ANATOMY

Anatomy & Physiology

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
Anatomy & Physiology is intended to be the equivalent of an introductory college course. Anatomy & Physiology is a two-semester honors-level science course designed to prepare students for college biological science courses and for careers in the biological sciences, especially those in health and medicine. It is also especially relevant to student athletes and other students who are particularly interested in learning about the human body, how it works and how to take care of it.
Course content focuses on body tissues, human organ systems and their major processes, and current health issues. There are many diverse class, laboratory, homework and research activities that enhance students’ understanding of course concepts, develop students’ analytical and critical thinking skills, promote student inquiry, and build students’ scientific skills and processes. This course is recommended for students willing to strive for academic success; it is a challenging course that requires and improves student motivation and academic skills.

COURSE OBJECTIVES: Upon completion of the course, students will:
• Develop an understanding and appreciation for the structure and interconnected processes that create and maintain the human body;
• Apply their understanding of the human body to their personal health and well-being;
• Demonstrate the ability to apply scientific skills and follow scientific processes;
• Develop their academic strategies in the application of English, math, technology, time management, and in general, in preparation for college and/or a career;
• Develop collaborative relationships with other anatomy & physiology students; and
• Enjoy the challenges, opportunities and successes offered by the course.

COURSE PREREQUISITES:
• Successful completion (a grade of B or better recommended) of two years of high school laboratory science, including biology (chemistry strongly recommended)
• Successful completion (a grade of B or better) of one year of Algebra; at least two years of high school math is recommended

COURSE TEXTBOOK:
Tortora, Gerard J. and Bryan Derrickson, Introduction to the Human Body: The Essentials of Anatomy and Physiology, 7th edition, John Wiley & Sons, 2007.

TEACHING STRATEGIES :
Approximately 30-40% of instructional time is spent on laboratory activities. Labs are done in groups of two to four students. Students are expected to have technology skills that will allow them to conduct Internet research, process Word documents, develop Excel spreadsheets and graphs, and communicate via e-mail.

Since a significant part of class time is spent on hands-on activities, students are expected to read the text and take significant notes for homework on a regular basis. Students will improve academic skills (notetaking, time management), apply math skills, and further develop their scientific skills through the numerous labs.

As a college level class, students are expected to have the maturity to conduct themselves safely and appropriately at all times. They must take responsibility for their own success, come to class prepared for that session and expecting to learn and participate fully. Student work must be neat, complete, well-organized and adhere to format specifications. It is important for students to ask questions and seek help when necessary. It is especially important for students to do all of the assigned work on time and on their own. Assignments turned in late or identical to other students are unacceptable.

Most students find Anatomy & Physiology to be one of their favorite high school courses. They learn a wealth of relevant information about the human body while preparing for college and/or a career. Students enjoy the active and dynamic nature of the class, during which they often work with each other to learn more about themselves.

(Not all labs or activities are noted; listed are major research assignments and some of the labs included in the course)

INTRODUCTION:
	Objectives: students will demonstrate safe lab practices, solve problems using the scientific method, demonstrate proper data collection and analysis, explain the organization of the human body, demonstrate proficiency in the use of terminology related to body position and directional plane, and describe the importance of homeostasis.
	Activities include: Review of lab safety, data collection, graphing and analysis An experiment exploring mathematical relationships in the human body
CHEMISTRY AND CELLS FOR ANATOMY & PHYSIOLOGY:
	Objectives: Students will exhibit a working knowledge of basic chemistry and explain the functions of major cell functions. They will demonstrate proper microscope use and biological drawing techniques. Students will build a working model of a cell membrane and be able to describe the function of enzymes.
	Activities include: A lab exploring enzyme activity Building a working model of a cell membrane
TISSUES:
	Objectives: Students will identify the structure and function of the 4 major tissue types. Students will be able to distinguish tissue sample types from one another.
	Activities include: MIcroscope use and biological drawings of tissues Computer-based image analysis of tissues
SKELETAL SYSTEM:
	Objectives: Students will identify the major bones and joints in the body. They will explain how skeletal processes help maintain homeostasis throughout the body.
	Activities include: Bone dissection Skeletal system image analysis Work, Power & Calories
MUSCULAR SYSTEM:
	Objectives: Students will describe the structure and function of the muscular system and be able to identify major muscles in the human body. They will model and analyze the physiology of muscle contraction.
	Activities include: Microscope use and drawings of muscle tissue Construction of a model of the microscopic functional unit in skeletal muscle tissue Student-designed lab on muscle function Computer image analysis of muscle tissue
NERVOUS SYSTEM:
	Objectives: Students will describe the organization of the nervous system and how a nerve impulse is generated and conducted. They will describe the structure of the spinal cord and brain, including functions of various parts of the brain. They will describe and explore mechanisms involved in the various senses as well as in memory.
	Activities include: Learning and personality styles assessments Response time lab Student-designed experiment on memory Several labs exploring the senses, including illusions, properties of light and lenses, hearing and vision
ENDOCRINE SYSTEM:
	Objectives: Students will explain how hormones affect the body and how they are regulated. They will research and present their findings about an endocrine structure and its hormones.
	Activities include: Analyze case studies concerning endocrine activitiy Create a PowerPoint presentation about an endocrine gland, its hormones, a feedback system, disorders and homeostatic mechanisms
CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM:
	Objectives: Students will describe the structure and function of components of blood and how it is classified. They will describe the structure and function of the heart, explain blood circulation and explore factors related to cardiovascular/cardiopulmonary health.
	Activities include: Student-designed experiments involving heart rate, blood pressure and cardiovascular/cardiopulmonary health Self-assessment of cardiovascular health, including VO2 max and basal metabolic rate
LYMPHATIC & IMMUNE SYSTEM:
	Objectives: Students will describe the structure and function of lymphatic tissue, how diseases are often transmitted and how this system helps protect the body. They will explain immunity. They will explain how viruses and bacteria cause diseases, and how disease can often be treated and prevented.
	Activities include: Creation of a model/poster of immune cells and their action
OTHER BODY SYSTEMS:
	Objective: Students will become familiar with other body systems or major areas related to human anatomy and physiology not previously studied. They will develop an in-depth understanding of one system/area through the creation and presentation to their peers of a technology-based (PowerPoint) presentation.
	Students will select one of the following systems/areas to study for their PowerPoint presentation. (As time allows, labs that supplement the study of these systems/areas will also be included.) Integumentary system (skin, hair, nails) Respiratory System Digestive system and nutrition Urinary system, fluid balance and electrolytes Reproduction and growth