BIOS 256 Anatomy & Physiology IV with Lab

This DeVry course completes the four-course sequence in which human anatomy and physiology are studied using a body systems approach. Coursework emphasizes interrelationships between form and function at the gross and microscopic levels of organization. Topics include the digestive system, metabolism and nutrition, the urinary system, fluid, electrolyte and acid-based homeostasis, the reproductive system and development and inheritance.

The course starts with an introduction to the digestive system, defining anatomical terms and describing the physiological organization from cells to the systems. We will progress to examining the process of metabolism and nutrition. The other two body systems covered in this course will be the urinary and reproductive systems with an emphasis on fluid, electrolyte and acid-base homeostasis. Human development and inheritance will round off the course. Understanding anatomical and physiological concepts as they apply in the healthcare delivery setting as opposed to the scientific investigational realm is stressed. Emphasis is placed on physiological parameters and biopotentials, how they are generated and how they are assessed and measured, thus providing the student with a frame of reference that will enable them to understand medical equipment design and function. The application of this knowledge to specific clinical and medical diagnostic equipment used is emphasized.

Laboratory exercises will complement the course material to combine, integrate and relate the basic facts and concepts acquired in the lectures. These activities are designed to promote critical thinking and application skills. Wherever possible, emphasis will be placed on the use of life experiences, plausible clinical situations and common diagnostic problems, thus drawing upon your analytical and organizational powers.