| CODE | PHB1101 | ||||||||
| TITLE | Body Fluids, Cells, Cardiovascular and Respiratory Physiology | ||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 01 - Year 1 in Modular Undergraduate Course | ||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 5 | ||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 4 | ||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Physiology and Biochemistry | ||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | This study-unit introduces students to core physiological systems including fluid and electrolyte balance, cell transport, neuromuscular function, cardiac regulation, and respiratory physiology. The teaching emphasises clinical relevance and integrates knowledge through case-based examples and applied scenarios. Study-Unit Aims: - To provide foundational knowledge on body fluids, membrane transport, and key physiological systems; - To enable students to link physiological processes to basic diagnostic tests and signs; - To facilitate comprehension of homeostatic mechanisms and how these adapt under stress or disease. Learning Outcomes: Body Fluids and Cells: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: - Describe the distribution and measurement of body fluid compartments; - Explain the physiological roles and distribution of sodium, potassium, and chloride; - Describe membrane structure and properties relevant to permeability; - Explain passive and active transport mechanisms (diffusion, facilitated diffusion, pumps); - Discuss intracellular fluid regulation and sodium-potassium pump function; - Define osmotic pressure and describe influencing factors. 2. Skills: - Interpret fluid shifts and electrolyte imbalances in case scenarios; - Apply transport concepts to understand cellular homeostasis. Neurophysiology: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: - Explain the ionic basis and maintenance of resting membrane potential; - Describe action potential generation and propagation; - Discuss synaptic transmission and neurotransmitter activity. 2. Skills: - Apply knowledge of neural excitability to explain reflexes and conduction issues. Muscle Physiology: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: - Explain motor unit organisation and function; - Describe excitation-contraction coupling; - Define twitch, tetanus, Treppe effect, and explain their basis; - Describe the length-tension relationship in skeletal muscle. 2. Skills: - Relate contraction patterns to muscle performance and clinical symptoms. Cardiovascular Physiology: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: - Describe cardiac structure and function (contractile, conductive, excitatory components); - Explain ionic basis of cardiac automaticity; - Describe ECG changes in physiological and basic pathological states; - Correlate mechanical and ionic cardiac events across the cardiac cycle; - Explain Frank-Starling law, preload, afterload, and contractility; - Identify determinants of cardiac output and systemic resistance; - Describe neural and humoral regulation of cardiac function. 2. Skills: - Analyse ECG waveforms in normal and basic pathological states; - Apply principles of cardiac output to physiological and disease states. Respiratory Physiology: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: - Relate respiratory anatomy to mechanical function; - Describe the mechanics of breathing, including compliance and resistance; - Explain surfactant role and airway resistance factors; - Describe central and peripheral control of ventilation; - Discuss lung volumes and ventilation-perfusion matching; - Explain respiratory gas diffusion and diffusion capacity influences; - Describe oxygen and carbon dioxide transport and interpret the oxyhaemoglobin curve. 2. Skills: - Interpret basic blood gas and pulmonary function parameters; - Apply knowledge of lung mechanics to common respiratory symptoms. Recommended Reading: - Human Physiology by Stuart Ira Fox, WCB/McGraw-Hill. - Anatomy & Physiology by Kenneth S. Saladin, WCB/McGraw-Hill. - Textbook of Medical Physiology by Arthur G Guyton & John E. Hall, W.B. Saunders. - Review of Medical Physiology by William F. Ganong, McGraw-Hill/Appleton & Lange. Additional online learning materials and case discussions will be provided via the VLE. |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture | ||||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
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| LECTURER/S | Cynthia Sammut Christian Scerri (Co-ord.) |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2025/6. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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