This module aims to:

1. Provide students with a grounding in the concepts and principles that underlie human systems biology;
2. Introduce the concepts of interactions of drugs and other exogenous chemicals on biological processes;
3. Develop concepts of drug absorption and the relationship between chemical structure and drug action;
4. Develop knowledge and understanding in physiology and pharmacology, and ability to apply, evaluate and interpret this knowledge to solve problems in these disciplines.

On successful completion of this module, the students will be able to:

1.  Describe homeostasis and its maintenance;
2.  Define osmosis and hydrostatic pressure;
3.  Outline the fundamentals of membrane potentials and how they are influenced;
4.  Explain the roles played in various body systems in organism maintenance;
5.  Distinguish how body systems interact in response to external stressors;
6.  Define the way in which pharmacology is studied and drugs are developed;
7.  Describe the properties of receptors;
8.  Identify the chemical interactions between drugs and receptors;
9.  Define and use the terms absorption, distribution and metabolism of drugs.

Lecture -

Other -

The following physiological systems and processes will be covered and, where appropriate, the effects of drugs on these systems and processes will be described. Concepts such as drug absorption, drug targets and the relationship between chemical structure and the action of drugs at target sites will be described.

Homeostasis: understanding the need and its maintenance, positive and negative feedback control systems

Fluid movement: hydrostatic pressure, osmosis and the interplay between them

Ion transport: ions and their normal concentrations, channels and modes of ion transport

Membrane potential: understanding membrane potentials , influences and maintenance.

Excitability: the molecular basis of excitability, the function of ions involved in the generation of an action potential. Nernst and Goldman equations

Neurons: function of a neuron and how it is achieved. Ion channels and their different states of activation/deactivation

Action potentials: ionic basis of the action potential, All or none principle. Propagation of an action potential, influences on conduction velocity; myelin sheath and saltatory conduction.

The synapse: types of synapse, structure of the synapse, chemical synapse events, neurotransmitters and the different classes

Nervous system: General organisation of the nervous system, anatomy of the CNS, meninges, white and grey matter. Human brain structure and the cranial nerves.

CNS and PNS: the spinal cord, motor units, neurons and neuronal pools and reflexes

ANS: the autonomic nervous system, comparison of ANS with the somatic nervous system. Divisions of the ANS (para- and sympathetic), visceral reflexes.

Skeletal muscle: structure of skeletal muscle, variation between skeletal, smooth and cardiac muscle. Muscle contraction and its control, sliding filament theory, length/tension relationship in a sarcomere.

Cardiovascular system: general structure and organisation, arteries, veins and capilliary types.

Cardiac action potential:changes in membrane potential occurring during the cardiac action potential, differences between the cardiac and a skeletal action potential. Control and influences on the cardiac action potential. Pathway of activation of cardiac muscle

Cardiac cycle: definitions of systole and diastole and their relationship during the cardiac cycle. Understanding the cardiac cycle and its presentation on an ECG.

ECG’s: P, QRS and T waves / elements of the ECG and their relationships to pressure and volume changes in the cardiac cycle

Cardiac output: influences on cardiac output and its control. Autonomic innervations and hormone influences on heart rate, effects of end diastolic and end systolic volumes on stroke volume.

Cardiac Control: intrinsic and extrinsic control of the heart, effects of pre-load and afterload on cardiac output. Starlings law of the heart. Inotropic and chronotropic influences on the heart.

Respiratory system: general anatomy and functional properties of the respiratory system

Mechanics of respiration: the physical process of breathing and its control

 Gaseous exchange and transport: CO₂ and O₂ exchange and transport, the importance of pressure gradients and haemoglobin.

Ventilation: lung volumes their measurement and how these can be effected. Factors that interfere with ventilation: obstructive and restrictive disturbances

Control of Respiration:mechanisms which control respiration and the role of the respiratory centres, influences of CO₂ and O₂.

Renal system: overview of kidney structure and its functional elements.

Glomerulus structure, filtration, the importance of pressures, Glomerular filtration rate and clearance

Proximal CT: channels and transport, reabsorption and osmosis, glucose and Na.

Loop of Henle:properties and their importance, control of fluid balance, reabsorption and secretion, counter-current multiplier system.

Distal CT and the collecting duct:secr etion and control of circulating fluid volume. Renin/angiotensin and ADH regulation