BIO 245-011: Human Anatomy and Physiology Notes

Course Details

  • This course is an introductory-level anatomy and physiology course. Physiology is mainly lecture-based, while anatomy is lab-based.
  • Success is determined by understanding concepts through assessments.
  • BIO 245 does not count toward biology major degree programs.
  • It is applicable to nursing and sports/exercise science majors.
  • Many nursing programs expect a high grade in this course for admission.

Technology/Course Materials

  • Canvas is the hub for all learning materials; turn notifications on.
  • The OpenStax A&P textbook is freely available online, but topics may not be explored in order or in detail.
  • iClicker is required for participation during lectures; register with your UNC email.
  • Course Code: PIDJ
  • Codon, a Colorado-based learning platform, is used for homework, quizzes, and study tools; it costs $35 for the semester.

Course Expectations

  • Check email and Canvas regularly.
  • Bring your iClicker remote to lecture.
  • Silence devices and be considerate of fellow students.
  • Come to lecture and lab prepared by completing readings and pre-class assignments.
  • Take notes and ask questions.
  • Be considerate, and save side conversations for after class.
  • General expectations for college courses are two hours of work outside of class for each credit hour.
  • It is recommended to put in 8 hours of studying/work per week for this class, broken into 1–2-hour chunks.

Course Assignments

  • Unit Exams: 35% (4 exams)
  • Final Exam: 15% (Cumulative)
  • Lecture Homework: 10% (Codon assignments)
  • Lecture Quizzes: 10% (2 Codon Quizzes in each Unit, totaling 8)
  • Lecture Attendance: 5% (iClicker attendance)
  • Lab: 25% (detailed in the lab syllabus)
  • Class Total: 100%

Attendance (5%)

  • Attendance is required for both lab and lectures.
  • Lecture attendance is recorded through iClicker participation.
  • A maximum of 9 absences can be missed without losing attendance points (excused or unexcused).
  • Excused absences include jury duty, family emergencies, sickness, and approved national athletic activities.
  • Excused absences must be communicated to the instructor before being absent.

Pre-Class Homework (10%) & Quizzes (10%)

  • Pre-class homework is completed on Codon Learning.
  • It is a combination of lab and lecture materials.
  • There is a pre-class homework assessment before every lecture, not including exam and buffer days.
  • Your one lowest pre-class homework score will be dropped.
  • Quizzes are also on Codon learning.
  • There are 8 total Codon quizzes, 2 per Unit in the course.
  • You have two attempts for each quiz, and they are open note/open book.
  • Quiz questions are more intensive than exam questions because of this.
  • NO quiz grades will be dropped.

Unit Exams (35%) & Final Exam (15%)

  • Unit Exams are taken in lecture.
  • There are 4 in-class, 50-minute exams.
  • Approximately 50 questions, all multiple choice or matching.
  • Bring a pencil or pen and a photo ID on exam days.
  • There are no make-up exams.
  • Your one lowest exam score will be dropped.
  • The final exam is scheduled for 5/5/25 at 8 am in this room.
  • It is cumulative, covering topics from all the units across the course.
  • The questions are similar to the unit exam questions.
  • There is no make-up for the final exam. If you miss the final, you will receive a failing grade in the course.

Extra Credit

  • Unit Exam Extra Credit (max 6pts):
    • In-class activities
    • Codon study pathways
  • Course Wide Extra Credit (max 5%):
    • Supplemental Instruction (SI) or Tutoring services
    • Attend a weekly biology seminar (BIO 491) on Fridays, 3:35 pm to 4:25 pm in Ross 1010.
    • Submit a write-up with a description of the seminar topic and a ½ page exploration of potential A&P connections. Must attend 2 seminar sessions to earn 1% extra credit. Can only be completed once per semester.

Lab Assignments (25%)

  • The lab is included in the total grade for the lecture portion of the course. The lab does not have a separate grade.
  • Check your lab syllabus for more lab details.
  • See the Grade Breakdown table above for the breakdown of the total course percentages.

Anatomy Studying Recommendations

  • Watch Lecture Recordings
  • Study Regularly
  • Plan to study the same time and place every week for this course. Make it a habit.
  • Quiz Yourself
  • Assess your learning through the various study tools provided. Figure out what concepts you’re most comfortable with and which you need to study more.
  • Make Flashcards
  • Flashcards are what made me successful in my A&P courses.
  • Make a Study Group
  • Pay Attention
  • We all zone out in class, but if you have trouble paying attention, figure out what helps. Maybe it’s a cup of coffee to stay alert. Maybe you read the slides before the lecture to stay on track with where we are. Maybe you use a fidget toy or bring a snack to keep you engaged.

Introduction to Human Anatomy and Physiology

  • At some point, everyone will have a problem with some aspect of their body, and your knowledge can help you to be a better parent, spouse, partner, friend, colleague, or caregiver.

Learning Objectives

  • Visualize how the Codon Learning platform helps me learn effectively and enhance my study strategies.
  • Compare and contrast the fields and subfields of anatomy and physiology and give examples of each.
  • Describe and give an example of each level of organization in the body, from simplest to most complex.
  • Define and explain terms relating to homeostasis and give physiological examples of each.
  • Compare and contrast the pathways and steps in negative and positive feedback loops and give physiological examples of each.

Introduction to Human Anatomy and Physiology

  • Anatomy studies the structure (morphology) of the body and its parts; "what are they?"
  • Physiology studies the functions of these parts or asks the question, "how do they work?"
  • Structures Serve the Functions.

Anatomy Branches

  • Gross (macroscopic) anatomy
  • Microscopic anatomy

Gross Anatomy Divisions

  • Regional anatomy - divided by different region
  • Systemic anatomy - divided by different organ system
  • Other divisions
    • Surface anatomy
    • Comparative anatomy
    • Embryology

Microscopic Anatomy Divisions

  • Cytology - study of body cells and their internal structure
  • Histology - study of tissues

Physiology

  • Study the function at the molecular and cellular level.
  • System-based (e.g., cardiovascular, urinary, etc.).
  • Maintaining homeostasis is key.
  • Know where/what (anatomy) before you come to class, where we then to learn how(function/physiology)

Pathology

  • An inability to maintain homeostasis leads to disease.
  • Example: Polycystic kidney disease

Homeostasis

  • Homeostasis is maintaining a physiological parameter around a set point or a dynamic steady state.
  • Dynamic – changes in response to fluctuations in the environment (internal or external).
  • Homeostasis depends on feedback.

Levels of Structural Organization

  • The organization of the body often is discussed in terms of six distinct levels of increasing complexity, from the smallest chemical building blocks to a unique human organism.

Components of Homeostatic Systems

  • Sensor detects changes in a variable
    • Stimulus (e.g., change in temperature sensed by skin)
  • Control center interprets input from the receptor and initiates changes through the effector.
    • The nervous system can provide a quicker response (e.g., regulation of blood pressure upon rising).
    • The endocrine response is more sustained (e.g., parathyroid hormone regulating calcium levels).
  • Effector is the structure that brings about changes to alter the stimulus

Feedback

  • (a) Negative feedback: An increase in a parameter causes changes that lead to a decrease in the value of the parameter, and vice versa. This leads to the stabilization of the parameter within a range of values ("set point").
  • (b) Positive feedback: An increase in a parameter causes changes that lead to a further increase in the value of the parameter.
  • Negative feedback is most common.

Negative Feedback Loop Example

  • Body temperature regulation: When body temperature exceeds 37°C37°C, nerve cells in the skin and brain act as sensors. The temperature regulatory center in the brain acts as the control center. Sweat glands throughout the body act as effectors, leading to increased heat loss, which is the response.

Positive Feedback Examples

  • Sneezes
  • Orgasms
  • Parturition (aka, giving birth)
  • Action potentials
  • LH (Luteinizing hormone) surge
  • Urinary Bladder Filling/Emptying
  • Blood clotting

Homeostasis vs. Equilibrium

  • Equilibrium: the rate one direction is the same as the rate the other direction; without gradients; there are no differences (energetically, in entropy, etc.)
  • Homeostasis is not equilibrium.
  • Example: certain electrolytes must be kept at different concentrations across cell membranes for those cells to do work; they are not at equilibrium.

Homeostasis, Health, and Disease

  • Summary of homeostatic system characteristics:
    • Dynamic
    • Control center is generally the nervous system or endocrine system (not always).
    • 3 components: Receptor, Control center, Effector
    • Regulated through negative feedback (most of the case).
    • If system fails, homeostatic imbalance or disease results (pathological condition).

Essential Concepts for Homeostasis

  • Sensor
  • Stimulus
  • Control Center
  • Effector
  • Response
  • Feedback (neg. and pos.)
  • Equilibrium
  • Dynamic Steady State
  • Physiological Parameter
  • Integrating Center
  • Pathology

Reminders

  • Pre-class reading (textbook) and homework (Codon) will prepare you for lecture materials.
  • Coming to class prepared will set you up for success!
  • Lab and lecture will not always directly line up.
  • Some physiology content takes more time to cover than the related anatomy content.