DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN PHYSIOLOGY

 

OVERVIEW

Physiology deals with normal functions in the human body. It correlates anatomic, structure and biochemistry with specific functions and constitutes the Basis upon which pharmacology and pathology are founded.

Some of the most valuable contributions to medicine and the medical sciences have been the outcome of laboratory studies in physiology. The role physiology plays in throwing light upon disorders of function gives the student of medicine as well as the practitioner a vantage point from which to gain a rational view of pathological processes; hence physiology is the basis upon which scientific medicine is practiced. Medical Physiology now has applications, which reach beyond the direct realms of medicine.

 

There is now the discipline of biomedical engineering, which has its foundations and raison d’ętre in the applied physiology.

 

OBJECTIVES

            The course is designed to give an introduction to the physiological principles governing normal function of the human body and to indicate the objectives of this study. Thus, the factors, which determines the organization and integrative action of the system of the body will be analyzed and discussed. The objectives of the course are to;

1.       Indicates the core of physiological knowledge upon which medical practice is based.

2.       Indicate the experimental basis of this knowledge

3.       Relate basic knowledge to an understanding of common abnormalities;

4.       Use this basic knowledge to explain common pathological disturbances, especially failure of certain functions

5.       Use the description of these disturbances to reinforce basic knowledge

6.       Encourage the students to think of disease in terms of disturbance of function

 

TEACHING & LEARNING METHODS

 

Methods of teaching include lectures, some given via computer network using power point. Also practical and tutorials, to include seminars.

 

EVALUATION

 

Evaluation involves the use of multiple choice questions (MCQ) with the true-false items method.

 

200 LEVEL CLASS

 

First semester

MPY 221: INTRODUCTION TO PHYSIOLOGY (1 CREDIT)

Course objective:

At the end of the course the student should be able to list and summarize functional organization of the human body.

 

Teaching & Learning Methods:

Lectures, tutorials

Problem based learning.

 

Evaluation

MCQ (True-False items, Essay, Practical)

 

Content

Description and functional organization of the human body

-          cells as units of the body

-          internal environment

-          homeostatic mechanisms of the systems

-          regulatory systems of the body

 

The cells and its functions;

-          organization of the cells(structural)

-          functional systems of the cell

 

Transport Mechanism across the cell membrane

-          Diffusion

-          Active transport

-          Specialized transport phenomenon

 

Cell Genetics

-          protein synthesis

-          cell differentiation

-          cell reproduction

 

 

MPY 222 BLOOD AND BODY FLUIDS (2 CREDITS)

Course objective:
At the end of the course the student should be able to list and describe functions of blood and body fluids.

 

Teaching & Learning Methods:

Lectures, tutorials

Problem based learning.

 

Evaluation

MCQ (True-False items, Essay, Practical)

 

Content

Red blood cells (Erythrocytes)

Erythropoeisis

Destruction of RBC

-          Anaemia

-          Polycythemias

 

White Blood Cells(Leukocytes)

-          General  Characteristics of  Leukocytes

-          WBC production

-          Properties of WBC

-          The reticuloendothelial system

-          Inflammation and functions of WBC

-          Leukaemias

 

Immunity and Allergy

-          Classification of immunity

-          Description of the process of immunity and allergy

-          Antigens/Antibodies

-          The Lymphoid tissues in immunity

-          Hypersensitivity reactions

-          Interferon

-          Allergies in the normal and the allergic

 

Blood Grouping Systems

-          Antigenicity and immune reactions of blood

-          ABO blood groups

-          Rhesus blood groups

-          Other Blood factors

-          Transfusion including transfusion reactions

-          Introduction to tissue and organ transplantation

 

Haemostasis  and  Blood coagulation

            Events in Haemostasis

-          Mechanism of Blood coagulation

-          Conversion prothrombin to thrombin

-          Conditions that cause excessive bleeding in humans

-          Thromboembolic conditions

-          Blood coagulation tests

 

Body Fluids

Capillary Dynamics and Fluid Exchange between the blood and Interstitial fluid

-          Blood flow in capillaries

-          Exchange of nutrients and other substances across the barriers

-          Distribution of fluid volumes

 

The lymphatic system and interstitial fluid dynamics;

            The lymphatic system

-          Control of interstitial fluid protein concentration

-          Mechanism of oedema formation

 

The special fluid system of the body

            CSF

            -Intra-ocular fluid

-Fluid circulation in other spaces e.g. pleural cavity

Pericardial cavity, peritoneal cavity, synovial cavities etc

 

Osmotic Equilibrium between ECF and ICF

-Total Body water

-Body fluid compartments

-Measurements of Body fluid volumes

-Constituents of ECF and ICF

Osmotic equilibrium and fluid shifts

Volume and Osmolality changes in ECF and ICF

Physiological Solutions-Clinical Uses/Replacement

MPY 223: EXCITABLE TISSUES  (1 CREDIT)

Course objective:
At the end of the course the student should be able to list and describe functions of excitable tissues such as nerves, muscles and excitable membranes.

 

Teaching & Learning Methods:

Lectures, tutorials

Problem based learning.

 

Evaluation

MCQ (True-False items, Essay, Practical)

 

Content

Excitable membranes and Neuromuscular events

Genesis and conduction of action potentials

-          Nerves

-          Muscles

Synapses and transmitters

Synaptic excitation and inhibition

Reflexology

Sensory Receptors

 

MPY 224: CARDIOVASCULAR AND RESPIRATORY SYSTEMS (2 CREDIT)

Course objective:
At the end of the course the student should be able to list and describe the functions of the heart, circulatory and respiratory system.

 

Teaching & Learning Methods:

Lectures, tutorials

Problem based learning.

 

Evaluation

MCQ (True-False items, Essay, Practical)

 

Content

The heart as a pump;

-Physiology of cardiac muscles

-The cardiac cycle

Regulation of cardiac function

 

Rhythmic Excitation of the heart;

-The special excitability and conductive system of the heart

-Control of Excitation and conduction system of the heart

Abnormal rhythms of the heart.

 

The Normal Electrocardiogram;

-Characteristics of the normal ECG

-Methods of recording ECG

-Flow of current around the Heart

Electrocardiogram Leads

 

Electrocardiographic Interpretation in cardiac myopathies

-Principles of vectorial analyses of ECG

-Vectorial analysis in the normal ECG

The mean electrical axis of the ventricle

-Conditions that cause Abnormal voltage of the QRS complex

-Current of injury

 

Electrocardiographic  interpretation of cardiac arrhythmias

-Abnormal sinus rhythms

-Abnormal rhythms originating from impaired impulse transmission

-Premature beats

-Abnormal  rhythms due to circus movements

 

Physical principles of Blood;

-The circulatory system as a ”circuit”

-The physical characteristics of Blood

-Interrelationships between pressure, flow and Resistance

-Vascular Distensibility (Pressure – Volume curves)

-Circulatory filling pressure/pressure volume changes of the entire circulatory system

-Stress Relaxation of vessels

 

The Systemic Circulation

            -Physical characteristics of the systemic circulation

            -Pressure pulse in the arteries

            -The arterioles and capillaries

            -Vein and their functions

 

Local control of Blood Flow (Nerves and Humoral Regulation)

            -Local control at tissue level

            -Long-term local blood flow regulation

            -Nerves regulation of the circulation

            -Humoral regulation of the circulation

 

Regulation of Mean Arterial Pressure

            -Normal Arterial pressure

            -Relationship of arterial pressure to cardiac output and TPR

            -General Arterial Pressure Regulation

            -Nervous mechanisms for rapid arterial pressure control

            -Hormonal mechanisms for rapid arterial pressure control

            -Intermediate mechanisms for arterial pressure regulation

            -Short-term to Long-term mechanisms of pressure control

            -Renal mechanisms for arterial pressure  control

            -Hypertension (types, causes, mechanisms)

 

Cardiac output and venous return.

            -Regulation of cardiac output

            -Cardiac Output in abnormal conditions

            -Methods of measuring cardiac output

 

The Pulmonary Circulation

            -Physiologic anatomy of the pulmonary circulatory system

            -Pressures in the Pulmonary System

            -Blood Flow through the lung

            -Capillary Dynamics in the lungs

 

The Coronary Circulation

            -Normal coronary Blood flow

            -Control of coronary Blood flow

            -Pathophysiology of Ischaemic Heart Disease

 

Cardiac Failure

            -Dynamics of circulation in Cardiac Failure

            -High output cardiac failure

            -Cardiogenic shock

            -Mechanism of Oedema in cardiac failure

            -Physiological classification of cardiac failure

 

Heart Sounds

            -Normal Heart Sounds

            -Principles of auscultation

            -Phonocardiogram

            -Abnormalities of Heart Sounds

 

Circulatory Shock (Physiology and Management)

            -Physiological causes of shock

            -Haemorrhagic shock

            -Neurogenic shock

            -Anaphylactic shock

            -Septic shock

            -Traumatic shock

            -Effects of shock

            -Physiology of circulatory arrest

 

Muscle Blood flow/ other specific sites

            -Regulation of Blood flow through skeletal muscle

            -Cerebral circulation

            -Splanchnic circulation

            -Circulation in the skin

            -Physiology of vascular diseases of the limbs

 

 

Pulmonary ventilation

-Mechanism of Respiration

-Pulmonary volumes and capacities

The minute respiratory volume-RR,TV

--Alveolar ventilation

-Functions of Respiratory System

-Artificial Respiration

 

Physical principles of Gaseous Exchange

-The Physics of Gases

-Composition of Alveolar Air

-Diffusion of Gases through Respiratory membrane

 

Transport of Oxygen  and Carbon dioxide in the Blood and Body fluids

--Pressure Differences of Oxygen and CO2 from the lungs to the tissues

-Transport of oxygen in the blood

-Transport  of CO2 in the blood

-The Respiratory  Exchange Ratios

 

Regulation of Respiration

-The respiratory centre

-Humoral Regulation of Respiration

-          Basic mechanism of Humoral stimulation of the Respiratory centre

-          The chemoreceptor system for control of respiration

-          Regulation of Respiration during Exercise

-          Abnormalities of Respiratory control

 

Respiratory Insufficiency

-Methods for studying-Respiratory disorders

-Physiologic types of Respiratory insufficiency

-Physiologic peculiarities of specific pulmonary disorders

-Hypoxia

Hypercapnia

-Oxygen therapy

-Entrapped Air/its absorption

 

MPY 225:  EXPERIMENTAL PHYSIOLOGY (1 CREDIT)

 

Second semester

 

MPY 226:  THE GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT (1 CREDIT)

Course objective:

At the end of the course the student should be able to list and describe gastrointestinal functions.

 

Teaching & Learning Methods:

Lectures, tutorials

Problem based learning.

 

Evaluation

MCQ (True-False items, Essay, Practical)

 

Content

G.I Mobility;

-General principles of Intestinal mobility

-Functional Types of movements in the GIT

-Ingestion of food (Mastication,Deglutition)

-Motor functions of the stomach

-Movement of the colon 

-Defecation

-Autonomic influences on bowels Activity

 

Secretory functions of the GIT;

General principles of G.I secretion

-secretion of saliva

-Oesophageal secretion

-Gastric secretion(characteristics and Regulation) 

-pancreatic secretion

-Biliary secretion

-Secretion of small intestine

-Secretions of the large intestine

 

Digestion and Absorption in the GIT

-Digestion of the various foods

-Basic principles of G.I Absorption

-Absorption in the small intestine

-Absorption in the large intestine

 

Physiology of Gastrointestinal Disorders;

-Disorders of swallowing

-          Disorders of the stomach

-          Disorders of the small intestine

-          Disorders of the large intestine

-          General disorders of the GIT

 

MPY 227: RENAL SYSTEM (1 CREDIT)

Course objective:

At the end of the course the student should be able to list and describe the physiology of the renal system.

 

Teaching & Learning Methods:

Lectures, tutorials

Problem based learning.

 

Evaluation

MCQ (True-False items, Essay, Practical)