First Homework (worth 5 pts.)
- Due Sunday 11 PM of the first week of
school.
Log on to Blackboard http://clpccd.blackboard.com
and enter the Physiology 1 class site (1 pt.)
Go to “Tools”, then “Personal Information” . Make
sure the correct email address has been entered.
If you have to make a change you will have to
make through Class Web (1 pts.)
Now go to “Change Password” and choose your own
password.
Review all pages of the syllabus carefully! (2 pts.)
First Homework cont.: Student
Info Sheet
Fill out the student info sheet that you
received during the first class period.
Turn it back in Monday of the second week.
Worth 1 point.
Textbook – some
special features:
Background basics
 RUNNING PROBLEMS
 Concept checks
 Chapter summary
 EOC questions
 The Physiology place
(http://www.physiologyplace.com)
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Ch 1: Introduction to Physiology
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Definition of physiology
Review of organ systems
Function and process
Introduction to the concept of homeostasis
Ideas in physiology
Themes in physiology
The science of physiology
Searching and reading the scientific literature
Physiology is . . .
. . . the study of the ___________ of all plants and
animals in their ____________ state.
. . . an integrative science
Fig 1-1:
Moving beyond the genome: from genomics to proteomics
Review Levels of Organization
Physiological Organ Systems
 Operate as integrated units
 How
many?
Can you list them?
Examples:
1. Regulation of plasma calcium concentration
2. Regulation of blood pressure
See Fig 1-2
Function and Process:
Teleological vs. Mechanistic Approach
What is purpose or function?
Why does something exist?
Why does it need to be done?
What are processes involved?
How does something work?
Key Themes in Physiology:
1. Homeostasis
Integration of body system functions (Ch 6)
2. Biological Energy Use
Constant energy input needed (Ch 4)
3. Structure-Function Relationships molecular
interactions (Ch 2), compartmentation (Ch 3)
4. Communication and movement across cell
membranes
Cells communicate with other cells, tissues & organs.
Membrane transport, signal transduction (Chs 5 / 6)
Homeostasis
Difference between land animals and sea
creatures
Many body parameters need to be closely
monitored because they must not change
much.
Homeostasis vs. homeodynamics
Failure to maintain homeostasis 
Pathophysiology
cell
Fig 1-3
Internal vs. external
failure of homeostasis
Fig 1-4
Focus on . . . . (Concept)
Mapping
1.
Structure – function maps
2.
Process maps or Flow
charts
Follow process in sequence
Example: Support in organisms
Fig 1-5 b)
The Science of Physiology
is
based on the Scientific Method
Review
1.
2.
3.
Basic steps of scientific method
Parameters to consider
Experimental design
Basic Steps of Scientific Method:
Observation (and/or study of prior
knowledge)
Hypothesis
Experimentation
Collection and analysis of data (can you
replicate results?)
Conclusion: reject or accept hypothesis
theory
Parameters to consider:
Independent vs. dependent variables
Controlled by
experimenter
Responds to independent variable:
gives results.
Experimental group vs. control group: only
one independent variable is changed
Independent variable (= manipulated, altered variable) = ?
Dependent variable (= responding to independent variable) = ?
Example:
Company has found new artificial
sweetener (S)
Prior knowledge:
Some food additives are not safe.
Hypothesis: ?
Experiments: ?
Collect and analyze data
Conclusion
Animal vs. Human Experimentation
 In
Physiology most knowledge is derived from
_______ experimentation.
 Sometime
human experimentation necessary.
Difficulties
of Human Experimentation:
Variability →
very dissimilar test subjects
 Psychological aspects → placebo vs. nocebo
effects
 Ethical questions → is it o.k. to withhold
potential drug from seriously ill?
Experimental Design for Human
Studies
Blind study (subjects do not know if they get
treatment or placebo)
Double-blind study
Double-blind crossover study (each subject
participates in experimental AND control group)
Experimental Design for Human
Studies cont.
Longitudinal studies (e.g.: Framingham Heart
Study)
Prospective studies (e.g.: Body-mass index
and mortality in a prospective cohort of U.S.
adults.)
Retrospective studies (e.g.: Silent aspiration:
results of 2,000 video fluoroscopic
evaluations.)
Meta-analysis (e.g.: Meta-analysis of soy
intake and breast cancer risk)
Development of pharmaceutical
drugs (not in book)
In vitro
few
In vivo tests on labanimals
< 10%
In vivo human clinical trials (3 phases)
FDA approval
Focus on Graphs (pp.12/13)

Data are often
presented in form
of a graph

For examples
review Fig 1-7
Read “Searching and Reading The Scientific
Literature” before library orientation.