Contacts

Director
Martha Haviland, Ph.D.

Director of Advising
Anne Carr-Schmid, Ph.D.

Coordinator of Academic Services
Cathie Alia

Biological Sciences

Undergraduate Quicklinks

Course Descriptions

01:146:456 Advanced Physiology

  • Physiology according to the American Physiological Society (APS) is the study of life. Physiological studies of normal function provide the basis to understanding abnormal function- at the molecular, cellular, tissue, organ and whole animal levels.  In this context, Advanced Physiology was designed by Dr. Gary F. Merrill circa 2015 to help students understand body functions and their regulation at the organ systems level (mammals including humans). Conceptual content of the course is an advanced replicate of his design of Systems Physiology in the 1970s. In addition, students will be exposed to and will learn from the published literature (Merrill’s primarily), as well as to experimental design that will include specific concepts of the cardiovascular system, the respiratory system, the renal system, the gastrointestinal function. A few examples of mammalian special senses will also be discussed.
  • Semester Offered: Fall, Spring
  • Credits: 3
  • Course URL: Canvas

Prerequisites

General Biology 119:115-116 or 119:101-102 AND 01:160:161-162 or 163-164 and 160:171, and Systems Physiology 01:146:356 

Open to Juniors and Seniors only (others with approval of Dr. Merrill) 

Course URL

Canvas

Course Satisfies Learning Goals

The goal of this course is to develop the student's knowledge and understanding of the organ systems, human and experimental physiology. Students should be able to identify the operational physiological mechanisms of several of the body's major systems in maintaining homeostasis. They should also be able to distinguish between important physiologic concepts such as the steady state, feedback/feed forward, and set points. It is expected that students understand the synchrony of many systems interacting simultaneously (e.g. neural control of cardio-respiratory response to maintain circulation and blood pressure). 

Exams, Assignments, and Grading Policy

To be reviewed the first day of class (and available on Canvas) 

Course Materials

A selection of good books to study physiology for this course: 

TEXTBOOK RECOMMENDATIONS: 

Guyton, A.C. & Hall, J.E. Textbook of Medical Physiology, 14the Edition, Elsevier, 2021, ISBN 978-0-323-59712-8 

Boron, W.F. & Boulpaep, E.L. Medical Physiology, 3rd Edition, Elsevier, 2017, ISBN 9781-4557-43773, eBook ISBN: 9781455733286 

Students are encouraged to have a copy of either or both books and to refer to it/them regularly. Much of Merrill’s formal lecture material will come from these ‘top-of-the-class’ textbooks of physiology (e.g. figures and tables). 

Course Closed?

If this course is closed, please add your name to request an spn  for the course under the Cell Biology & Neuroscience section of the SPN Request Page.  Please note the system does not notify students unless they can be accommodated in the course. SPNs are distributed throughout the remainder of the semester and through the drop/add period. We ask that if you are provided an spn for a course and choose not to use it, to please notify our offices at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  so we may provide it to the next student.

Faculty

Dr. Gary F. Merrill 
B-222 Nelson Labs 
Busch Campus 
phone: 848-445-2320 
email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.