General Course Information

Course Overview

This course provides an integrated approach to life science, focusing on the structure and function of the human body. It covers the organization of the body, the function of cells, tissues, organs, and organ systems, and the principles of homeostasis. The course is designed for students in Health Technologies and related fields, emphasizing critical thinking and scientific literacy.

• Course Name: Anatomy and Physiology I – Lecture

• Credits: 4 credit hours (lecture and laboratory combined)

• Textbook: Human Anatomy and Physiology, 3rd Edition, Amerman, Erin C., Pearson Education, 2024

• Instructor: Dr. Lydian-Ann Ghumienny, Ph.D.

Course Objectives

• Describe the life functions that power, support, and move parts of the human body.

• Discuss scientific ideas and study science.

• Encourage students to utilize knowledge to be critical thinkers in their other health technologies courses.

Major Topics Covered

• Body plan and organization

• Structural levels of organization

• Cells, tissues, organs, and organ systems

• Principles of homeostasis

• Basic principles of physics in physiology

• Body systems: integumentary, skeletal, muscular, nervous

• Transport mechanisms (active/passive)

• Neural and muscular physiology

• General and special senses

Lecture Student Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

1. Identify and understand the body plan and organization of human anatomy.

2. Define the major structural levels of organization in the human body and explain their relationships.

3. Examine the function of cells, tissues, organs, and organ systems.

4. Describe core principles in anatomy and physiology, including homeostasis, feedback loops, structure and function, and cell-to-cell communication.

5. Identify and examine the principles of chemistry as they are involved in physiological processes.

6. Identify and discuss the importance of organ systems.

7. Identify main parts of organ systems and their general functions.

8. Understand the means of transport throughout the body (active/passive).

9. Describe the basic structure and functions of the integumentary system.

10. Describe the functions of the skeletal system, including bone classification and shape.

11. Describe the microscopic components of bone and the types of bone formation and how bones are repaired.

12. Describe the structural properties and components of skeletal muscle.

13. Describe the events involved in the contraction of a muscle.

14. Describe the major functions of the nervous system.

15. Describe the structure and basic functions of the central and peripheral nervous systems.

16. Explain how motor and sensory functions are distributed among the brain lobes.

17. Describe the anatomical features of the spinal cord and spinal nerves.

18. Explain the overall pathway for movements and sensations in the nervous system.

19. Describe the structure and function of the sensory and motor components of neural reflexes.

20. Describe the structure and function of the autonomic nervous system and its role in homeostasis.

21. Explain the effects of the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems and how they maintain homeostasis.

22. Describe the basic process of sensory transduction.

23. Compare and contrast general and special senses.

24. Describe the location and structures of each special sense.

Laboratory Student Learning Outcomes

• Identify and label body plan and organization.

• Identify basic organic compounds and their importance in the body.

• Know the function of the cell and its parts (cell membrane and organelles).

• Understand the basics of osmosis and diffusion.

• Identify each type of tissue through the body.

• Identify the organization of the major skeletal muscles.

• Understand the organization of the nervous system.

• Identify locations and structures of the nervous system.

• Identify the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems and their structures.

• Knowledge of human senses and identification of structures.

Assessment and Grading

Grades are based on a point accumulation system. The breakdown is as follows:

Letter grades are assigned as follows:

Key Definitions and Concepts

• Anatomy: The study of the structure of body parts and their relationships to one another.

• Physiology: The study of the function of the body’s structural machinery.

• Homeostasis: The maintenance of a stable internal environment despite external changes.

• Osmosis: The diffusion of water across a selectively permeable membrane.

• Diffusion: The movement of molecules from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration.

• Feedback Loops: Mechanisms that maintain homeostasis, including negative and positive feedback.

Sample Equations

• Fick's Law of Diffusion:

• Osmotic Pressure:

Course Rules and Policies

• Attendance at lectures is essential, as most exam material is derived from lecture notes.

• Reading assignments from the text will support lectures and labs.

• Electronic devices must be silenced and stored during exams.

• Any exam or quiz will be declared invalid if the student does not attend the proper section or uses unauthorized devices.

Online Exams

• This course requires the use of LockDown Browser and video monitor for online exams.

• Students must ensure a reliable internet connection and a quiet environment for testing.

• All external materials must be cleared from the workspace during exams.

Additional Info

• Students are expected to develop skills in scientific reasoning, communication, and application of knowledge to health-related fields.

• General Education Competencies include communication, scientific reasoning, and critical thinking.