Human Physiology I

Abstract

This course teaches the basics of the physiology of the human body.

Objective

The focus of this course is on understanding the physiological mechanisms of the human body. The emphasis is on the healthy individual, supplemented with examples of clinically important dysfunctions and diseases. In line with an integrative approach, the course covers the function of organs, spanning from molecular mechanisms to the complex interplay of organs within the whole organism. The lecture topics of Human Physiology are spread across two consecutive courses: Human Physiology I in the autumn semester and Human Physiology II in the spring semester. Both courses are independent and are graded separately, but they are thematically linked. At the beginning of the Human Physiology I course, core concepts of physiology are addressed, providing a fundamental introduction to the entire course. These concepts cover the general mechanisms necessary to understand all physiological processes and enable students to apply these principles to the functions of organ systems and their interactions. Since all organ functions are under neural and hormonal control, the course then provides an introduction to the fundamentals of the nervous and endocrine systems. Subsequently, the individual functional systems of the body are examined in more detail. Topics covered in Human Physiology I include: nutrition and digestion, liver and metabolism, energy homeostasis, fluid homeostasis and kidneys, as well as reproduction, development, and aging.

Content

Human Physiology I • Core Concepts in Physiology • General Endocrinology and the Endocrine System • General Neurophysiology and Neuroanatomy • Nutrition and Digestion • Liver and Metabolism • Energy Homeostasis • Fluid Homeostasis and the Kidneys • Reproduction, Development, and Aging

Resources