Outline

Overview

The study of physiology is in essence the understanding of the integration of function and homeostasis. In this unit you will extend your learning in MEDS2001/PHSI2X07, applying your understanding of basic physiology to systems-based scenarios in three modules: sensory, metabolism and integrated physiology. This will consolidate your conceptual understanding of physiology and the homeostatic mechanisms that can change in disease. To support your learning you will undertake laboratory activities that involve experiments on humans as well isolated tissues, with an emphasis on hypothesis generation and data analysis. These sessions will consolidate your conceptual understanding with practical application of core physiological principles in an experimental context. Additional workshops and tutorials will develop critical thinking, your understanding of the integrative nature of physiology, and generic skills in scientific writing and presentation. The practicals and tutorials also emphasise group learning and team work. Completion of this unit will provide you with a comprehensive understanding of the complex systems that regulate the human body and provide the platform for undertaking a major in Physiology in third year.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit	Department of Medical Sciences
Credit points	6
Prerequisites ?	PHSI2X07 or MEDS2001 or PHSI2X05
Corequisites ?	None
Prohibitions ?	PHSI2908
Assumed knowledge ?	Human biology; (PHSI2X07 or MEDS2001)]
Available to study abroad and exchange students	Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Steven Wise, steven.wise@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s)	Melissa Cameron, melissa.cameron@sydney.edu.au
	Andrew Hoy, andrew.hoy@sydney.edu.au
	Robert Vandenberg, robert.vandenberg@sydney.edu.au
	Anna Waterhouse, anna.waterhouse@sydney.edu.au
	Peter Thorn (Physiology), peter.thorn@sydney.edu.au
	Steven Wise, steven.wise@sydney.edu.au
	Amanda Brandon, amanda.brandon@sydney.edu.au

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Small test	Module 1 quiz Module 1 quiz	20%	Week 05	30 minutes
Outcomes assessed:
Tutorial quiz	Renal practical quiz Practical quiz	10%	Week 09	15 minutes
Outcomes assessed:
Small test	Module 2 quiz Module 2 quiz	20%	Week 09	30 minutes
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Practical report Practical report	20%	Week 10	2000 words
Outcomes assessed:
Presentation	New technologies in physiology Video presentation	10%	Week 12	10 min presentation
Outcomes assessed:
Small test	Module 3 quiz Module 3 quiz	20%	Week 13	30 minutes
Outcomes assessed:
= group assignment ?

Assessment summary

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name	Mark range	Description
High distinction	85 - 100	Mastery of topics showing extensive integration and ability to transfer knowledge to novel contexts; treatment of tasks shows an advanced synthesis of ideas; demonstration of initiative, complex understanding and analysis; work is very well presented; all criteria addressed and learning outcomes achieved to an outstanding level
Distinction	75 - 84	Excellent achievement, consistent evidence of deep understanding and application of knowledge in medical science; treatment of tasks shows advanced understanding of topics; demonstration of initiative, complex understanding and analysis; work is well-presented; all criteria addressed and learning outcomes achieved to a superior level
Credit	65 - 74	Confident in explaining medical science processes, with evidence of solid understanding and achievement; occasional lapses indicative of unresolved issues; treatment of tasks shows a good understanding of topic; work is well-presented with a minimum of errors; all criteria addressed and learning outcomes achieved to a high level
Pass	50 - 64	Satisfactory level of engagement with and understanding of topic; some inconsistencies in understanding and knowledge of medical science; work is adequately presented, with some errors or omissions, most criteria addressed and learning outcomes achieved to an adequate level
Fail	0 - 49	Unsatisfactory achievement and engagement with the medical science discipline; inadequate understanding or fundamental misunderstanding of topics; most criteria and learning outcomes not clearly or adequately addressed or achieved; lack of effort/involvement in the unit

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

Learning support

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Week 01	Module 1 Intro & Energetic pathways	Lecture (1 hr)
	Energetic pathways (pt.2)	Lecture (1 hr)
	Fuel Sources during aerobic exercise	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 02	Respiration, oxygen delivery and aerobic exercise	Lecture (1 hr)
	Cardiovascular system and aerobic exercise	Lecture (1 hr)
	Thermoregulation and aerobic exercise	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 03	Cardiovascular and metabolic adaptations to exercise training	Lecture (1 hr)
	Fatigue and aerobic exercise	Lecture (1 hr)
	Introduction to nutritional physiology	Lecture (1 hr)
	Exercise physiology 1	Practical (3 hr)
Week 04	Nutrition and lifestyle diseases	Lecture (1 hr)
	Dietary interventions	Lecture (1 hr)
	Module 1 review	Lecture (1 hr)
	Exercise physiology 2	Practical (3 hr)
Week 05	Gastrointestinal system #1	Lecture (1 hr)
	Gastrointestinal system #2	Lecture (1 hr)
	Gastrointestinal system #3	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 06	CNS/Pain #1	Lecture (1 hr)
	CNS/Pain #2	Lecture (1 hr)
	CNS/Pain #3	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 07	Renal #1	Lecture (1 hr)
	Renal #2	Lecture (1 hr)
	Renal #3	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 08	Structure and function of the ear – How do we hear?	Lecture (1 hr)
	The inner ear and auditory pathways	Lecture (1 hr)
	Cochlear implants and improving the bionic interface	Lecture (1 hr)
	Renal practical/activity	Practical (3 hr)
Week 09	Typical materials	Lecture (1 hr)
	Module 3 introduction (bioengineering and physiology)	Lecture (1 hr)
	Foreign body response - old paradigm of biomaterials	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 10	Situation specific materials - new design paradigm	Lecture (1 hr)
	In vitro models of cell-biomaterial interactions	Lecture (1 hr)
	Animal models of cell-biomaterials interactions	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 11	Studying blood in vitro	Lecture (1 hr)
	Blood and its relevance to materials	Lecture (1 hr)
	Blood contacting materials	Lecture (1 hr)
	Bioengineering exercise	Practical (3 hr)
Week 12	Case study #1 Grafts	Lecture (1 hr)
	Case study #2 Heart valves	Lecture (1 hr)
	Module 3 review	Lecture (1 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

The current standard work load for a 6 credit point unit of study is up to 6 hours per week of teaching contact hours and an additional approximately one hour out of class time independent study for each timetabled hour. This means for every face-to-face hour you are expected to undertake independent student effort of 1 hour for each unit of study.

In PHSI2008 it is expected that you attend the online live Zoom lectures during their sceduled time. It is important to note that although lectures will be recorded through Zoom, we cannot guarantee that every lecture will be recorded successfully. Lecture notes and recordings are intended to support, not replace, your attendance at lectures. Remember, you are in control of your own study strategy and it is up to you to devise a study plan that best suits you.

Attendance is essential for successful completion of this course. Practical classes are COMPULSORY and any missed class without approved special consideration will be marked absent and deemed not to have met the threshold learning outcomes for this unit of study. Faculty guidelines stipulate a minimum 80% attendance to ALL scheduled classes must be maintained. Failure to attend may lead to an Absent Fail being awarded.

The assessments, as outlined on canvas, are COMPULSORY, and failure to attend/complete an assessment may result in a grade of Absent Fail (AF) for the Unit of Study. Each assessment task has marking criteria established and the marks generated should comply with University assessment policy. It is important to note that raw marks for individual assessments may be moderated in accordance with University Academic Board guidelines. Where this occurs, moderated results will be indicated as such with postings and notification provided on Canvas.

For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

Outcomes
Graduate qualities

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

LO1. Explain the role and basic workings of the major systems of the human body
LO2. Articulate and demonstrate the methods used in the physiological sciences and be able to explain why current scientific knowledge is both contestable and testable by further inquiry.
LO3. Explain the role and relevance of physiology research findings to society including the translation to clinical and medical outcomes.
LO4. Demonstrate the ability to integrate physiological knowledge to knowledge in other disciplinary areas of the biomedical sciences.
LO5. Collect, synthesise, analyse and critically evaluate physiological data and information from a range of sources.
LO6. Define a physiological problem, formulate a hypotheses and plan an investigation and, in the process, understand the ethical and regulatory frameworks relevant to Physiological science and academic integrity.
LO7. Select and apply practical and/or theoretical techniques or tools in order to conduct an investigation in Physiology.
LO8. Demonstrate creative and innovative approaches to problem solving in the field of physiological research and work effectively, responsibly and safely in individual and collaborative contexts.
LO9. Communicate observations and experimental findings in Physiology and their implications through a broad variety of media to diverse audiences.
LO10. Apply tools and practices that will help you in your life-long learning.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1	Depth of disciplinary expertise Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.
GQ2	Critical thinking and problem solving Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.
GQ3	Oral and written communication Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.
GQ4	Information and digital literacy Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.
GQ5	Inventiveness Generating novel ideas and solutions.
GQ6	Cultural competence Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.
GQ7	Interdisciplinary effectiveness Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.
GQ8	Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.
GQ9	Influence Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes	Graduate qualities
Learning outcomes

Responding to student feedback

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

This unit was first implemented in 2019. As a result of this, significant changes have been made to modularise and convert the unit to a primary online-mode of delivery in 2020.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect

Current students

PHSI2008: Integrated Physiology

Semester 2, 2021 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect