Undergraduate Course: Integrated Function of Body Systems 2 (IBMS08009)
Course Outline
| School | Deanery of Biomedical Sciences |
College | College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 8 (Year 2 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Not available to visiting students |
| SCQF Credits | 40 |
ECTS Credits | 20 |
| Summary | Students will learn how the maintenance of homeostasis requires the integrated function of all the body systems. Examples of homeostasis will be used to introduce the body systems involved in each example. The anatomy (both gross and fine) of each body system will be studied as well as an introduction to its functions. The functions involved in maintaining/regulating the example of homeostasis will be studied in further physiological detail to illustrate the mechanisms involved at both the cellular and molecular levels. Some examples of pathology will be used by the students to demonstrate their understanding of how dysfunction in one body system can result in dysfunction in other body systems as the body attempts to maintain homeostasis. Likewise there will also be some examples of pharmacology used where relevant with similar purpose. |
| Course description |
1) Academic Description
Students will learn how the maintenance of homeostasis requires the integrated function of all the body systems. Examples of homeostasis will be used to introduce the body systems involved in each example. The anatomy (both gross and fine) of each body system will be studied as well as an introduction to its functions. The functions involved in maintaining/regulating the example of homeostasis will be studied in further physiological detail to illustrate the mechanisms involved at both the cellular and molecular levels. Some examples of pathology will be used by the students to demonstrate their understanding of how dysfunction in one body system can result in dysfunction in other body systems as the body attempts to maintain homeostasis. Likewise there will also be some examples of pharmacology used where relevant with similar purpose.
2) Outline Content
The course content will be divided into four main topics and within each of these topics the anatomy and general functions of the relevant body systems will be studied. Physiological processes relevant to the aspect of homeostasis being studied will be investigated in both cellular and molecular detail where relevant. Relevant aspects of anatomy, pathology and pharmacology will also be studied.
The four topics are:
i. body fluid and pH homeostasis
cardiovascular, respiratory, excretory, nervous and endocrine systems
ii. calcium and phosphate homeostasis
musculoskeletal, gastrointestinal, excretory, integumentary, nervous and endocrine systems
iii. glucose and energy homeostasis
musculoskeletal, gastrointestinal, excretory, nervous and endocrine systems and adipose tissue
iv. maintenance of homeostasis in pregnancy (to demonstrate how a change in physiological status requires adaptations in homeostasis)
reproductive, nervous and endocrine systems
3) Student Learning Experience
This course will be delivered as a mix of lectures and tutorials. The syllabus for this course will be arranged in a less conventional way (that is, it will not involve systematically working through each of the body systems) in order to emphasize that more than one body system is involved in the regulation of homeostasis and hence the maintenance of good health. The overarching aim of this course is not only that the students understand the importance of the integration of the functions of each of the body systems but that they also understand the importance of integrating all aspects of their learning. Students will be encouraged to appreciate that learning in other courses is of relevance to their learning and understanding in this course and to actively make links between learning in different courses: this appreciation will be assessed as part of one of the in course assessments. There will be active learning of how to comprehend, analyse and interpret original research articles and this too will be assessed in one of the in course assessments. Students will be encouraged to engage in self-directed learning through the use of case based problems.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | Course delivered in China at the Zhejiang University-University of Edinburgh Institute. Only open to students on BSc Integrative Biomedical Sciences. |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2020/21, Not available to visiting students (SS1)
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Quota: None |
| Course Start |
Full Year |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
400
(
Lecture Hours 80,
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 84,
Supervised Practical/Workshop/Studio Hours 4,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 8,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
224 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
30 %,
Coursework
70 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
70 % coursework; 30 % examination |
| Feedback |
Students will receive continuous formative feedback in several forms:
- after each case based tutorial students will be asked to assess their own and their peers' contributions to that case
- peer feedback on answers to short answer questions (SAQs)
- tutor feedback on four formative in class SAQs
- peer and facilitator feedback in reading scientific literature tutorials
- one formative MCQ based on comprehension, analysis and interpretation of a scientific paper
- weekly on-line MCQs based on content
Students will receive feedback on summative course work in several forms:
- the students will receive immediate feedback on the MCQ based on comprehension, analysis and interpretation of a scientific paper at the end of the MCQ
- written feedback on the essay
- generic oral feedback on the essay as well as a 'meet the marker' opportunity |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- describe, using appropriately detailed examples, how the different body systems integrate their functions to maintain homeostasis
- use knowledge of homeostasis to predict the effect(s) of some common pathologies on whole body physiology
- demonstrate basic skills required for research in biomedical sciences, including analysis and interpretation of data
- develop and demonstrate competencies in both effective searching of contemporary scientific literature and written communication
- develop a clear understanding of the interdisciplinary nature of biomedical sciences
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Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
On completion of this course students will have further developed their:
- basic comprehension, as demonstrated for example, by their ability to follow instructions as well as identifying the key elements in a question
- scientific comprehension of the scientific literature
- written scientific English by learning how to write short concise responses to direct questions
- critical thinking by using their knowledge of normal physiology to predict the consequences of pathophysiology; that is, problem solving
- critical thinking by integrating information from other courses to enhance understanding of the material in this course
- group-working skills: both as an effective and reliable team member and, on occasion, as a leader
- skills in reading and interpreting data presented as figures
- skills in acquiring and assimilating information from several sources aside from lectures and tutorials; for example, attending research seminars and self-directed reading (required for case based tutorials)
- oral communication skills; for example, sharing relevant information obtained from self-directed reading in the feedback sessions of the case based tutorials
- time management by meeting submission deadlines in a timely manner |
| Keywords | physiology,body systems,homeostasis,anatomy |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Joanne Murray
Tel: (0131 6)51 1711
Email: jmurra19@exseed.ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Miss Natasha Goldie
Tel:
Email: natasha.goldie@ed.ac.uk |
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