UCL - Human Physiology

[PSP1132]

[22.5h] 3 credits

This course is taught in the 2d semester.

Teacher(s): Jean Lebacq

Language: French

Level: First

Aims
Main themes
Content and teaching methods
Other information (prerequisite, evaluation (assessment methods), course materials recommended readings, ...)

Aims

To provide first year students with an understanding of how the human body works, based on knowledge of the life of the cell, and prepare them for study of the nervous system and psychophysiology.

Main themes

Introductory study of the working of the human body. Emphasis on the exchange of matter, energy and information between, first, the body and its surroundings and, second, the different parts of the body.
Topics include : the main systems (cardio-vascular, respiratory, urinary, digestive, blood, reproductive), then the control systems (endocrine system and autonomic nervous system), demonstrating the constraints of these systems on behaviour.

Content and teaching methods

Introductory study of how the human body works : starting from knowledge of the animal cell from the general biology course, the first subject for study is the different tissues found in physiological systems (epithelia, conjunctive and derived tissues, movement tissues, nervous tissue) ; then the main systems are covered (blood, circulatory, respiratory, digestive, urinary) to show each system contributes to the life of the whole body by exchanging matter and energy with the other systems and with the surroundings.
There is more in-depth study of information exchange within the body : hormonal mechanisms which regulate growth and ensure maintenance of homeostasy; nerve information mechanism (potential for action and transmission via synapses, organization of nerve cells in groups). This latter part is direct preparation for the study of the physiology of the nerve system and psychophysiology.
Finally, the working of the reproductive system and its hormonal regulation in men and women is studied.

Other information (prerequisite, evaluation (assessment methods), course materials recommended readings, ...)

The course is based mainly on material from the course on general and genetic biology (PSP 1131, A. Moens) ; students are therefore required to have taken this course.