PHY2042 Human physiology: Cardiovascular, respiratory and renal systems
Faculty of Science
PHY2042 Human physiology: Cardiovascular, respiratory and renal systems is a level 2, 6-credit-point, undergraduate unit from the Faculty of Science, offered in 2024 in Semester 2 at Clayton. It has no prerequisites and unlocks 6 units, leading on to 9 units in all.
- Credit points
- 6
- Offered in 2024
- Semester 2
- Clayton
- Assessment
- Exam 40%
- and 2 other tasks
This is the 2024 handbook entry. See the 2027 entry.
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Requisites
Before PHY2042
No prerequisites or corequisites besides the enrolment rules below.
After PHY2042
6 units list PHY2042 as a prerequisite or corequisite.
Enrolment rules
PREREQUISITE: PHY2011 and 12 credit points from level one Chemistry, Biology and/or Physics units or NUT1103; or at the discretion of the unit coordinator.
If you are a Biomedical Engineering student in E3001 Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) you must have passed PHY2011. You are exempt from the remainder of the rule.
Overview
The focus for this unit is 'homeostasis': how the body maintains a normal internal environment for optimal function. You will examine the roles of three major body systems that are vital for homeostasis: the respiratory system and gas exchange, the cardiovascular system and delivery of blood and nutrients, and the kidneys and their role in maintaining body fluid composition. You will consider each system at rest and in a variety of active states, and the role of control mechanisms in each system. In addition to core physiological principles you will be introduced to disease states associated with dysfunctions of these systems to allow for a greater understanding and appreciation of both the normal physiology and dysfunction of these systems.
Offerings in 2024
| Teaching period | Campus | Mode |
|---|---|---|
| Second semester | Clayton | On campus, block |
Assessment
- In-semester online quizzesOther10%
- Practical/workshop assessmentsOtherThreshold hurdle50%
- Final assessment - Exam (2 hours and 10 minutes)Exam40%
Learning outcomes
When you finish this unit, you should be able to:
- 1
Describe the structure and function of the cardiovascular, respiratory and renal systems of the body;
- 2
Explain how these body systems integrate in a way that facilitates maintenance of homeostasis and responses to challenges such as exercise and blood loss;
- 3
Evaluate how altered structure and/or function of these body systems may lead to disease;
- 4
Apply evidence from experimental and clinical observations to generate knowledge of physiological principles;
- 5
Perform physiology laboratory techniques, including calculation of drug concentrations, the use of stimulating electrodes and physiological data acquisition systems and the tabulation and graphing of experimental data;
- 6
Communicate experimental observations and the conclusions drawn from them the using written and/or audio-visual formats as an individual and in teams.
Workload and teaching
- Laboratories12 hours
- Workshops9 hours
- Lectures24 hours
- Teaching approachResearch activities
- Teaching approachActive learning
- Teaching approachOnline learning
- 6 hours of directed learning (consisting of a combination of lectures, workshops, laboratory classes and pre and post-class activities) and
- 6 hours of self directed study per week
Laboratory practical work is an essential part of a course in Physiology because it gives first-hand experience of some of the properties in isolated living tissues, and various responses of whole animals, including human subjects. It illustrates and complements material covered in the lectures, gives practice at observing, measuring and recording with the techniques of physiology, and gives some idea of the difficulties and variation found in studying living processes. The skills obtained in collecting data and drawing conclusions from your experiments will provide a foundation for further scientific studies and help you make more informed decisions about scientific matters that affect your daily life.
Workshops include activities designed for you to demonstrate knowledge, revise, and further your understanding of the unit content.
Lectures will be available as recorded videos and will be available online and on-demand each week. They will be accompanied by activities and revision quizzes to help you consolidate your understanding. It is expected that you keep up to date with the lecture schedule, as the content will be expanded upon in class, providing you with opportunities to engage, confirm and further your understanding.
Learning resources
Required resources
Prescribed textbook: Vander’s Human Physiology (by Widmaier, Raff and Strang).
Where it fits
PHY2042 is part of 4 areas of study in the 2024 handbook.
Contacts
- Chief Examiners
- Professor Kate Denton
- Unit Coordinators
- Katrina Colafella
Common questions
What are the prerequisites for PHY2042?
PHY2042 has no prerequisites, but enrolment rules apply.
What can I take after PHY2042?
PHY2042 is a prerequisite or corequisite for 6 units, including PHA3011, PHA3021, PHY3012, PHY3072, PHY3111 and PHY3171. Those lead on to 9 units in all.
When is PHY2042 offered?
In 2024, PHY2042 runs in Semester 2 at Clayton.
Does PHY2042 have an exam?
Yes. The exam is worth 40% of the final mark, alongside 2 other tasks.
Which majors and minors include PHY2042?
PHY2042 is part of Biomedical engineering, Pharmacology and Physiology.