Class Syllabus HUMAN PHYSIOLOGY COURSE 4701

2023 Fall, TTh 11:35 - 12:50 pm, FLH Room 275
Zoom Office Hours: Fadool = 3 to 5 on Tuesdays and by appt.; 
Professor: Dr. Debra Ann Fadool 
Office: Fadool = 3008 KIN Life Science - Ext. 4-4775; 
Lab: Fadool - 3014 KIN Life Science, North Tower
Email: Fadool = dfadool@fsu.edu
 
Required Text Book: Human Physiology from Cells to Systems, 9th edition, 2016, 2013. Lauralee Sherwood. ISBN-13: 978-1-111-577743-8
 
Suggested Interactive Virtual Laboratory: FREE!
https://ilearn.med.monash.edu.au/physiology/experiments.html

1. Rationale for the Course:

Physiology is the study of biological function of cells, tissues, organs, and their interactions....how the organism as a whole accomplishes particular tasks essential for life. It is a true overlap of the sciences: mechanics, anatomy, chemistry, and physics. "Physiologists view the body as a machine whose mechanisms of action can be explained in terms of cause-and-effect sequences of physical and chemical processes-the same types of processes that occur in other components of the universe." (Sherwood, 2016)

2. Course Objectives:

This course will cover the nervous system, special sensory organ systems, the central nervous system, the muscle and skeletal systems, the heart and circulatory system, the respiratory system, the urinary and digestive systems, the endocrine system, and reproduction. Although we will discuss the cellular function of each system in detail and individually, we would hope that you will soon be able to integrate this knowledge to comprehend how the different regulatory systems of the human organism act in concert to provide the optimal environment for the basic unit of living matter, the cell. Such regulatory balance or homeostasis of the cell is only achieved through the collective and active processes of specialized organ systems; ten of which we will study this term. The course goal of the students will be to learn the basic principles of physiological function. Such understanding will provide students the necessary preparation for advanced graduate/professional training and the entrance exams for these programs.

3. Course Evaluation:

You will be graded based upon the following -
 
Exam I  - 100 pts. 
Exam II  - 100 pts. 
Exam III - 100 pts. 
Exam IV +  
Final Exam  - 100 pts.
Quizzes - 50 pts. 

Virtual Laboratory - 50 pts. (Optional)

 
Grade Scale
Grades will be assigned as follows: 
 A 100-93
 A- 92-90
 B+ 89-87
 B 86-83
 B- 82-80
 C+ 79-77
 C 76-73
 C- 72-70
 D+ 69-67
 D 66-63
 D- 62-60
 F 59-0 

For your evaluation, due to the size of our class, you should expect multiple choice and true/false formatting using a scantron. Quizzes will be administered announced or unannounced and will deal with lecture material, text readings, or calculations. They will be short 10 pointers to keep you frequently studying facts and concepts. We will have 5 to 6 quizzes over the course of the semester. Please don't be afraid to ask questions – I will try and arrive to class 20 minutes before lecture and stay 20 minutes after lectures to answer questions. If your schedule conflicts with our hours please make an appointment to see us, we are happy to meet with you.

To keep you competitive with other institutions that have full animal-based physiology laboratories assigned with the lecture course, you will have the opportunity to complete five virtual physiology laboratories (URL below). Over the course of the semester, there will be approximately 12 virtual laboratories that will be aligned with our course content, but only 5 of these assignments you will need to turn in for laboratory graded credit. We would prefer that you work with a laboratory partner. Please be sure that both of you are completing the experiments together as you normally would in a laboratory class section. Laboratory write ups should be completed in synchrony with the linked material as tabled in the calendar of assigned readings and cannot be turned in past the upcoming hour exam upon which the experiment subject is based. Each write up will be graded out of ten points. Please submit a ONE page laboratory report describing the results of your experiments, their interpretations, and the knowledge that you learned. You can write these separately or jointly with your partner, but both your names must be on your uploaded document (two pages, if one report for each of you) as a single pdf file.

https://ilearn.med.monash.edu.au/physiology/experiments.html

4. Calendar of Assigned Readings: (Click for Link)

5. Course Outlines: (Click for Link)

6. Student Responsibilities:

We will direct the content of the lecture material around classic principles in physiology to allow you to formulate your own critical line of thinking once you have learned the basics. The text book readings are required readings that will provide greater details of the work synthesized in lecture. There is no substitute for text reading and reviewing lecture notes for applying and acquiring knowledge. It is the student's responsibility to come prepared to each class meeting by having the reading completed and prior lecture notes reviewed. It is useful to print out or download the course outlines (Item 5 above) so that you have it in front of you while taking notes about unfamiliar terminology.

You will occasionally have optional reserve reading or visiting scientist seminars that will provide more up to date information than what is presented in a text book. The reserve reading can be checked out and/or photocopied from the main library. These readings will be original research articles. Learn to read these more difficult assignments. Do not memorize experimental designs but rather take home global concepts.

7. Florida State University Honor Code:

Students are expected to uphold the Academic Honor Code published in The Florida State University Bulletin and the Student Handbook. The academic honor system of The Florida State University is based on the premise that each student has the responsibility (1) to uphold the highest standards of academic integrity in the student's own work, (2) to refuse to tolerate violations of academic integrity in the university community, and (3) to foster a high sense of integrity and social responsibility on the part of the university community.

8. Class Attendance:

Class attendance is required. Data support the idea that class attendance improves learning. It is very difficult and as well as uninspiring for professors to help a student who does not attend lecture. What is created in the classroom cannot be reenacted.

9. Policy on Missed Material or Missed Exams:

There will be NO exam makeups without PRIOR notice of a VERIFIED university excused absence (illness, death of family member, academic society meeting, subpoena to court, varsity athletics, or religious holiday). You MUST contact the instructor by email before the time of the exam. If you are ill, you must have a signed statement from the treating physician. There are only makeup examinations; there are no makeup quizzes. Absences will be accommodated in a way that does not arbitrarily penalize students who have a valid excuse. Consideration will also be given to students whose dependent children experience serious illness. If the above conditions are not met, the student will receive a “0” for the missed examination. Make-up exams should be taken within 1 week after the time of the missed examination.

10. American Disabilities Act Policy:

Students with disabilities needing academic accommodation should (1) register with and provide documentation to the Student Disability Resource Center, and (2) bring a letter to the instructor indicating the need for accommodation and what type. This should be done during the first week of class.

11. Administrative Note From Faculty Senate: (Click for Link)

As of Fall 2011, all Florida State University syllabi must have uniform statements with regards to attendance, honor policy, disabilities, free tutoring, and syllabus change policies. You may view the official wording of these university-wide policies at the link above.