ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY
414 Full year course: four credits
Revised 1998 by Steven Roderick
FROM THE PROGRAM OF STUDIES:
Anatomy and Physiology is a one year course offered to students who intend to pursue studies in biology and/ or medical fields beyond high school.
RATIONALE:
Like the AP biology course, one goal of Anatomy and Physiology
is to provide students with a challenging second year biology
course using a college text book and doing labs equivalent to
those done by college students. A major focus of the course will
be to bring students to an understanding of the interconnectedness
among the major human body systems and the disciplines of chemistry,
physics, and biology within the confines of a human being.
COURSE OUTLINE:
I. Directional Anatomy
II. Complex Systems
a. Homeostasis
b. Negative and Positive Feedback
III. Biochemistry with a focus upon
a. Genetics
b. Activity of enzymes
c. Cell signaling mechanisms
IV. Tissue
V. Human Body Systems
a. Integumentary System
b. Skeletal System
1. Bone and bone tissue
2. Skeletal anatomy
3. Joints
c. Muscular System
1. Muscles and muscle tissue
2. Muscular anatomy
d. Nervous System
1. Nervous tissue
2. The brain
e. Endocrine System: organs and hormones
f. Cardiovascular System
1. Blood
2. The heart
g. The Immune System
h. The Digestive System
If time allows:
i. The Urinary System
j. The Reproductive System
k. Human development
METHODS:
This course is taught using the traditional college approach of
lecture, lab, and discussion. The course is limited to 24 students
as facilities can not accommodate more. For labs that are more
chemical in nature, the facilities of the chem lab are used. Tests
are given at the
completion of a unit. Emphasis is placed upon the use of the computer
as a means to model complex behavioral systems.
LABS AND ACTIVITIES:
As mentioned above, lab activities are sometimes chemical in
nature. There is also an extended (approximately 4 weeks) period
of dissection and extensive use of a human skeleton for the purposes
of learning skeletal anatomy. At least one trip to the school's
fitness center will occur while studying muscle physiology.
Computer programs such as A.D.A.M. (for the study of human anatomy
and physiology), Stella (for the study of complex systems), and
Genscope (for the study of genetics) will be used with units where
they are applicable.
EXPECTATIONS OF STUDENTS:
Students are expected to do all the assigned readings, prepare
for lab and participate in the rabbit dissection. Work is expected
to be completed in a timely fashion.
SKILLS TO BE DEVELOPED:
Students are expected to continue to develop critical and analytic
skills necessary to deal with biology in particular, and science
in general. Students are encouraged to think and challenge ideas
and concepts presented, and keep an open mind. It is a challenge
in itself to keep up with the daily advances that are occurring
in this field.
TEXTBOOK:
Marieb, Elaine N., Human Anatomy and Physiology, 3rd Edition. Benjamin Cummings.
SUPPLEMENTARY READING:
From time to time articles may be assigned from Journals or publications such as Scientific American and the journal Science.
OTHER MATERIALS:
When applicable video tapes are used. There is also the opportunity
to go to City lab in Boston to use their equipment in doing labs
such as gel electrophoresis.
TYPES OF ASSIGNMENTS:
Most commonly, assignments involve reading from the text or other sources, coupled with writing that asks students to demonstrate their thinking through the analysis or synthesis of information. There are several long term assignments that are given as well. Unfinished laboratory is assigned as homework and most often due the following week.
ASSESSMENT OF STUDENTS:
Students are assessed through quizzes, tests, laboratory work,
and writing. A project allowing students to demonstrate understanding
in some alternative fashion (ex. class presentation, model building,
video or artistic project) is given each quarter.