PHY3171 Cardiovascular physiology and disease
Faculty of Science
PHY3171 Cardiovascular physiology and disease is a level 3, 6-credit-point, undergraduate unit from the Faculty of Science, offered in 2026 in Semester 1 at Clayton. It has no prerequisites.
- Credit points
- 6
- Offered in 2026
- Semester 1
- Clayton
- Assessment
- No exam
- 3 tasks
This is the 2026 handbook entry. See the 2027 entry.
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Requisites
Overview
This unit explores the frontiers of our understanding of cardiovascular physiology in health and disease. You will critically examine the roles of the nervous system, hormonal and metabolic factors and of the kidney with an emphasis on regulatory mechanisms in blood pressure control and hypertension. The unit will also introduce you to current cutting-edge research related to cardiovascular physiology.
Offerings in 2026
| Teaching period | Campus | Mode |
|---|---|---|
| First semester | Clayton | On campus |
Assessment
- In-semester practical assessmentDemonstration40%
- Cardiovascular research taskWritten30%
- In-semester testQuiz / Test30%
Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.
Learning outcomes
When you finish this unit, you should be able to:
- 1
Describe the major cardiovascular diseases, including how they impact on the individual and society;
- 2
Use specific examples of cardiovascular physiology to explain how different body systems work together;
- 3
Critically evaluate the cardiovascular research literature;
- 4
Design and analyse a cardiovascular physiology experiment, using statistical analysis to help with the interpretation of the data;
- 5
Present scientific data in a variety of formats.
- 6
Demonstrate physiology laboratory skills, including data analysis and presentation.
Workload and teaching
- Workshops6 hours
- Laboratories21 hours
- Lectures21 hours
- Teaching approachResearch activities
- Teaching approachProblem-based learning
- Teaching approachOnline learning
- Teaching approachEnquiry-based learning
- Teaching approachActive learning
- Up to 6 hours per week of directed learning in online activities, lectures, laboratories and
- Up to 6 hours of self-directed independent study per week
You will design, collect data and analyse the cardiovascular effects of an intervention; such as consumption of an energy drink, herbal or natural remedy.
You will use deductive reasoning to define causes and consequences of cardiovascular disease.
Course material will be provided online and available on demand.
You will identify by searching the literature a potential novel therapy for the treatment of cardiovascular disease and build the evidence into an argument to support your case.
All face to face laboratories will be 3 hours and cover practical’s related to course material. These include experimental procedures for measuring the cardiovascular response during a simulated facial immersion in water (dive response) and human cardiovascular reflexes.
Learning resources
Recommended resources
Vanders Human physiology
Guyton and Hall Textbook of Medical physiology
Where it fits
PHY3171 is part of 2 areas of study in the 2026 handbook.
Contacts
- Chief Examiners
- Professor Kate Denton
- Unit Coordinators
- Dr Katrina Colafella
Common questions
What are the prerequisites for PHY3171?
PHY3171 has no prerequisites, but enrolment rules apply.
When is PHY3171 offered?
In 2026, PHY3171 runs in Semester 1 at Clayton.
Does PHY3171 have an exam?
No. PHY3171 has 3 assessment tasks and no exam.
Which majors and minors include PHY3171?
PHY3171 is part of Biomedical engineering and Physiology.