PRESBYTERIAN UNIVERSITY, GHANA

ASANTE AKYEM CAMPUS

SCHOOL OF NURSING & MIDWIFERY

COURSE OUTLINE
2024/25 ACADEMIC YEAR

LEVEL: 100
COURSE TITLE: HUMAN PHYSIOLOGY I
CODE: PNUR 111
CREDIT: 2

LECTURER: NAYEMBIL A. DANIEL

CONTACT DETAILS: [email protected]

A. COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course is designed to enhance students’ understanding of the general functions and
physiological processes of the human body. As part of the course, students are expected to learn
the functions and specific bio-physiochemical properties of organs and systems outlined in the
content. Metabolic processes of the body are also explained.

B. COURSE OBJECTIVES
By the end of the course, the students will be able to:
1. Describe the functional organization of the human body
2. Describe the composition and function of the living cell
3. Describe the concept of cell membrane transport and functions
4. Explain the Gas laws and mechanism of respiration
5. State the mechanisms of transport of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood.
6. Describe the physiological dynamics of the circulatory system.
7. Explain the processes involved in digestion.
8. Describe systems that maintain the internal environment: Homeostasis (E.g. blood
clotting).
9. Explain the principles underlying the distribution of fluid & electrolyte (ion) balance
10. State metabolic processes and their effects on the body.
11. Describe Integumentary system and its functions

1
C. COURSE CONTENT
UNIT 1: Introduction & General principles of human physiology
UNIT 2: Organization of the human body
UNIT 3: The Human Cell, its components &Tissues
UNIT 4: The Human Cell and its components
UNIT 5: The Cell membrane and transportation
UNIT 6: Physiology of the respiratory system
UNIT 7: Fluids and Electrolyte Balance/ Plasma and its contents.
UNIT 8: Physiology of the Circulatory System:
UNIT 9: Physiology of the digestive system
UNIT 10: Metabolism
UNIT 11: The Integumentary system

D. TEACHING PLAN
WEEK CONTENT/TOPIC

WEEK 1 INTRODUCTION TO PHYSIOLOGY

a. General principles underlying the functions of the human body
b. Organization of the human body
WEEK 2 THE HUMAN CELL/TISSUES
a. Types
b. Functions
c. Reproduction
WEEK 3 CELL MEMBRANE TRANSPORT
a. Basic concept of transport in the biological system
b. Distribution of ions in the body space; Water and electrolytes; Plasma
and its contents.
CLASS QUIZ

WEEK 4 HOMEOSTASIS AND FEEDBACK CONTROL

a. Mechanisms of homeostasis (feedback mechanisms)

WEEK 5 PHYSIOLOGY OF THE RESPIRATORY SYSTEM: GAS LAWS

i. Basic concepts of air pressure/ volume; Temperature relations of
gases (Charles’/Boyle’s Laws); Gases in fluid (Henry’s Law); Gases
in tubes (Dalton’s Law)
ii. Mechanisms of Transport of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood;
some disorders of respiratory functions].

WEEK 6 Fluids & Electrolyte Balance:

Plasma and its contents.
MIDSEMESTER EXAMINATION
WEEK 7 Physiology of the Circulatory System:

2
 i. Basic concepts of haemostasis and haemodynamic; the heart; Cardiac
muscle and the electrocardiogram; Blood pressure and factors
affecting it.
ii. Cardiac output and factors affecting it;
iii. Blood; tissue fluid and lymph;
iv. Chemical constituents of blood and their functions;
v. Clotting; and mechanism of clotting; Blood buffer (physiological
buffers)
vi. Blood groups; Clinical cardiovascular problems.

WEEK 8 Physiology of the digestive system

i. The digestive tract – propulsive, digestive, secretory, and absorptive
functions
ii. Enzymes – general considerations in digestion; Liver and its function;
some disorders of the digestive system.

WEEK 10 a. CLASS QUIZ

b. Metabolism: Temperature regulation; Metabolism and
gastrointestinal tract; Metabolism of the main foodstuffs e.g.
Carbohydrate, protein/amino acids and lipids); Biochemistry of
starvation and obesity;

WEEK 11 METABOLISM AND TEMPERATURE REGULATION

i. Nutritional requirements;
ii. Metabolism of the main food nutrients
iii. Elements of nutrition: essential and non-essential nutrients;
iv. Some clinical problems of nutrition
WEEK 12 The Integumentary system [The skin and its appendages]

WEEK 13 REVISION

WEEK 14-16 END OF SEMESTER EXAMINATION

E. TEACHING APPROACHES / MODE OF DELIVERY

 Lectures
 Discussions
 Demonstrations
 Presentations
 Tutorials
 case studies
 laboratory practical.

3
 ****The course will be taught/delivered in-person/face-to-face and with some online
activities.

F. ASSESSMENT METHODS AND PROPOSED GRADING

ASSESSMENT METHODS GRADING

Attendance/class participation 10%
Assignments/Quizzes 10%
Mid Semester Examination 20%
End of Semester Examinations
60%

G. RECOMMENDED READING LIST

1. Betts, J. G., Young, K. A., Wise, J. A., Johnson, E., Poe, B., Kruse, D. H., ... & DeSaix,
P. (2013). Anatomy and physiology.

2. Fox, S. I. (2021). Human physiology. (15th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill Companies,
Inc.

3. Gillian, P. and Christopher, D. R. (2016). Human Physiology: The Basis of Medicine, 4th.
Edition. Oxford University Press

4. Hall, J. E. & Hall, M. E. (2020). Guyton and Hall textbook of medical physiology. 14th ed.
London: Elsevier

5. Hole, W. John, Jn (2021) Human Anatomy and Physiology. 15th Ed. West Brown
Publishers
6. Jenkins, G., & Tortora, G. J. (2016). Anatomy and physiology.

7. John Wiley & Sons.Moini, J. (2015). Anatomy and physiology for health professionals.
Jones & Bartlett Publishers.

8. Kim, E. B. et al (2019). Ganong’s review of medical physiology. 26th ed. Boston:

McGraw-Hill.
9. Powers, S. K. (2020). Exercise physiology: theory and application to fitness and
performance. 11th ed. Boston: McGraw-Hill.

10. Saladin, K. S. (2021) Anatomy and physiology: The Unity of Form and function. 8th Ed.
McGraw-Hill

4
11. Sheeley, R. R., Stephens, T. D., & Tate, P. (2016). Anatomy and Physiology. 8th Ed.
McGraw-Hill, New York

12. Shier, D., Buctler, J. & Lewis, R. (2015). Hole’ essentials of human anatomy and
physiology. 12th Ed. McGraw-Hill, New York

13. Sherwood, L. (2016) Fundamentals of Physiology. Human Perspective. 4th Ed. West
Publishers

14. Tate, P. (2016). Sheeley’s Principles of Anatomy and Physiology. 3nd Ed. McGraw-Hill,
New York

15. Tortora, G. J., & Derrickson, B. H. (2018). Principles of anatomy and physiology. John
WILEY & Sons.

16. VanPutte, C. L., Regan, J. L., & Russo, A. F. (2021). Seeley's essentials of anatomy &
physiology. University of Iowa.

17. Widmaier, Eric P.;Raff, Hershel;Strang, Kevin T. (2016). Human Physiology: The
mechanism of body functions. 14th Ed. McGraw-Hill, New York