Course Catalogue

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The Veterinary Body Systems Physiology Level -2 course covers the respiratory, thermoregulatory, cardiovascular, reproductive, endocrinological, renal and immune systems.

Weekly lectures and practical classes and will be complemented by tutorials and self-directed assignments

Students must have attained the minimum requirements for entry into level 2 of the Veterinary Biosciences [Hons]/MSci Programme as specified in the Veterinary Biosciences [Hons]/MSci Programme Supplementary Regulations.

Written end of course examination may include short answer questions, data interpretation questions (70%). Course work that may include a computer aided assessment, a literature search, data interpretation question and short answer questions (30%).

The aims of the course are to:

■ Give participants an understanding of body temperature regulation and metabolism

■ Give participants an understanding of the respiratory system and how it is regulated

■ Explain to the participants the cardiovascular system and how the circulation is adjusted according to need

■ Give participants an understanding of reproductive processes and how they are regulated in wild and domestic animals

■ Explain to the participants the key endocrine systems how they function and how they are controlled

■ Give participants an understanding of the renal system and body fluid regulation

■ Explain to the participants the inflammatory process and those concerned with immune function

■ Give the participant an understanding of how drugs interact with specific body systems

By the end of the course the students should be able to:-

■ define homeothermy and poikilothermy and explain the effect of body temperature on living cells and how metabolic rate is a function of body size.

■ discuss components of the reproductive axis, the regulation of reproductive function and reproductive strategies in domestic and wild animals

■ identify airway and lung structure and function and explain the difference between conducting and respiratory zones on the basis of volumes, histology and blood circulatory differences.

■ describe the mechanics of lung ventilation and the origin of respiratory rhythm.

■ explain the structure of the gas exchange barrier and the role of surfactant and explain the gas laws in relation to partial pressure and its importance in gas transfer between tissues and how gases are transported to and from the lungs and the importance of homeostasis particularly with regard to CO2 production, transport and lung removal.

■ describe the chemoreceptors that monitor blood gas content and the mechanisms which signal the brain to alter respiration and regulate acid-base balance

■ describe the electrical and mechanical aspects of heart and blood vessel function and how they change during disease

■ describe electrical and pressure changes during the cardiac cycle and discuss factors affecting stroke volume.

■ explain how blood flow through blood vessels is controlled and use knowledge to explain what is heart failure and haemorrhage and the compensatory and decompensatory response of the body

■ describe the inflammatory process and discuss innate, intrinsic and adaptive immunity and the processes that underlie immune function

■ explain the integration of endocrine secretion with the autonomic nervous system

■ discuss feedback loops as a regulator of endocrine secretion and the role of the hypothalamus as a dual neural and endocrine centre

■ describe the structure of the kidney and discuss the mechanisms involved in the renal body fluid regulation.

■ Describe and analyse the way in which drugs interact with receptors and other drug targets

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.