BI-421 Human Physiology lecture (WI)
Queensborough Community College
Areti Tsimounis, Ph.D.
COURSE DESCRIPTION: This is the lecture component of the Human Physiology course. The course will
cover in detail all the systems of the human body (skeletal, muscular, nervous, endocrine, digestive, urogenital,
circulatory, reproductive, etc.). Physiological principles (i.e., how things work) at the cellular and organ level will
be discussed. Abnormalities and disorders will also be examined. At the end of the semester students should
have a solid understanding of these biological concepts and how the different systems give rise to a functioning
human body.
Prerequisites: BI-201 General Biology I, and either BI-202 (General Biology II) or BI-235 (Human Anatomy).
COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
Reading: ‘Principles of Anatomy and Physiology’ by G.J. Tortora and B. Derrickson. Wiley 14th edition.
There may be additional handouts to accompany the assigned reading material.
Lecture grade distribution:
3 exams
Homework assignments
Effort and participation
Lecture grade
Lab grade
70% of final lecture grade (23%+23%+24%)
20% of final lecture grade
10% of final lecture grade
60% of final course grade
40% of final course grade
Examinations: There will be three in-class exams based on the material covered during the lectures. None of
the exams will be cumulative, however information provided earlier in the term may be required to respond to
questions posed later in the term. Different types of questions (e.g., multiple-choice, short-answer, fill-ins, truefalse, definitions) will be included.
If you are going to miss an exam, you must contact the instructor before the exam takes place, and you must
produce a written excuse from your doctor or other official documentation. If you miss an exam and you do
not contact the instructor before the exam, you will receive a zero for that exam.
Students who arrive to class more than 15 minutes later than the scheduled exam time will not be allowed to
take the exam.
Writing Intensive: This course is offered as a Writing Intensive (WI) course. This means that there will be a
certain number of writing assignments in the lecture and laboratory that will fulfill the WI requirements, for
example, laboratory reports and papers on an assigned topic related to the course material. More information
on these requirements will be provided in class.
Students are expected to participate actively in class discussions and to do their own work on the exams.
Behavior that is disrespectful to the instructors or fellow students during class will not be tolerated and will
result in dismissal from the class. This includes exchanging electronic or other notes, web-surfing, using a
cellular telephone or any other electronic device, etc.
There will be no extra-credit assignments given. (Don’t even ask!)
Cheating, copying on an examination or assignment, plagiarism or any other form of academic dishonesty will
not be tolerated. [From Webster’s New World College Dictionary (4th ed.): “plagiarize = to take (ideas,
writings, etc.) from (another) and pass them off as one’s own”. Make appropriate references in your written
assignments.] Students found guilty of any form of academic dishonesty are subject to discipline, including
suspension or dismissal from the College and denial of a degree or certificate. The College’s Academic Integrity
Plan can be found at www.qcc.cuny.edu/governance/docs/Academic_Integrity_Document.pdf.
Attendance: “Absence from class can reduce the student’s chances of completing a course successfully.
Generally, absences beyond 15 percent of course hours may result in a failure of the course. Lateness to class
can be considered an absence as well.” (From the Queensborough Community College 2011-2013 Course
Catalog.)
LECTURE SCHEDULE
Session #1
Course introduction
An introduction to the human body (Chapter 1)
The chemical level of organization (Chapter 2)
The cellular level of organization (Chapter 3)
Session #2
The cellular level of organization – cont. (Chapter 3)
The tissue level of organization (Chapter 4)
The integumentary system (Chapter 5)
Session #3
The skeletal system: bone tissue (Chapter 6)
The skeletal system: the axial skeleton (Chapter 7)
The skeletal system: the appendicular skeleton (Chapter 8)
Joints (Chapter 9)
Session #4
Muscular tissue (Chapter 10)
Exam review
Session #5
EXAM #1
Nervous tissue (Chapter 12)
Session #6
Nervous tissue – cont. (Chapter 12)
The spinal cord and spinal nerves (Chapter 13)
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Session #7
The spinal cord and spinal nerves – cont. (Chapter 13)
The brain and cranial nerves (Chapter 14)
The autonomic nervous system (Chapter 15)
Session #8
Sensory, motor, and integrative systems (Chapter 16)
The special senses (Chapter 17)
Session #9
The special senses – cont. (Chapter 17)
Exam review
Session #10
EXAM #2
The cardiovascular system: the heart (Chapter 20)
The cardiovascular system: blood vessels and hemodynamics (Chapter 21)
Session #11
The cardiovascular system: blood vessels and hemodynamics – cont. (Chapter 21)
The lymphatic system and immunity (Chapter 22)
Session #12
The respiratory system (Chapter 23)
The digestive system (Chapter 24)
Session #13
The digestive system – cont. (Chapter 24)
The urinary system (Chapter 26)
Session #14
The reproductive systems (Chapter 28)
Exam review
EXAM #3 will be given during the final exam period. The date, time, and location will be announced near the
end of the term.
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