Human Physiology Syllabus and Core Concepts – Study Guide

Course Overview

This course, BIOL 202 Human Physiology at Kellogg Community College, provides a comprehensive introduction to the major concepts and homeostatic mechanisms necessary for understanding normal human physiology. The course covers cellular membrane function, electrophysiology, feedback mechanisms, metabolism, and the properties and interrelationships of major organ systems, with a brief introduction to selected disease processes.

General Education and Program Learning Outcomes

• Effective Communication: Develop and refine communication appropriate to audience and purpose, including documentation of sources.

• Critical Thinking: Analyze arguments, evaluate evidence, draw conclusions, and solve problems from multiple perspectives.

• Personal & Cultural Engagement: Explore civic, intercultural, and ethical issues, making connections between knowledge, choices, and actions.

• Information Literacy: Locate, organize, evaluate, and synthesize information for academic and career success.

• Scientific Reasoning: Apply the scientific method to form hypotheses, make decisions, and solve problems.

Core Physiology Topics and Learning Objectives

Homeostasis and Fluid Compartments

• Fluid Compartments: Define extracellular fluid (ECF), intracellular fluid (ICF), interstitial fluid, and plasma.

• Barriers: Describe the barriers separating plasma/interstitial fluid and interstitial fluid/ICF.

• Osmolarity and Solute Concentrations: Characterize ICF, plasma, and interstitial fluid in terms of osmolarity and concentrations of Na+, K+, Ca2+, Cl-, protein, and glucose.

• Homeostasis: Define homeostasis and explain the role of negative and positive feedback mechanisms.

• Feedback System Components: Identify stimulus, sensor, effector, integrating center, regulated variable, and set point.

• Homeostasis and Disease: Explain the relationship between homeostasis and disease.

Membrane Transport

• Passive vs. Active Transport: Contrast mechanisms and factors influencing each.

• Types of Passive Transport: Simple diffusion, channel-mediated diffusion, carrier-mediated diffusion (facilitated diffusion).

• Osmosis: Define osmosis and relate it to solute concentration (hypotonic, isotonic, hypertonic solutions).

• Endocytosis vs. Exocytosis: Contrast these bulk transport mechanisms.

Cellular Signaling Mechanisms

• Signal Transduction: Define receptor, contrast locations for lipid-soluble and lipid-insoluble messengers, and explain up- and down-regulation.

• Cellular Responses: Describe how chemical messengers produce different responses in effectors.

Nervous System

• Electrical Phenomena: Resting potential, action potential, graded potential, depolarization, hyperpolarization, repolarization.

• Membrane Proteins: Na+ and K+ leak channels, Na+/K+ ATPase, voltage- and chemically-gated channels.

• Action Potential: All-or-none principle, absolute and relative refractory periods, propagation speed factors.

• Synaptic Communication: Neurotransmitter release, synaptic cleft, postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs, IPSPs), summation, and effects of electrolyte imbalances.

• Peripheral Nervous System: Reflexes, neuromuscular junctions, sympathetic and parasympathetic neuro-effector junctions, adrenergic and cholinergic receptors, adrenal medulla, stress responses (SAM and HPA axes).

Muscle Physiology

• Molecular Basis of Contraction: Structure and function of actin, myosin, titin, tropomyosin, troponin; sliding filament model; cross-bridge cycling.

• Excitation-Contraction Coupling: Role of motor neurons, sarcolemma, sarcoplasmic reticulum, T-tubules, and Ca2+ channels.

• Muscle Twitch and Tetany: Phases of a muscle twitch, differences between twitch and tetany.

• Force Generation: Motor units, recruitment, length-tension relationship, size principle, muscle fiber types (slow oxidative, fast oxidative, fast glycolytic), and effects of conditioning.

Endocrine System

• Hormone Structure and Function: Chemical classification, CNS-endocrine relationships, hormone half-life, metabolism, and excretion.

• Hormone Action: Membrane-bound vs. intracellular receptors, sensitivity of target tissues.

• Calcium and Bone Homeostasis: Parathyroid hormone, calcitonin, osteoclasts, osteoblasts, negative feedback control.

• Pituitary Regulation: Posterior and anterior pituitary hormones, target tissues, actions, and feedback mechanisms.

• Stress Responses: HPA axis, eustress vs. distress.

Cardiovascular System

• Heart Function: Cardiac cycle, electrical and mechanical events, ECG interpretation, pressure and volume changes, heart sounds.

• Cardiac Output: Heart rate, stroke volume, autonomic regulation, Frank-Starling law, preload, afterload, mean arterial pressure (MAP).

• Blood Flow and Resistance: Pressure gradients, total peripheral resistance (TPR), factors affecting organ blood flow.

• Capillary Exchange: Hydrostatic and osmotic pressures, net filtration pressure (NFP), effects of protein and pressure changes.

• MAP Regulation: Baroreceptor reflex, short-term and long-term regulation, effects of hemorrhage.

Respiratory System

• Ventilation Control: Peripheral and central chemoreceptors, brainstem control centers, negative feedback for PO2 and PCO2.

• Pressure Changes: Boyle's law, alveolar and intrapleural pressures, compliance, elasticity, surface tension, airway resistance, lung volumes and capacities.

• Gas Exchange: Respiratory membrane, diffusion variables, Dalton’s law, partial pressures, events of pulmonary and systemic exchange.

• O2 and CO2 Transport: Hemoglobin structure and function, dissociation curve, forms of CO2 transport, carbonic anhydrase, effects of exercise.

Renal System

• Glomerular Filtration: Location, forces determining net filtration pressure, calculation of GFR, effects of protein changes, urine blockage, MAP changes.

• Fluid and Electrolyte Balance: Osmolarity in nephron segments, filtration, reabsorption, excretion, loop of Henle properties, hormone effects (ADH, aldosterone, ANG II, ANP, PTH), RAAS system, sympathetic effects, potassium and calcium regulation, long-term blood pressure regulation.

• Micturition: Detrusor muscle, urethral sphincters, autonomic and CNS control.

• Acid-Base Balance: Chemistry of acids, bases, buffers, pH, lines of defense, buffer systems, respiratory and renal compensation, causes of disturbances, physiological responses.

Digestive System and Nutrient Regulation

• Digestion and Absorption: Physical vs. chemical digestion, breakdown and absorption of carbohydrates, triglycerides, and proteins.

• Metabolic States: Absorptive vs. postabsorptive states, glucose/glycogen relationship, fat and protein metabolism, gluconeogenesis.

• Hormonal Regulation: Insulin, glucagon, epinephrine, glucocorticoids; effects on metabolism; regulation of secretion; diabetes mellitus vs. hypoglycemia.

Course Schedule (Selected Weeks)

Week	Topic	Activities
1	Introduction & Homeostasis	Dynamic Study Modules, Interactive Physiology, Content Quiz
2	Membrane Function	Prelab & Lab, Lab Quiz, Content Quiz
3	Nervous System	Prelab & Lab, Lab Quiz, Content Quiz
4	Peripheral Nervous System	Prelab & Lab, Lab Quiz, Content Quiz
5	Endocrine System	Prelab & Lab, Lab Quiz, Content Quiz
6	Skeletal Muscle	Prelab & Lab, Lab Quiz, Content Quiz
8	Cardiovascular System	Prelab & Lab, Lab Quiz, Content Quiz
9	Blood Vessels & Blood Pressure	Prelab & Lab, Lab Quiz, Content Quiz
10	Respiratory System	Prelab & Lab, Lab Quiz, Content Quiz
11	Renal System	Prelab & Lab, Lab Quiz, Content Quiz
12	Acid/Base Balance	Prelab & Lab, Lab Quiz, Content Quiz
13	Gastrointestinal System & Digestion	Prelab & Lab, Lab Quiz, Content Quiz
14	GI & Nutrient Regulation	Prelab & Lab, Lab Quiz, Content Quiz

Key Equations and Concepts

• Mean Arterial Pressure: $MAP = CO \times TPR$

• CO2 Transport: $CO_2 + H_2O \leftrightarrow H_2CO_3 \leftrightarrow H^+ + HCO_3^-$

• Boyle's Law: $P_1V_1 = P_2V_2$

• Cardiac Output: $CO = HR \times SV$

• Net Filtration Pressure (NFP): $NFP = (P_c - P_i) - (\pi_c - \pi_i)$ where $P_c$ = capillary hydrostatic pressure, $P_i$ = interstitial hydrostatic pressure, $\pi_c$ = capillary oncotic pressure, $\pi_i$ = interstitial oncotic pressure

Grading Scale

Percentage	Grade	GPA
100.00-93.00	A	4.00
92.99-90.00	A-	3.67
89.99-87.00	B+	3.33
86.99-83.00	B	3.00
82.99-80.00	B-	2.67
79.99-77.00	C+	2.33
76.99-73.00	C	2.00
72.99-70.00	C-	1.67
69.99-67.00	D+	1.33
66.99-63.00	D	1.00
62.99-60.00	D-	0.67
59.99-0.00	F	0.00

Additional Info

• Students are expected to adhere to academic integrity, attendance, and conduct policies as outlined by the college.

• Disability services and academic support are available for students who require accommodations.

• Textbook: Human Anatomy & Physiology, 3rd edition by Amerman (Pearson eText with Mastering A&P).

Note: This study guide summarizes the syllabus and core learning objectives for Human Physiology, providing a structured overview for exam preparation and course navigation.