PHM 207: Human Physiology II
3 Credits
This course will introduce students to the central nervous system (CNS), peripheral nervous system
(PNS), renal, endocrine and reproductive systems
Specific Objectives/ Learning outcomes
At the end of the course, students should be able to:
1. describe the functions of the CNS
2. describe the components of the PNS
3. distinguish between sensory and motor systems
4. understand how the kidneys regulate fluid balance and urine formation
5. describe the function of the endocrine system and its relation with the reproductive system
Course Content
Week 1. CNS: Introduction to CNS, lobes of the brain and their functions, overview of limbic
system, synapse, neurotransmitter systems and disease of CNS
Week 2. PNS: Afferent and efferent systems, autonomic nervous systems, sympathomimetics and
parasympathomimetic
Week 3. Sensory and motor systems: Ascending and descending pathways
Week 4-5. Special senses: visual, auditory and vestibulocochlear pathways
Week 6. QUIZ I
Week 7. Special Senses: the chemical senses of taste and smell – taste buds and taste receptor cell;
taste projection; taste modalities; aguesia and hypogeusia; olfactory receptor cell;
olfactory projection and processing; anosmia
Week 8. Endocrine Physiology I: overview of chemical signalling, endocrine glands and
hormones, mechanism of hormone action
Week 9. Endocrine Physiology II: selected endocrine systems – pancreatic hormones and glucose
homeostasis; thyroid metabolic hormones; adrenocortical hormones; and gonadal
hormones
Week 10. Urinary System I: fluid balance – body fluid compartments, blood volume, hypo- and
hypernatraemia, oedema; overview of organs of the urogenital system; micturition
and abnormalities of micturition (atonic bladder, automatic bladder, uninhibited
neurogenic bladder);
Week 11. Urinary system II: urine formation – glomerular filtration; GFR determinants and
regulation (tubuloglomerular feedback)
Week 12. Urinary system III: tubular reabsorption and secretion; transport of glucose, amino acids
and sodium ions; dialysis
Week 13. Quiz II
Textbook and Reference Materials:
1. Tortora, G.J. & Derrickson, B. H. (2009). Principles of Anatomy and Physiology. 12th
Edition. Wiley, New York. ISBN: 9780470084717
2. Guyton, A. C. & Hall, J. E. (2006). Textbook of Medical Physiology. Philadelphia: Elsevier
Science. ISBN: 9780721602400.
3. Mckinley M., O’Loughlin V., Bidle T. (2016). Anatomy & Physiology: An Integrative
Approach. 2nd Edition. McGraw-Hill Education, 2016. ISBN: 9780078024283
4. Sherwood L. (2010). Human Physiology: From Cells to Systems.7th Edition. Brooks/Cole,
Cengage Learning, Belmont, CA. ISBN-13: 978-0-495-39184
Course Instructors:
Dr. Akua A. Karikari
Email: akua.karikari@ucc.edu.gh
Dr. Yussif M. Abdala
Email: adala.yussif@ucc.edu.gh