By the end of this course students are expected to have gained a basic understanding of the fundamental processes and mechanisms that serve and control the various functions of the body. More specifically students should have a basic knowledge of: Excitable tissues - introduction to cell physiology, electrical signals in cells, electrical and chemical properties of the cell membrane - properties of ions and membranes, diffusion, passive and active transport, membrane transport proteins, molecular switches and gates - how water crosses cell membranes, molecular and physiological basis of membrane transport – Na+ pump and other active transporters, phagocytosis, endocytosis and exocytosis - generation of electrical signals, forces involved in ion movement across membranes, the equilibrium potential, role of specific proteins in resting membrane potential, cellular mechanisms of insulin secretion. - generation and propagation of action potentials, effects of myelination, molecular switches in cells – ion channel gates, voltage gated Na+ and K+ channels. - chemical and electrical synaptic transmission, receptors, chemical transmission at neuromuscular junction and central synapses, electrical signals in the brain - excitation and inhibition. Muscle - structure of skeletal muscle, sliding filament hypothesis - cross bridge cycle, role of calcium, excitation-contraction coupling, myofilaments, - structure and function of cardiac and smooth muscle 5 Blood - functions and composition of blood - nutritional requirements of erythropoiesis - blood groups, Rh Factor - blood clotting Autonomic Nervous System - role of the ANS, its sensory input and levels of reflex control Cardiovascular system - function of the cardiovascular system - pulmonary and systemic circulations - blood vessels - cardiac output - electrical events in the heart - mechanical events in the heart - regulation of cardiac output, - haemodynamics, physical laws governing the CVS, Poiseuilles equation, streamline and turbulent flow - control of the cardiovascular system - regional blood flows - microcirculation and lymphatics - integration of cardiovascular physiology Neurophysiology - overview - the organization and connections of the peripheral and central nervous systems - body senses - hearing and balance - vision - retinal visual mechanisms - reflexes and motor control