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Tamatha
Barbeau, Ph.D. Professor of Biology Coordinator: Veterinary Studies Program Coordinator: Program for Undergraduate Research (PURE) |
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Human
Physiology (Biol 236) Lecture Syllabus
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Instructor: Tamatha
Barbeau, Ph.D. |
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Lecture
Textbook: Updated
Jan 10, 2026. The lecture textbook will be a free, open source,
downloadable PDF (Human
Physiology, by Wikibooks Contributors, 2017). This PDF textbook will
have comments made by me, in pop-up boxes associated with highlighted
parts of the text. In these comments I will tell you which sections you
need to read and study, as well as which sections we will not be covering.
I recommend downloading the PDF onto your computer (iPad, etc...) in order
to view my embedded comments, as they don't show up well when viewing the
document online.
Lab Manual : There
is no published lab manual for this course. Lab exercises will be posted
as a downloadable PDF on the online course syllabus (Look further down below
on this page!). You must print these out, or have them on your electronic
device, and review them before coming to lab. Lab quizzes are based
on these handouts.
Course Description: In this course we will investigate human
physiology covering aspects of most of the major organ systems. The nature
of physiology is to understand how different organ systems of the body are
regulated by nervous and endocrine control, and this primarily involves
negative feedback systems in order to maintain homeostasis. This
course is tailored specifically towards pre-nursing students but is also
relevant to students in related allied health programs. [**See
comment below this section.] This course involves A LOT of memorization
of vocabulary along with more conceptual-based learning. Furthermore, this
course will involve cumulative knowledge - meaning you will apply material
covered earlier in the semester towards each successive newer concept and
topic. Most importantly, this course involves learning many physiological
pathways, and learning these pathways is often a new and challenging subject
to master.
I will provide you with MANY resources online to help you practice
and learn these pathways. Take advantage of the blank and key flow diagrams,
chapter outlines, and practice exams. I will also post blank PowerPoints
online, which I will annotate over in class, so print these out or have
them on your computer for class. Be prepared to study! You should spend
about 1-3 hours outside of lecture studying for each hour in lecture that
material is covered. Keep up with your reading of the textbook and review
of lecture notes frequently. You must complete a course in Human Anatomy
before taking this course, as we aim to build upon a pre-existing
knowledge of anatomy.
**If you are Pre-Vet, Pre-Med, or plan to apply
to a similar program, please check with your academic advisor if this is
the correct physiology course for you. Some programs require a minimum of
a 300 level or higher physiology. This course is tailored to the needs of
Pre-Nursing, Pre-Physician Assistant programs, and some other health programs.
Just check with the program you are hoping to apply to after this course,
and see if this physiology course meets their prerequisite requirements.
This online syllabus is very thorough, and you can send this link to your
program of choice, and they can examine it and let you know if it meets
their requirements.
Course
Conduct : This course consists of
three lectures per week and one 3-hour lab. Lecture material is covered
at a rapid pace so print out the lecture PowerPoints and look them over
before lecture, or have them on your device. Be prepared for in-class discussions
and laboratory activities by reading the assigned material prior to class.
Students will be evaluated by their performance on lecture exams and quizzes,
and laboratory quizzes and lab reports. Attendance of both the lecture and
the laboratories is mandatory. Notification of the instructor prior to
an absence is strongly recommended, and absences are excused
only for valid reasons (e.g. medical or legal reasons, or emergencies).
Furthermore, I will require proof of those excuses in form of a signed
note that you provide to me. No more than 6 excused absences from lecture
and 3 absences from lab are permitted. Absences exceeding this limit can
result in you being dropped from the course. You will be responsible for
making up any missed material. Material from the lab can and will be included
in the lecture portion of the course.
Lecture Exams: There are 4 exams in
the semester, based on material covered in each quarter of the course; thus,
exams are not comprehensive. Attendance at exams is mandatory. Make-up exams
will be given only to students with documented excuses for an absence, and
make-up exams will include fill-in-the-blank and short answer questions.
If you miss an exam you must provide me with an official excuse and take
a make-up exam within 1 week. Failure to do so results in a zero for that
exam. There will be no exceptions to this rule. The final exam time and
location is given by the Course Schedule. You must take your final exam
when it is scheduled, and there will be no exceptions and no makeup final
exam unless you have a verifiable emergency. If you schedule a vacation
or trip during that time you will have to decide between the trip or receiving
a zero for the final exam. If you have multiple exams on that day you simply
must budget your time wisely and start studying well ahead of schedule.
Lecture Quizzes: There are 3 lecture
quizzes consisting of 25 questions given during the first 25 min of lecture.
Quizzes contain multiple choice, fill-in-the-blanks, and matching questions.
If you come late to lecture on these days you do not take the quiz. If you
miss a quiz, or arrive late on the day of a quiz, you must provide an official
excuse and make up the quiz within 1 week, or you will receive a zero. There
will be no exceptions to this rule.
Lecture Writing Assignment:
There will be 1 writing assignment in lecture, worth 35 pts. Click
HERE
for details, and an example writing assignment.
Lab Reports: There will be
two lab reports due during the semester.
Spelling and grammar counts! Click HERE
for guidelines on writing lab reports and see example lab report
included within. Click HERE
to see an example of a nursing article published using this format. Click
HERE
for blood pressure lab report grading guidelines. Click HERE
to see how blood glucose regulation report is graded. Click HERE
for kidney lab report grading guidelines.
Lab Quizzes: There are 6 lab quizzes
during the semester consisting of 10 - 15 questions given during the first
15 min of lab. Quizzes contain multiple choice, fill-in-the-blanks, and
matching questions. If you come late to lecture on these days you do not
take the quiz. If you miss a quiz, or arrive late on the day of a quiz,
you must provide an official excuse and make up the quiz within 1 week,
or else you receive a zero. There will be no exceptions to this rule.
Attendance: There are no points given
for attendance, BUT attendance is recorded throughout the semester. Students
that attend lecture regularly, and follow any online supplements, tend to
do better in the course. I often present material during lecture that is
not found in the textbook. Furthermore, if you are receiving financial aid
or are on academic warning the FMU registrar, financial aid office, or other
administrative offices might contact me to ascertain the date of your last
attendance in the course. Laboratory attendance/participation is mandatory!
You are allowed no more than 6 absences from lecture, and no more than 3
excused absences from lab (with official excuse). Any further absences can
result in your being dismissed from lab and the course. There is no way
to make-up missed labs.
Student
Performance : In this course performance is assessed based on
percentage of total possible points as shown below. The lab is worth 25%
of the course. There are no extra credit assignments in this course, so
every quiz, exam, and practical counts!
IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT APPLYING TO FMU'S BSN NURSING PROGRAM:
ContactClinical Coordinator - Nursing, Kelly Heavner, Office: LNB
144 Phone: 843-661-1226, E-mail
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Number
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Points
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Total
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| Lecture Exams |
4
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150
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600
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| Lecture Quizzes |
3
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50
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150
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| Lab Quizzes |
6
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30
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180
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| Lab Reports |
2
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35
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70
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| Total |
1000
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| Grading Scale | 90 - 100% A | 75 - 79.4% C+ | 60 - 64.4% D |
| 85 - 89.4% B+ | 70 - 74.4% C | < 60% F | |
| 80 - 84.4% B | 65 - 69.4% D+ |
Be prepared to study! You should spend about 1-3 hours outside of lecture studying for each hour in lecture. - Keep up with your reading of the textbook and review of lecture notes frequently. Don't try and study 3-4 chapters of material the night before an exam. If I gave you practice exams and flow charts, USE THEM! Writing things out is the best way to commit the material to memory. In general, you must start studying 1 week in advance of a lecture quiz, and 3 weeks in advance for a lecture exam.
RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE COURSE:
• Cheating WILL NOT be tolerated. Pay attention, keep up with the reading, review your notes regularly, and study appropriately for each quiz and exam. If you are caught cheating on any quiz or exam it will result in an automatic zero. It will also be my prerogative to report you to the Provost's office for formal reprimand.
• My course policy on the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in writing assignments. I prefer your written work is NOT generated by an AI program (e.g., including, but not limited to, ChatGPT, DeepAI, Grammarly) and submitted as your own. The material generated by these programs may be inaccurate, incomplete, or otherwise problematic. Using AI to generate ideas and brainstorm is one thing, BUT to quote AI content or present it as factual in your writing is dubious. Furthermore, instructors have become more adept at being able to distinguish if AI was used in your assignment (we can actually look it up). Beware that using AI is simply an easy, but lazy, shortcut that seriously stifles your own independent critical thinking and creativity.
• My course policy on professional behavior in the classroom. I expect all of my students to behave in a manner that reflects respect, courtesy, and professionalism towards each other (and your instructor) in the classroom and laboratory. Unprofessional behavior is any behavior that is contentious, threatening, insulting, or otherwise interferes with an individual's or group's professional responsibilities, self-respect, or ability to collaborate productively with others. Since this course does involve students working collaboratively (especially in the laboratory), please always treat others as you would like to be treated.
NEED HELP? If you need help in this course, please see me after class, during lab, or during my office hours. I am always willing to work with you, and provide whatever help you need to succeed in my course. It's my job! Your job is to seek help when you need it. If you require academic counseling, or services involving learning or physical disabilities, please go to the Office of Counseling and Testing (843-661-1840). If you need tutoring, call the Tutoring Center at (843) 661-1675.
LECTURE
SCHEDULE: The following is a tentative lecture schedule
of the subject material, exam, quiz, and writing assignment dates.
This schedule was updated Wed Apr 8, 2026
| Week of | Topic |
| Jan 14, 16 (W,F) |
W,F: CH 1 HOMEOSTASIS & FEEDBACK LOOPS (PowerPoint)
(Completed
Notes) Chapter
1 Study Outline. Practice
Exam Ch 1. Body temperature flow chart. and KEY. Blood glucose regulation flow chart, and KEY. LOW BP flow chart, and KEY. HIGH BP flow chart. and KEY No labs the first week of classes. (Fri Jan 10th - Drop/Add ends) |
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Jan
19 (M) |
M:
Martin Luther King Day (no class) W,F: CH 2, part 1: CELL METABOLISM. (Powerpoint) (Completed Notes) . Chapter 2 part 1 Study Outline. Practice Exam Ch 2 part 1. Glycolysis flow chart , and KEY; Glyogen and lipid metabolism flow chart, and KEY; Amino acid metabolism flow chart, and KEY. Lab 1: Blood Pressure Regulation. Please wear a short-sleeved shirt or one with sleeves that can roll up over biceps! Blood Pressure Regulation lab report assigned. Due Feb 18 & 19. Click HERE for Blood Pressure Lab Report guidelines. |
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M: Ch 2 part
1 contin...
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| Feb 2, 4, 6 (M,W,F) | M:
Snow day (Classes cancelled) W: Lecture Quiz 1 (Ch 1) , Finish Ch 2 part 2, and start Ch 4 part 1 F: CH 4, part 1: PHYSIOLOGY OF NEUROTRANSMITTERS. (PowerPoint) (Completed Notes) . Chapter 4 part 1 Study Outline. Instructor's Notes, Practice Exam Ch 4 part 1. ACh signaling flow chart, and KEY. Lab 3: Osmosis & Diffusion. Lab Quiz 2: quiz will be an open-book handout to be completed in lab and turned in before you leave. |
| Feb 9, 11, 13 (M,W,F) |
M,W: Ch
4 part 1 contin.... (Don't worry if we take longer to finish Ch
4 part 1. I will adjust the syllabus accordingly. The material in
that chapter is too important to rush through.) |
| Feb 16, 18, 20 (M,W,F) |
M: completion
of Ch 4 part 1 |
| Feb 23, 25, 27 (M,W,F) | M:
Ch 4, part 3: PNS PHYSIOLOGY (PowerPoint)
(Completed
Notes)
Instructors's Notes . Chapter
4 part 3 Study Outline. Practice
Exam Ch 4 part 3. PNS flow chart; PNS flowchart KEY. W,F: Ch 14: Endocrine Physiology. (PowerPoint) (Completed Notes) Chapter 14 Study Outline. Practice Exam Ch 14, Instructor's Notes. Endocrine flow diagram. Endocrine KEY Lab 5: Blood Glucose Regulation Lab Quiz 3. Lab Report on Blood Glucose Regulation assigned. Due on Mon Apr 13 at start of LECTURE. |
| Mar 2, 4, 6 (M,W,F) |
M: Ch 9 contin...
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| Mar 9, 11, 13 (M,W,F) |
M: Lecture Exam 2 [Ch 4 part 1 - remainder of neurotransmitters (serotonin, dopamine, epinephrine, glutamate, glycine, & GABA), and Ch 4 parts 2 & 3] W,F: CH
7 & 8: BLOOD AND CARDIOVASCULAR PHYSIOLOGY.
(PowerPoint)
(Completed
Notes) .
Instructor's notes; Chapter
7 & 8 Study Outline.
Practice Exam Ch 7 & 8. (I updated this
practice exam on 4/8/26) |
| Mar 16 - 20 Spring Break | Yay! |
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Mar 23, 25, 27 (MWF) |
M: Ch 7 & 8 contin.. W: Guest speaker: Dr. Dorie Weaver and nursing students Lab 7: Muscle Physiology.(muscle lab handout was updated 3/26/26). There will be a handout to complete and turn in at the end of lab, in place of a quiz 5. F: Lecture Quiz 2 (Ch 14 - endocrine) |
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Mar 30, Apr 1, 3 (M,W,F) |
M: Ch 7 &
8 contin... (we are a bit behind in the cardio chapter, so I will
likely cut some material) |
| Apr 6, 8, 10 (M,W,F) | M: Ch 11 W: Finish Ch 11, start CH 10: KIDNEY PHYSIOLOGY. (PowerPoint) (Completed Notes) . Ch 10 Study Outline. Practice Exam Ch 10 . Regulation of GFR flow chart, Regulation of GFR KEY . Lab 9: Exam 3 review. F: Lecture Exam 3 (Ch 6, 7, 8) Fri, Apr 10th - last day to withdraw from a course |
| Apr 13, 15, 17 (M,W,F) |
M: Ch
10 contin.... Click
HERE for
blank flow diagram on Immune Sequence of Events. Click HERE
for KEY. |
| Apr 20, 22, 24 (MWF) |
M,W,F: CH 15: MALE & FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE PHYSIOLOGY. (PowerPoint)
(Completed Notes) Ch
15 Study Outline.
Practice
Exam Ch 15.
Click HERE for regulation of steroidogeneis and gametogenesis. (KEY) Lab 11: Exam 4 review period |
| Apr 27 Last day class | Lecture Quiz 3 (Ch 11) |
| Final
Exam - Fri May 1st, 8:30am (NOT 9:30am!) |
Exam 4 (Ch 9, 10, 15) The final exam date and time is set. You must be present. Makeups will only be provided for verifiable emergency or illness. |