Modules

Core Module Information
Module title: Physiology, adaptation and disease
SCQF level: 08:
SCQF credit value: 20.00
ECTS credit value: 10
Module code: BMS08106
Module leader: David Smith
School School of Applied Sciences
Subject area group: Biomedical Science
Prerequisites

You will be expected to have an understanding of anatomy and physiology (human or other animal), at level 7.
Description of module content:

The module introduces you to the physiological variations which allow animals to survive in a range of environmental conditions and environments, including regulators (ie those which maintain an internal environment) conformers (those in which the internal state matches that of the environment). The examples used to illustrate physiological variability and adaptation are drawn from a wide variety of species. Temperature control and osmoregulation in marine and estuarine species, in birds and in mammals will be used by you as examples to illustrate control in different animal groups.
Homeostasis in mammals will then be examined by you in more detail, with reference to feedback loops, the role of sensors, effectors and a central control. The role of the nervous system and endocrine system in mammals in homeostasis is explained as are the different receptor types involved. The hypothalamic/pituitary axis in mammals is described and the examples of thyroid function, reproduction and control of blood glucose are used as specific examples in mammals. This leads on to explanation of homeostatic disruption leading to disease, with thyroid disorders and diabetes mellitus examined in detail in different mammalian species.

Learning Outcomes for module:

Upon completion of this module you will be able to
LO1: Explain the different ways in which animals are able to regulate their internal environment
LO2: Compare thermoregulation and osmoregulatory systems in different animal species
LO3: Demonstrate understanding of how the endocrine and nervous system operate to maintain homeostasis
LO4: Describe the hypothalamic/pituitary axis and its role in homeostasis and reproduction
LO5: Use the examples of diabetes mellitus and thyroid dysfunction to explain how homeostatic disruption leads to disease.
Full Details of Teaching and Assessment
2022/3, Trimester 2, FACE-TO-FACE, Edinburgh Napier University
VIEW FULL DETAILS
Occurrence: 001
Primary mode of delivery: FACE-TO-FACE
Location of delivery: SIGHTHILL
Partner: Edinburgh Napier University
Member of staff responsible for delivering module: David Smith
Module Organiser:


Learning, Teaching and Assessment (LTA) Approach:
Teaching on this module will be by lectures, tutorials and workshops. The workshops may be run in the laboratory. You will be expected to participate in all sessions and are encouraged to form study groups to aid their learning.

Tutorials and workshops will build on information covered in the lectures and will include examples of case studies for you to work through and to get formative feedback prior to their summative assessment.


Formative Assessment:
Tutorial sessions will be used throughout the module in weeks 2,4,6,8 and 10, to work through case studies which demonstrate what happens in a variety of animal species when the internal environment is disrupted. The information will consist of data on physiology and on pathophysiological changes which occur and can be identified through a variety of techniques eg blood sampling, urine sampling, histology, immunohistochemistry.
These case studies will be written in the same format as the summative assessment, and so will provide feedback to students as they work through the questions about the cases. The formative case studies will culminate in a summative assessment which will be a case study.


Summative Assessment:
A case study using data from a human or non-human species. The data will contain “normal” parameters and also data from a disease state. You will be expected to interpret the data and to explain what it means in terms of normal and abnormal physiology. They will also be asked to explain the aetiology of the condition. The case study will consist of a data interpretation and a series of questions; you are required to reference their information.

Students will have a choice of case studies from which they choose one case.


Student Activity (Notional Equivalent Study Hours (NESH))
Mode of activityLearning & Teaching ActivityNESH (Study Hours)
Face To Face Lecture 24
Face To Face Tutorial 6
Face To Face Practical classes and workshops 9
Independent Learning Guided independent study 161
Total Study Hours200
Expected Total Study Hours for Module200


Assessment
Type of Assessment Weighting % LOs covered Week due Length in Hours/Words
Report 100 1,2,3,4 & 5 12 HOURS= 0, WORDS= 1800
Component 1 subtotal: 100
Component 2 subtotal: 0
Module subtotal: 100

Indicative References and Reading List - URL:
Contact your module leader
 

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