Basic Animal Biology 2013/2014 Course Manual
Teaching
L1
Introduction
L2
Homeostasis
Suggested Reading
Unit 1. Homeostasis and Circulatory System.
Chapter 1, parts 1.1, 1.2, 1.3
VHP Chapter 1, parts 1.6, 1.7, 1.8
TE1
Homeostasis
P1
Birth and
Development
Chapter 1, parts 1.4 and 1.5
Practicals Manual
Chapter 12, Sections A, B, C and D
L3
Circulation part 1
(Structure & Function)
L4
Circulation part 2
(Heart & Regulation)
TE2
Circulation
Focus pages:
355, 359-62
356-57, 379, 381, 389-90
362-63, 368-69
372-73, 375, 398, 400
Learning Objectives
Calendar week 47.
To understand the format and teaching methods
of the BAB Course
To understand the meaning of the term
“physiology”
To understand the basic structural organization
of the body; cells, tissues, organs, organ systems
To understand how homeostasis is achieved
To understand how feedback systems operate
To understand the set point principle, adaptation
and acclimatization and biological rhythms
To experience interaction with unfamiliar
animals
To understand the principle of homeostasis
To understand how different species adapt to
life’s challenges
To recognize the basic anatomy of the heart and
blood vessels
To understand the basic functions of the
cardiovascular system
To understand the divisions of the cardiac cycle
and how it is regulated
To understand the factors that affect blood
pressure, and its regulation
Key Terms
VHP page 18
VHP page 18
Precocious
Altricial
VHP pages:
358
376
396
404
Teaching
L5
Cells
Suggested Reading
Learning Objectives
Unit 2. Fluid Balance and Renal System.
Calendar week 48.
To understand the basic structure of cells and
VHP Chapter 3.
This should be revision. Chapter 3 is NOT
included in the BAB pensum. Focus on
sections A and E
L6
Membrane transport
VHP Chapter 4.
VHP Chapter 6 Section B
TE3
Cells and membranes
P2
Blood pressure, ECG,
cell water
VHP Chapter 12 (revision from Unit
1). Practicals Manual
L7
Blood, part 1
VHP Chapter 12, section F, partsF.1
and F.2
(Part F.3 haemostasis will be covered
later, in TE4)
L8
Kidney function, part
1
VHP Chapter 14
L9
Kidney function, part
2
TE4
Fluid balance,
including haemostasis
VHP Chapter 12, section F, part F.3
cell organelles
To understand the basic metabolic functioning of
cells
To understand the basic structure of cell
membranes
To understand how molecules move across cell
membranes through:
Diffusion, facilitated and active transport.
Understand the maintenance and regulation of
the membrane potential
To reinforce knowledge of function of circulatory
system and its coordination with water balance
Key Terms
VHP page 56,
92
VHP page 115116
VHP page
To understand the constituents of blood:
Plasma (and how plasma differs from serum)
The concept of osmosis
The importance of the plasma and the
extracellular phase for cell function
Erythrocytes (red blood cells)
Leucocytes (white blood cells)
To understand the basic anatomy of the kidneys
and urinary system
To understand the basic function of the kidney,
filtration, reabsorption and secretion.
To understand the regulation of kidney function,
with focus on water, sodium and potassium.
To understand the importance of the kidney for
overall salt and water homeostasis and for
regulation of blood pressure.
VHP page 429
To reinforce knowledge of the different
mechanisms contributing to fluid balance in the
body
VHP page 429
VHP pages 489,
506, 511
Teaching
Suggested Reading
Learning Objectives
Unit 3. Respiratory System and Immune System.
L10
Respiration part 1
L11
Respiration part 2
TE4
Respiration
P3
Respiration
L12
Immune system
part 1
L13
TE5
Immune system
part 2
Immune system
Immune system
Demo
Circulation research
Chapter 13
Focus pages:
435-37
438-42
438, 442, 444, 447
448-52
454-58
460-64
Practicals Manual
VHP Chapter 18.1 to 18.4
Practicals Manual
Key Terms
Calendar week 49.
To recognize the distinction between cellular
respiration and pulmonary physiology
To understand the basic anatomy of the
respiratory system
To understand the basic functions of the
respiratory (or pulmonary) system
To understand how gas exchange occurs
To understand the transport of gases in the
blood
To understand the basic principles for regulation
of ventilation
To reinforce the understanding of ventilation and
its regulation, and gaseous exchange
To understand the different body systems and
cells that contribute to defence against disease.
To understand the innate immune response.
To understand the inflammatory response.
To understand the acquired immune response
To experience how a research laboratory works
To reinforce knowledge of the circulation
VHP page 471
to 472
VHP pages
667-668
Teaching
L14
Nervous system part 1
Reading
Unit 4. Regulatory Systems.
VHP Chapter 6 sections A, C and D
(revise section B from unit 2)
L15
Nervous system part 2
VHP Chapter 10
TE6
Nervous system
L16
Musculo-skeletal
system and muscle
function
VHP Chapter 9 section A
Nerves and muscle
Practicals Manual
P4
L17
Endocrine systems
part 1
VHP Chapter 5, section on receptors
(this should be revision and is not
pensum)
VHP Chapter 11 sections A and B
L18
TE7
Endocrine systems
part 2
Endocrinology
VHP Chapter 11 section E
Learning Objectives
Calendar week 50.
To understand the basic anatomy and structure of
nerve cells (neurons) and supporting (glial) cells
To understand the physioligcal functioning of
neurons
To understand the generation and propagation of
nerve impulses (action potentials)
To understand the way in which neurons signal to
each other through synapses
To understand the structural organisation of the
nervous system
To understand the interaction between nerves and
muscles in the regulation of local motor activity
To understand the involvement of higher brain
centres in coordinated motor activity
To understand the basic anatomy and structure of
skeletal, cardiac and smooth muscle
To understand the physiological functioning of
skeletal muscle
To understand skeletal muscle contraction and its
regulation at single fibre and whole muscle levels
To reinforce knowledge of the integrated actions
of the nervous and musculoskeletal systems
To understand the different ways in which cells,
tissues and organs communicate with each other
To understand the location and role of the major
endocrine organs
To understand the role of the hypothalamus as a
regulator of other endocrine systems
To understand relationships between the
hypothalamus and the pituitary gland
To understand the GH and IGF axis and its role in
regulating growth
To understand the regulation of bone growth and
its importance in determining adult size
Key Terms
VHP pages 141,
156, 169
VHP pages 183,
308
VHP p 278
VHP pages 329,
and 336
VHP page 344
Teaching
L19
Reading
Unit 5. Digestive System and Metabolic Physiology.
Digestive system
part 1
VHP Chapter 15
L20
Digestive system
part 2
TE8
Digestive system
L21
Metabolic Physiology
VHP Chapter 16
P5
Mouse dissection
Practicals Manual, Dissection guide
Learning Objectives
Calendar week 51.
To understand the structure and function of the
digestive tract and accessory digestive organs
To understand the digestion of the major food
groups, protein, carbohydrate and fat
To understand the absorption of the major food
groups
To understand the regulation of the digestive tract
and digestive processes by endocrine and neural
factors
To understand how the body uses the products of
digestion and absorption
To understand how the body stores, utilizes and
generates “energy” and “building blocks”
To understand the absorptive, post-absorptive and
fasting metabolic states
To recognize basic mammalian anatomy,
including: digestive organs, reproductive organs,
liver, kidneys, bladder, spleen, heart, lungs, brain.
Key Terms
VHP pages
550-551
VHP pages
568, 584
Teaching
Reading
Learning Objectives
Unit 6. Metabolism, Growth and Ageing
L22
L23
TE9
Calcium balance
Growth and
development
Growth and Ageing
VHP Chapter 11 sections F
Growth and ageing manual, NOT
pensum
Why do women live longer than men?
Opportunity for group presentation in
week 3 (optional).
Key Terms
Calendar week 1.
To understand the regulation of the uptake, storage VHP page
and mobilization of calcium
351
To understand the basic cellular processes involved
in growth: proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis
To understand at a basic level how the process of
morphogenesis is able to create complex tissues,
organs and body systems
To understand growth of different organs at different
VHP page 344
stages of the life cycle and under different
physiological circumstances
To understand how growth is integrated at the tissue
and whole animal level
To explore the pattern of ageing in different human
and animal populations
To explore the cellular processes that characterize
ageing
To understand at a basic level the various theories
that explain the ageing process
Teaching
L24
Reproductive
physiology part 1
L25
Reproductive
physiology part 2
TE10
Reading
Unit 7. Reproductive Physiology
VHP Chapter 17
Reproduction
L26
Lactation physiology
VHP Chapter 17
TE11
Parental investment
and intergenerational
effects
Opportunity for group presentation in
week 3 (optional).
Learning Objectives
Calendar week 2.
To understand the anatomy and functioning of the
male and female reproductive systems
To understand the different stages of the
menstrualcycle
To understand the role of the hypothalamus and
anterior pituitary in regulating reproductive
function
To understand the endocrine functions of the male
and female gonads
To understand the process of fertilization
To understand at a basic level the processes of
embryogenesis, placentation and fetal
development and function
To understand the processes of:
Mammogenesis (mammary gland development)
Lactogenesis (initiation of lactation)
Milk ejection reflex (removal of milk)
Galactopoiesis (maintenance of milk secretion)
Mammary involution (cessation of lactation)
To explore the maternal and paternal relationships
with offspring
To explore the maternal adaptations necessary for
successful pregnancy and lactation
To explore the neonatal adaptations to very early
extrauterine life
To explore how early life influences can have long
term effects on growth, development and
metabolism
Key Terms
VHP page 629