In this course, students learn to recognize and to apply the basic concepts that govern integrated body function (as an intact organism) in the body's nine organ systems.
Introductory Human Physiology
Offered By
Duke University
Syllabus - What you will learn from this course
Week
11 hour to complete
Welcome and Additional Resources
Start here!
1 video (Total 2 min), 6 readings
1 video
6 readings
Welcome to Human Physiology10m
How to Use Discussion Forums10m
Course Logistics10m
About Us10m
FAQ_Including Syllabus for Downloading10m
Get to Know Your Classmates10m
4 hours to complete
Homeostasis and Endocrine System
Welcome to Module 2 of Introductory Human Physiology! We begin our study of the human body with an overview of the basic concepts that underlie the functions of cells and organs within the body and their integration to maintain life. This is an important introduction to how physiologists view the body. We will return to these basic concepts again as we progress through the organs systems and consider how they respond to perturbations incurred in daily functions and in disease.
The things to do this week are to watch the 6 videos, to answer the in-video questions, to read the notes for each topic, and to complete two problem sets (homeostasis, transporters & channels, and endocrine concepts). It will be most effective if you follow the sequence of videos. The notes provide a more detailed summary of each topic. We encourage you to find which resource (videos and/or notes) works best for you.We have included a set of problems to be completed as homework exercises. We strongly encourage you to complete these problems sets. They are not graded and are for your personal feedback. It has been our experience that these exercises are helpful in increasing understanding and retention of the newly learned materials.Please use the interactive forum as a means to exchange ideas, to ask questions, to form study groups and interest groups, and to meet your community. We will monitor the forum daily.Thank you for joining us. We are excited about sharing this educational experience with you. Welcome!
6 videos (Total 140 min), 1 reading, 3 quizzes
6 videos
Regulation of Homeostasis27m
Transporters Pumps and Channels31m
Solute and Water Transport17m
General Concepts28m
Assessment and Pathology13m
1 reading
Resources10m
3 practice exercises
Practice Problem Set: Transporters, Channels, and Homeostasis24m
Practice Problem Set: Endocrine Concepts16m
Homeostasis and Endocrine System Exam22m
Week
22 hours to complete
The Nervous System
We hope you are enjoying the course! Last week's lectures can be challenging because we introduce many concepts that may be new to you. This module will allow you to apply some of the concepts that you learned last week and provide you with more concrete examples. In this module we will begin our tour of the various organ systems with the nervous system.
We start by considering the function of the individual cells (neurons) and then how they interact as an integrative system. The nervous system provides rapid communication throughout the body coordinating the actions of trillions of cells. It responds to internal changes to the body as well as to changes in our external environment. This is a busy week. The things to do this week are to watch the 5 videos, to answer the in-video questions, to read the notes, and to complete the Nervous System problem set. We suggest that you read the notes, watch the videos, and answer the in-video questions before you start on the problem sets. The problem sets require you to apply your knowledge from the lectures so it is best to be fairly familiar with the material before tackling them. The problem sets are not graded, and there is no due-date for them.
5 videos (Total 75 min), 2 readings, 2 quizzes
5 videos
Membrane Potentials21m
Action Potentials20m
Methods of Communication13m
Organization12m
2 readings
How To Calaculate The Equilibrium Potential10m
Resources10m
2 practice exercises
Practice Problem Set: The Nervous System22m
The Nervous System Exam16m
Week
32 hours to complete
The Senses and the Somatic Nervous System
In this module, we consider two types of cells: one that relays information to the central nervous system (brain) for interpretation and a second set, motor neurons which relay information away from the central nervous system to govern voluntary movement. The input pathway to the brain is mediated by specific cells called senses. The senses convert energy (such as light or heat) into an energy form (electrical potentials) recognized by neurons in the brain. The brain, in turn, interprets this information (as vision or pain) and then sends out a motor response via the motor neurons of the somatic nervous system to effector cells in the body. The motor neurons activate skeletal muscle to control breathing and the movement of the limbs.
The things to do this week are to watch the 5 videos, to answer the in-video questions, to read the notes, and to complete the problem set. It will be most effective if you follow the sequence of videos. The notes provide a more detailed summary of each topic. We encourage you to find which resource (videos and/or notes) works best for you and to try the problems sets. The problem sets are not graded. Both your understanding and retention will increase with application of the new learned information.
5 videos (Total 90 min), 1 reading, 2 quizzes
5 videos
Hearing and the Vestibular System15m
Chemical Senses7m
Intro and Structure10m
Control of Movement26m
1 reading
Resources10m
2 practice exercises
Practice Problem Set: Senses and Nervous System24m
The Senses and the Somatic Nervous System Exam16m
Week
43 hours to complete
Muscle
In this module, we consider the effectors of the body that govern voluntary and involuntary movement. These effectors are specialized cells called muscle which are capable of generating force (tension). Muscle cells are classified as one of three types: skeletal, smooth, and cardiac. Although all three types generate tension, each is specialized for a given function. Skeletal muscle governs voluntary movement of the limbs and is critical for expansion of the lung during breathing. Smooth and cardiac muscle are contractile cells found in the walls of blood vessels and the heart, respectively. We will return to the basic principles that govern these cells types when we consider the respiratory and cardiovascular systems.
The things to do this week are to watch the 4 videos, to answer the in-video questions, to read the notes, and to complete two problem sets (skeletal muscle and smooth & cardiac muscle). It will be most effective if you follow the sequence of videos. The notes provide a more detailed summary of each topic. We encourage you to find which resource (videos and/or notes) works best for you and to try the problems sets. The problem sets are not graded. Both your understanding and retention will increase with application of the new learned information.
4 videos (Total 100 min), 2 readings, 3 quizzes
4 videos
Tension and Metabolism30m
Smooth Muscle Structure, Regulation and Pacemakers21m
Cardiac Muscle Structure, E-C Coupling and Force Generation21m
2 readings
Resources10m
Survey10m
3 practice exercises
Practice Problem Set: Skeletal Muscle34m
Practice Problem Set: Smooth and Cardiac Muscle16m
Muscle Exam18m
4.7
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started a new career after completing these courses
27%
got a tangible career benefit from this course
11%
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Top Reviews
I'm a high school student interested in human physiology.\n\nThis course is AMAZING! Though sometimes I felt overwhelmed and couldn't remember everything, I think it was worth every effort and energy.
I am an incoming medical student here in the Philippines and this course has provided me with enough background about the human body and the underlying machinery of every system associated with it.
Instructors
Jennifer Carbrey
Assistant Research ProfessorDepartment of Cell Biology
Emma Jakoi
Associate Research ProfessorDepartment of Cell Biology
About Duke University
Duke University has about 13,000 undergraduate and graduate students and a world-class faculty helping to expand the frontiers of knowledge. The university has a strong commitment to applying knowledge in service to society, both near its North Carolina campus and around the world.
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