Page 1 Human Physiology Fall 2015
VICTOR VALLEY COLLEGE SYLLABUS
Fall 2015
Course No.: Biology 231 Course Title: Human Physiology Units: 5.0
Section No.: 53309 Class Hours: 9:35 am – 2:15 pm Days: M/W
Room No.: 31-1Instructor Name: Dr. Harvey, PhD Office No.: 6
Victor Valley College
18422 Bear Valley Road
Victorville, CA 92392
Phone: (760) 245-4271, X 2658
e-mail:
Visit Victor Valley College online at
FALL Term BeginsAugust 31
Labor Day Holiday (college closed)September 7
Veteran’s Day Holiday (college closed)November 11
Thanksgiving Holiday (college closed)November 27-29
FALL Term EndsDecember 19
Sixteen (16) week termAugust 31 – December 19
Off-Campus Twelve (12) week termAugust 31 – December 19 (Does not follow VVC calendar, see that site’s calendar for holidays)
First Twelve (12) week termAugust 31 - November 21
Second Twelve (12) week termSeptember 28 – December 19
First Eight (8) week termAugust 31 – October 24
Second Eight (8) week termOctober 26 – December 19
NOTE – CAMPUS IS CLOSED andCLASSES WILL NOT BE HELD ON CAMPUS THE FOLLOWING DATES:
September 7th, November 11th, 26th, 27th, 28th
STATEMENT OF ACCESS:Students with special needs are encouraged to meet with instructors to discuss the opportunity for academic accommodation and referral to Disabled Students Programs and Services (DSPS) and services per Administrative Procedure (AP 3440)
Course Description
This course is an introduction to general physiology with emphasis on the homeostatic mechanisms of the human body. The topics to be covered are biochemical aspects of cell function, integrated control of organ systems and homeostasis. The laboratory will include demonstrations and experiments to support basic physiological concepts. Included are experiments selected specifically for instruction in interpretation of physiological test and diagnostic testing procedures.
Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of the course the student should be able to:
- Apply the scientific method by stating a question; researching the topic; determining appropriate tests, performing tests; collecting, analyzing and presenting date; and finally proposing new questions about the topic.
- Apply basic concepts of chemistry and physics to explain physiological functions on a cellular, tissue and organ level within the various organ systems of the human body.
- Critically evaluate and synthesize the different homeostatic control mechanisms utilized in the many physiological processes within the human body.
Prerequisites
College chemistry (Chemistry 100 or 201), college biology (Biology 201, 202, 100, or 107), college anatomy (Biology 221), all completed with a grade of “C” or better.
Textbook(s)
Text: HumanAnatomy & Physiology, Marieb, 11th ed., 2014.
Lab: Human Anatomy & Physiology Laboratory Manual, Marieb, 11th ed.
Attendance
Attendance is required and is the responsibility of the student. If you do not attend the first class session the instructor will drop you. If you do not plan to continue to attend class you must drop the course to avoid receiving an “F” grade. PLEASE NOTE: Each class session is very important. After missing the equivalent to one lecture and one lab, dismissal from the class will result. This is a very fast pace class and it is highly recommended that you do not miss a class.
(Class attendance is not a measure of performance or proficiency. Whether a student is just physically present in the class is not a valid basis for grading. Reference Title 5 Section 55002 of the California Code of Regulations: (A) Grading Policy. The course provides for measurement of student performance in terms of stated course objectives and culminates in a formal, permanently recorded grade based upon uniform standards in accordance with section 55758 of this Division. The grade is based on demonstrated proficiency in the subject matter and the ability to demonstrate that proficiency, at least in part, by means of written expression that may include essays, or, in courses where the curriculum committee deems them to be appropriate, by problem solving exercises or skills demonstrations by students.)
Withdrawal Policy
It is the student’s responsibility to officially withdrawal from this class. DO NOT simply stop coming to class and expect the professor to drop you. Not withdrawing from class may result in an “F” grade for the class. If you take a “W” for the course, no assignments are carried into the next semester. You must repeat the class
Incomplete
If a student has completed most of the course (75% or more) with a “C” or better average, but is unable to complete the remainder of the semester due to extenuating circumstances (see student handbook), they may elect to take an incomplete (INC) for the course. You are allowed to make up all missing assignments. An incomplete does NOT allow you to repeat completed assignments. All missed assignments and exams must be completed by the following semester or the grade will revert back to the one they would have earned at the end of this semester. It is the student’s responsibility to initiate the request for an incomplete. This must be completed in writing on a special school form and signed by both the instructor and the student before the end of the semester.
Final Grade
Your final grade is based on the sum of your scores. You may determine your grade at any time during the course by totaling the points you have accumulated and dividing that total by the number of total points possible. There will be 3 lecture exams worth 150 points each and one final exam also worth 150 points. Each lecture exam will include multiple choice and essay questions. Exam topics will be announced several days in advance. Lecture quizzes will not be announced. In addition to lecture exams and quizzes, laboratory quizzes will be given at any time during lab. There will be approximately 10 quizzes total worth 20 points each. No exams or quizzes will be dropped. There will also be one (1) formal lab write-up (50 points) assigned during the semester. A poster presentation worth fifty (50) points will also be required. A total of 10 journal article reviews will be required, at ten (10) points each.
There will be iclicker questions presented throughout the lecture period. The student is responsible for bringing an iclicker to class each class session. These questions will not be included in the total grade. An iclicker must be purchased by the second week of class. It is the student’s responsibility to bring the iclicker to class and to make sure the batteries are charged.
Case studies will be done in class and as homework. Any assignment sent home must be typed, handwritten assignments will NOT be accepted.
A total of 28 laboratory points will be given to each student for participation during lab. You will lose 2 lab points for each lab you do not attend or leave early, no matter the reason.
Make-up exams will ONLY be given on Dec11, 2015 beginning at 9:35 am in room 31-1. There are no exceptions. This is a Friday so make sure this date is open on your calendar. There is no make-up for the final exam. Missed quizzes cannot be made up. In order to qualify for a make-up exam, students must inform the instructor prior to exam time they will not be present for the exam. The absence must be one approved by Victor Valley College in order to apply for a make-up exam.
All grades will be posted on the internet and I will send you e-mail with your password and ID number. You can access your grades at If you have any questions about your grade you must inform the instructor within five days of the grade posting. There will be no change in grades after the five days. This includes the final grade. So make sure you check your grades frequently to make sure everything is all right.
Podcasts and Recordings:
All classroom lectures will be recorded for posterity. All notes along with new class casts are located at
The percentage scale is as follows (No exceptions):
90 – 100% = A
80 – 89.9% = B
70 – 79.9% = C
60 – 69.9% = D
59.9 and below = F
Classroom Policies:
Etiquette and Ethics
Although extenuating circumstances occur and you must be late to class, do your best to arrive to class on time. If for some reason you cannot arrive at the assigned time, then please enter the classroom quietly and have consideration for other students and the instructor. Because we are also in an intimate classroom setting any extraneous talking is not appreciated during lecture because it is very distracting to your fellow students and even the instructor.
Please read the college policy on cheating and plagiarism. Academic dishonesty in any form will not be tolerated, and may result in failure of an exam/assignment, failure of the course or expulsion from the college. If you have any questions regarding dishonesty or are in anyway unclear about the meaning of the college policy, please see me immediately. If Academic Dishonesty is observed in the classroom, the assignment will be given a grade of “F” and the student will be expelled from the class for two days.
Children
It is the policy of Victor Valley College that children NOT attend class with their parents nor be left unattended on campus while parents attend class. If youqualify, there is a day-care center on campus, if not, please make arrangements for a babysitter.
No food or drinks
It is school policy that NO food or drinks be allowed in the classroom. Please do not use
the small sinks and drawers at the desk as trash receptacles. It is also important to leave all open foodstuffs outside of the classroom, we have a tendency to collect a large herd of ants after awhile. It is not pleasant having them crawl up your pant leg!!!
PLEASE NOTE: It is the responsibility of every person at each table to make sure the tabletop is clean after the class session is over. It is also the responsibility of every person at the table to check the sink and drawers to make sure there is not trash in either.
After a laboratory procedure it is also the responsibility of everyone at the table to make sure the floors are swept and mopped. If you do not make sure your table and the area around your table is clean there will be a 10-point deduction from every person sitting at that table after any or all class sessions.
Lecture Schedule
A tentative lecture schedule with approximate dates for lecture topics and examinations is included in this syllabus. Materials may be covered at a faster or slower pace, depending upon the circumstances. It is the responsibility of the student to note any and all changes. The chapters indicated for exams should be read prior to the day of the exam
Recordings:
All classroom lectures may be recorded for posterity.
Exams
PLEASE TAKE CAREFUL NOTE: During an exam there will be no leaving the classroom for any reason, except with a written Doctor’s excuse. If you leave the classroom your exam is over.
Tentative Lecture Schedule
DateLecture TopicsChapter
Aug 31The Human Body: Orientation 1 (2-12)
Chemistry Comes Alive 2 (All)
Cells: The Living Unit 3 (All)
Metabolism 24 (955-970)
Sept 30Exam 1
Oct 5Fundamentals of the Nervous System 11 (All)
Special Senses 15 (All)
General Adaptation Syndrome Notes
Endocrinology 16 (All)
Oct. 26Exam 2
Oct 28Muscle and Muscle Tissue 9 (All)
Cardiovascular System18 (All)
Cardiovascular System19 (All)
Respiratory System22 (All)
Nov 25Exam 3
Nov 30Digestive System23 (All)
Urinary System25 (All)
Fluid, Electrolyte, and Acid-Base Balance26
Reproductive System27 (All)
Dec 16Final Exam
Bloodhound Research at VVC
Tentative Lab Schedule
Date / Topic / ChapterAug 31 / No Lab
Sept 1 / No Lab
Sept 7 / Labor Day – No School
Sept 9 / Stoichiometry / Handout
Sept 14 / Stoichiometry / Handout
Sept 16 / Enzyme Lab / Handout
Sept 21 / The Cell- Transport Mechanisms / 5A
Diffusion of Dye Through Agar
Diffusion of Dye Through Water
Diffusion Through Nonliving Membrane
Sept 23 / Video
Sept 28 / Case Study
Sept 30 / Exam 1/No Lab
Oct 5 / General Sensation / 23
Plotting Relative Density
Two Point Threshold
Tactile Localization
Adaptation to Touch
Temperature Receptors
Referred Pain
Stretch Reflexes
Cross-Extensor Reflex
Plantar and Babinski Reflex
Pupillary reflex
Ciliospinal reflex
Oct 7 / Video - Stress
Oct 12 / Special Senses: Olfaction and Taste / 22
Stimulating Taste Buds
Plotting Taste Bud Distribution
Examining Combined Effects of Smell, Texture
And Temperature on Taste
Olfactory Adaptation
Oct 14 / Special Senses: Vision / 26
Blind Spot
Afterimages
Near Point Accommodation
Visual Acuity
Astigmatism
Color Blindness Test (Ishihara Test)
Mapping the Rods and Cones
Binocular Vision
Reflex activity of the eye muscles
Optics of Vision (ophthalmoscope)
Oct 19 / Special Senses: Hearing / 24
Otoscope
Acuity Test
Sound Localization
Frequency Range
Weber Test
Rinne Test
Audiometer
Equilibrium Testing
Oct 21 / Case Study
Oct 26 / Exam/No Lab
Oct 28 / Blood / 25
Blood Typing- ABO and Rh Groups
Determining Hematocrit
Determining Hemoglobin
Nov 2 / Human Cardiovascular Function / 29
Auscultation of Heart Sounds
Palpating Pulse Points
Apical Pulse
Using a Sphygmomanometer
Estimating Venous Pressure
Effect of Various Factors on Blood Pressure
Effect of Local Chemical and Physical
Factors on Skin Color
Nov 4 / Case Study
Nov 9 / Frog Cardiovascular Physiology /
Nov 11 / Respiratory System Physiology / 37A
Measuring Respiratory Volumes Using BioPac
Nov 16 / Galvanic Skin Response
Nov 18 / Case Study
Nov 23 / Case Study
Nov 25 / Exam 3/No Lab
Nov 30 / Glucose Testing / Handout
Dec 2 / Renal Physiology / 41
Dec 7 / Kidney Regulation of Osmolarity
Dec 9 / Presentations
Presentations
Dec 14 / Presentations
Dec 16 / Final Exam/No Lab
JOURNAL SUMMARIES
You will compile a notebook of articles from professional journals relating to 10 different topics as presented in the table of contents of the text. That is ten different chapters.
Each article is to be followed by a two page typed summary/analysis of the article. The analysis should compare the article to the materials presented in the chapter.
There also must be a table of contents page specifying which chapter is related to which article
Your summary should be written as a comprehensive, objective summary of the scientific study; including who did the study, the purpose of the study, the method of the study, details about the subject population, statistical results, and researcher’s conclusions. The summary should also compare and contrast the materials found in the article with the materials found in the coinciding chapter in the book.
The summary should be written in the past tense using the third person (don’t use “I” or make references to yourself or your beliefs).
Quotations should be limited and even avoided.
Use careful attention to keep mechanical errors (spelling, grammatical, and punctuation errors) to a minimum as they will be considered in the overall grade in addition to the actual content of the summary.
All summaries will not be accepted if any portion of the content is plagiarized.
Each heading must include the student’s full name, course title, and the journal referenced in APA style.
Each summary must be stapled to a photocopy of the entire original article. Or the article may be presented on an IBM formatted disc.
Each summary must be presented separately, each on an 8.5” X 11” sheet of paper.
Each summary is limited to one side of two pages. Each summary must be typed. (Use of the computer is encouraged).
Please do not present the assignment in a folder
The first two journal articles will be due Sept. 21, 2015. The second two journal articles will be due Oct. 19, 2015. The next two articles are due on Nov. 9, 2015. Two more articles are due on Nov. 30, 2015 and the last two articles are due on Dec. 7, 2015.
PATHOLOGICAL REPORTS
1. Your presentation should be no longer than 12 minutes and no shorter than 10 minutes, with a 2-minute question and answer session.
2. Your presentation will be created on power point. The power point presentation will include all of the following:
a. Physiological basis for this disease: Talk about the healthy state of the body. For instance, if you are talking about cirrhosis of the liver explain how the liver works when it is healthy. If you are talking about tuberculosis then explain how the lungs function when they are healthy. Just because we already discussed this in lecture you are to assume no student has ever heard it before. This should include approximately 2 minutes of your presentation. Caution: Most students leave this part completely out of their report. I wouldn’t do that if I were you.
b. Etiology (Epidemiology): What are the causes and origins of this disease? Is there any important historical significance to this disease? Where does this disease usually start? Is there a particular season for this disease? Is this disease communicable? How is the disease transmitted?
c. Pathology: How does this disease alter the physiology of the body? What happens to the body as it passes from the healthy to the unhealthy state? How does this disease multiply and grow? What will the body do to attempt to bring itself back to homeostasis? Be very detailed. Include any and all physiological mechanisms that may breakdown because of this disease.
d. Signs and Symptoms
e. Prognosis and Treatment: If there is more than one type of treatment, then choose only one or two that are used most often. Explain why this type of treatment is used for this particular problem. Will the person survive? What will their quality of life be like? How does this treatment actually work? Again specify the mechanisms of this treatment and how it affects the pathology of the disease and the physiology of the body?