This course is designed to introduce the principles of medical physiology and pharmacology. Topics have been selected to illustrate key scientific principles that underpin the normal function of the healthy human body. Students will be introduced to the major drug classes that act upon important physiological processes. Online learning activities, laboratory demonstrations and practical exercises will be used to illustrate methodologies used to investigate the health of important body systems. 

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

1. Discuss the relationship between structure and function in organ systems, with an emphasis on the cardiovascular, respiratory, renal and endocrine systems.
2. Discuss the hypothalamo-pituitary axis and its role in regulation of homeostasis.
3. Describe the roles of organs and tissues in homeostasis.
4. Collect experimental data and interpret graphical representations of measured physiological parameters in light of established physiological principles.
5. Describe and apply principles of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics.
6. Identify key targets for pharmacological intervention in the cardiovascular, respiratory, renal and endocrine systems.
7. Communicate information relevant to human physiology using a range of media.

Required Resources

Guyton and Hall Textbook of Medical Physiology 13th edition, ISBN 9781455770052

Recommended Resources

Understanding Pathophysiology ANZ 3E; ISBN 9780729542647

Pharmacology For Health Professionals, 5e; ISBN 9780729542753

Staff Feedback

Students will be given feedback in the following forms in this course:

• written comments
• feedback to whole class, groups

Student Feedback

ANU is committed to the demonstration of educational excellence and regularly seeks feedback from students. Students are encouraged to offer feedback directly to their Course Convener or through their College and Course representatives (if applicable). The feedback given in these surveys is anonymous and provides the Colleges, University Education Committee and Academic Board with opportunities to recognise excellent teaching, and opportunities for improvement. The Surveys and Evaluation website provides more information on student surveys at ANU and reports on the feedback provided on ANU courses.

Other Information

Adjustments to delivery in 2020

Course delivery and assessment in 2020 was adjusted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Any information below that replaces what was published in the Class Summary for Semester 1, 2020 was approved by the Associate Dean Education (as is required after 10% commencement of a course). Where an activity or assessment is not referenced below, it remains unchanged.

Teaching Activities

• Lectures were recorded and made available on Wattle rather than in person.
• Tutorials were recorded and supplemented with live forums.
• Practicals were online with videos and other online resources for the students to learn the relevant material.

Assessment

Adjustments were made to assignment due dates; for details see the course Wattle site.

• Pharmacology project was done as an individual assignment.
• Mid-Semester Exam was done online.
• Pre-practical quizzes were done online.
• Final Exam was a timed Wattle assessment.

Class Schedule

Week/Session	Summary of Activities	Assessment
1	Lecture: Introduction/ Review of Cellular Physiology focusing on the cell membrane, membrane potential, transport across the membrane and signal transduction. Lectorial: Pre-prac tutorial on muscle contraction.
2	Lecture: Introduction/Review of Nerve cell physiology and the Action Potential. Practical: Muscle contraction. INCLUDES pre and post practical assessments	Pre-practical quiz (delivered in the practical) (5% taken as average mark of all three quizzes) Practical report released (5%)
3	Lecture: Components of blood and cardiovascular physiology Lectorial: Pre-prac tutorial on cardiac electrocardiogram (ECG)
4	Lecture: Kidney structure and function, re-absorption and secretion, and regulation of blood volume. Practical: ECG	Pre-practical quiz (delivered in the practical) (5% taken as average mark of all three quizzes) Practical report released (5%)
5	Lecture: Respiratory system, gas exchange and control of ventilation. Lectorial: Pre-prac tutorial on spirometry and lung volumes
6	Lecture: Integrated physiology regulation of pH, haemoglobin, and acid/base regulation. Practical: Spirometry and lung volumes Lectorial: How to write a lab report	Pre-practical quiz (delivered in the practical) (5% taken as average mark of all three quizzes) Practical report released (10%)
7	Lecture: Physiological basis of sports and exercise	Mid-semester exam (15%)
8	Lecture: Principles of Pharmacology Lectorial: Pharmacology assignment briefing	Pharmacology assignment released (20%)
9	Lecture: Endocrine physiology Lectorial: Pharmacology - hormone replacement therapy
10	Lecture: Gastrointestinal physiology. Overview of absorption, distribution and storage of food metabolites in the fed and fasting state. Physiological adaptation to starvation. Lectorial: Pharmacology - diabetes
11	Lecture: Nutrition, basal metabolic rate, RDI, physiology of weight Lectorial: Metabolic problems
12	Topic: Physiological basis of therapeutics agents. Lectorial: Exam information session

Tutorial Registration

Practical registration will take place in Week 1. Details are provided on Wattle.

Assessment Summary

Assessment task	Value	Due Date	Return of assessment	Learning Outcomes
Pre-practical quizzes	5 %	*	*	1, 2, 3, 4
Practical assessments	20 %	*	*	1, 2, 3, 4
Mid-semester exam	20 %	30/03/2020	24/04/2020	1, 2, 3, 4
Pharmacology Assignment	15 %	*	*	5, 6, 7
Final exam	40 %	04/06/2020	02/07/2020	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

* If the Due Date and Return of Assessment date are blank, see the Assessment Tab for specific Assessment Task details

Policies

ANU has educational policies, procedures and guidelines, which are designed to ensure that staff and students are aware of the University’s academic standards, and implement them. Students are expected to have read the Academic Misconduct Rule before the commencement of their course. Other key policies and guidelines include:

• Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure
• Special Assessment Consideration Policy and General Information 
• Student Surveys and Evaluations
• Deferred Examinations
• Student Complaint Resolution Policy and Procedure

Assessment Requirements

The ANU is using Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the Academic Integrity . In rare cases where online submission using Turnitin software is not technically possible; or where not using Turnitin software has been justified by the Course Convener and approved by the Associate Dean (Education) on the basis of the teaching model being employed; students shall submit assessment online via ‘Wattle’ outside of Turnitin, or failing that in hard copy, or through a combination of submission methods as approved by the Associate Dean (Education). The submission method is detailed below.

Moderation of Assessment

Marks that are allocated during Semester are to be considered provisional until formalised by the College examiners meeting at the end of each Semester. If appropriate, some moderation of marks might be applied prior to final results being released.

Examination(s)

Summative examination comprised of multiple assessment formats including multiple choice, extended matching, short answer and essay questions. The examination is comprehensive and can address any aspect of the curriculum and associated independent study requirements.

Please note, that where a date range is used in the Assessment Summary in relation to exams, the due date and return date for mid-semester exams indicate the approximate timeframe in which the exam will be held; the due and return date for end of semester exams indicate the approximate timeframe in which the exam will be held and the date official end of Semester results are released on ISIS. Students should consult the course wattle site and the ANU final examination timetable to confirm the date, time and venue of the exam.

Assessment Task 1

Pre-practical quizzes

Pre-practical quizzes will be administered at the start of each practical session. They are quizzes consisting of 10 multiple choice questions and students will have 10 minutes to complete them. These quizzes aim to assess the student's knowledge of practical theory and information to follow. They will be administered in the relevant practical session the student is assigned to on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday in Weeks 2, 4 and 6. The average mark in the three quizzes will make up 5% of the total course grade.

Assessment Task 2

Practical assessments

Post-practical assessments will take place for each of the practicals. The first two practicals will consist of short case studies based on the results the students generate in the practical session. These will be a maximum of two pages long and make up 5% of the total course grade each. Students will have two weeks to complete the assignment and they will be due on the day of the subsequent practical session.

For the final practical in week 6, a full practical report write-up will be required and will make up 10% of the total course grade. Students will have three weeks to complete the assignment and it will be due in week 8.

Assessment Task 3

Mid-semester exam

The mid-semester exam will be a 1 hour exam to test the student's knowledge of the topics covered in weeks 1-6. This will be held after the mid-semester teaching break and make up 20% of the course grade.

Please check the course Wattle site and the ANU Examination Timetable to confirm the date, time and location of the mid semester exam.

Assessment Task 4

Pharmacology Assignment

Group or Individual communication assignment on the mechanism of action of a class of drugs (group) or individual drug (individual) targeting physiological functions of the cardiovascular, renal or respiratory systems. A list of approved agents and drug categories will be provided to students.

The assignment will involve the creation of an online resource which will be shared with the class. The assignment requirements will be explained in the tutorials in week 8 and the assignment will be due in week 12.

Assessment Task 5

Final exam

The date range in the Assessment Summary indicates the start of the end of semester exam period and the date official end of semester results are released on ISIS. Please check the ANU final Examination Timetable http://www.anu.edu.au/students/program-administration/assessments-exams/examination-timetable to confirm the date, time and location exam.

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a core part of the ANU culture as a community of scholars. At its heart, academic integrity is about behaving ethically, committing to honest and responsible scholarly practice and upholding these values with respect and fairness.

The ANU commits to assisting all members of our community to understand how to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support academic integrity. The ANU expects staff and students to be familiar with the academic integrity principle and Academic Misconduct Rule, uphold high standards of academic integrity and act ethically and honestly, to ensure the quality and value of the qualification that you will graduate with.

The Academic Misconduct Rule is in place to promote academic integrity and manage academic misconduct. Very minor breaches of the academic integrity principle may result in a reduction of marks of up to 10% of the total marks available for the assessment. The ANU offers a number of online and in person services to assist students with their assignments, examinations, and other learning activities. Visit the Academic Skills website for more information about academic integrity, your responsibilities and for assistance with your assignments, writing skills and study.

Online Submission

You will be required to electronically sign a declaration as part of the submission of your assignment. Please keep a copy of the assignment for your records. Unless an exemption has been approved by the Associate Dean (Education) submission must be through Turnitin.

Hardcopy Submission

For some forms of assessment (hand written assignments, art works, laboratory notes, etc.) hard copy submission is appropriate when approved by the Associate Dean (Education). Hard copy submissions must utilise the Assignment Cover Sheet. Please keep a copy of tasks completed for your records.

Late Submission

Individual assessment tasks may or may not allow for late submission. Policy regarding late submission is detailed below:

• Late submission permitted. Late submission of assessment tasks without an extension are penalised at the rate of 5% of the possible marks available per working day or part thereof. Late submission of assessment tasks is not accepted after 10 working days after the due date, or on or after the date specified in the course outline for the return of the assessment item. Late submission is not accepted for take-home examinations.

Students to note: online assessments will close and cannot be submitted late

Referencing Requirements

Accepted academic practice for referencing sources that you use in presentations can be found via the links on the Wattle site, under the file named “ANU and College Policies, Program Information, Student Support Services and Assessment”. Alternatively, you can seek help through the Students Learning Development website.

Returning Assignments

Assignments submitted through Turnitin will be returned on that platform with marker comments and suggestions annotated onto the online submission file.

Quizzes and exams will not be returned but model answers be provided on Wattle.

Extensions and Penalties

Extensions and late submission of assessment pieces are covered by the Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure. Extensions may be granted for assessment pieces that are not examinations or take-home examinations. If you need an extension, you must request an extension in writing on or before the due date. If you have documented and appropriate medical evidence that demonstrates you were not able to request an extension on or before the due date, you may be able to request it after the due date.

Resubmission of Assignments

Resubmissions are not permitted unless under exceptional circumstances after discussion with the convenors.

Privacy Notice

The ANU has made a number of third party, online, databases available for students to use. Use of each online database is conditional on student end users first agreeing to the database licensor’s terms of service and/or privacy policy. Students should read these carefully. In some cases student end users will be required to register an account with the database licensor and submit personal information, including their: first name; last name; ANU email address; and other information.
In cases where student end users are asked to submit ‘content’ to a database, such as an assignment or short answers, the database licensor may only use the student’s ‘content’ in accordance with the terms of service – including any (copyright) licence the student grants to the database licensor. Any personal information or content a student submits may be stored by the licensor, potentially offshore, and will be used to process the database service in accordance with the licensors terms of service and/or privacy policy.
If any student chooses not to agree to the database licensor’s terms of service or privacy policy, the student will not be able to access and use the database. In these circumstances students should contact their lecturer to enquire about alternative arrangements that are available.

Distribution of grades policy

Academic Quality Assurance Committee monitors the performance of students, including attrition, further study and employment rates and grade distribution, and College reports on quality assurance processes for assessment activities, including alignment with national and international disciplinary and interdisciplinary standards, as well as qualification type learning outcomes.

Since first semester 1994, ANU uses a grading scale for all courses. This grading scale is used by all academic areas of the University.

Support for students

The University offers students support through several different services. You may contact the services listed below directly or seek advice from your Course Convener, Student Administrators, or your College and Course representatives (if applicable).

• ANU Health, safety & wellbeing for medical services, counselling, mental health and spiritual support
• ANU Diversity and inclusion for students with a disability or ongoing or chronic illness
• ANU Dean of Students for confidential, impartial advice and help to resolve problems between students and the academic or administrative areas of the University
• ANU Academic Skills and Learning Centre supports you make your own decisions about how you learn and manage your workload.
• ANU Counselling Centre promotes, supports and enhances mental health and wellbeing within the University student community.
• ANUSA supports and represents undergraduate and ANU College students
• PARSA supports and represents postgraduate and research students