BIOL305

The major theme of this course aims to explore physiological processes critical to all animals by examining systems from cellular to organismal levels, utilizing an experimental approach. This course places a high degree of emphasis on practical experience, experimentation and analysis. Students will conduct in vitro and in vivo experiments designed to illustrate basic physiological processes, physiological research techniques, instrumentation, experimental design, and interpretation of results. Techniques include anesthesia, surgical procedures, and dissection of animal models; as well as real-time computer recording and analysis of physiological processes on both human subjects and animal models. Experiments with isolated living tissues or live animals examine properties of membranes and epithelia, nerves, skeletal and smooth muscle; cardiovascular, respiratory, and renal function; with a strong emphasis on their regulation by the nervous and endocrine systems.