.
Part 3: Body-environment interaction. This part explores how specific tissues and organs are formed and develop functions required for the integration of inputs from the environment to mediate the communication between the organism and its surrounding. This includes the broad understanding of the structure and function of the sensory and nervous system.
The course includes lecture content as well as practical work. The practicals are structured to gain hands-on experience with biological material, to apply the concepts learned through the lectures and readings, to further develop laboratory and scientific writing skills and to provide opportunities to work with peers.
| Description | Value |
|---|---|
| Students should possess a Howie laboratory coat and safety glasses. Further details of requirements can be found on the course's MyAberdeen page. The cost listed here is approximate. | 23.0000 |
Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 60 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | Feedback Weeks | |||
| Feedback |
Exam which is split into two parts - a written test worth 30% and practical test worth 30%. Held in exam period. |
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| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
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| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 15 | |
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| Assessment Weeks | 35 | Feedback Weeks | 40 | |
| Feedback |
Students will be provided with a list of topics from which they select one. Individual research will be required and students expected to produce an informative poster. |
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| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Conceptual | Apply | Developed expertise with one topic through independent research evidenced by communicating the key messages in the form of a poster |
| Conceptual | Understand | Demonstrate an understanding of the structures and mechanisms involved in physiological processes to inform a comparative framework |
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 25 | |
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| Assessment Weeks | Feedback Weeks | |||
| Feedback |
On-campus test during term time. |
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| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
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There are no assessments for this course.
| Assessment Type | Summative | Weighting | 100 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment Weeks | Feedback Weeks | |||
| Feedback |
Assesment - week 50-52 Feedback - Three weeks after submission |
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| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
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| Knowledge Level | Thinking Skill | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Conceptual | Apply | Developed expertise with one topic through independent research evidenced by communicating the key messages in the form of a poster |
| Factual | Understand | Describe the mechanisms for the fundamental physiological processes in animals |
| Procedural | Apply | Recognize system components in vivo and carry out lab techniques appropriate for investigating physiology, and report findings in an appropriate format |
| Conceptual | Understand | Demonstrate an understanding of the structures and mechanisms involved in physiological processes to inform a comparative framework |
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