Dr. D. M. Yordy
Community College of Rhode Island
Biology 1020: Human Physiology
Learning Objectives
Part I: Introduction to Physiology
Characteristics of living systems
1. You should be able to define the terms: biology, physiology, division of labor, cell, tissue, organ, organ system, metabolism, energy, catabolism, anabolism, quantitative, and qualitative
2. You should be able to list the characteristics of living systems.
3. You should be able to explain the "patterns of organization" in living systems.
4. You should be able to explain why the cell is considered the basic unit of life.
5. You should be able to identify the primary cell and tissue types and their general functions.
6. You should be able to distinguish between a tissue and an organ.
7. You should be able to identify the organ systems in the human.
Homeostasis and the internal environment
1. You should be able to define the terms: homeostasis, intracellular fluid, extracellular fluid, intercellular fluid, transcellular fluid, interstitial fluid, plasma, negative feedback, positive feedback
2. You should be able to explain what constitutes the human "internal environment".
3. You should be able to explain why the maintenance of homeostasis is so important, and describe the consequences of a departure from this state.
4. You should be able to list the parameters regulated by homeostatic mechanisms.
5. You should be able to explain how a negative feedback loop works to maintain homeostasis.
6. You should be able to explain one physiological negative feedback system (glucose or temperature regulation).
7. You should be able to explain how a positive feedback system works against homeostasis.
8. You should be able to differentiate between reflexes and local homeostatic responses, intrinsic and extrinsic controls
9. You should be able to list, in the correct sequence, the components of a generic reflex arc.
10. You should be able to identify specific components of reflex arcs.
11. You should be able to explain how cells communicate with one another.
12. You should be able to name the different types of chemical messages and explain how they differ from one another.
13. You should be able to explain and diagram the relationship between the shape of a chemical message and its receptor molecule.
14. You should be able to differentiate between a agonistic and antagonistic chemical message.
At the end of this section you should be aware of the properties all living systems have in common. You should understand why homeostasis is an important unifying principle; why it is important for the survival of all life forms, in particular the human. You should understand the generalized mechanisms by which homeostasis is maintained.