Course Information Document
BIOL4007
Welcome to the final year of your programme. One of the
aims of the final year is to prepare you for the years ahead. The teaching will
be structured differently, and you will be encouraged to work independently. We
expect you to develop a breadth to your thinking and writing. This is the time
to bring together knowledge gained during the past three years, looking for
general principles which can be used productively. This mature approach should
be expressed in your coursework, project report and examination answers. The
key to success in final year is good time-management.
We recommend that you read this Course Information Document at the start of your final year.
In addition, there is important information about regulations, assessment and progression in the Life Sciences Handbook: Regulations & Advice; again, you should read this document at the start of the year and you must refer to it as necessary.
Please keep this Course Information Document for future reference after you graduate; you may need to provide course details for further study or other training.
While the information contained in the document is correct at the time of printing, it may be necessary to make changes. Check your online timetable, Moodle and your email messages regularly.
Course coordinator: Dr Shona McQuilken
Email: Shona.McQuilken@glasgow.ac.uk
Deputy Coordinator: Dr Craig Daly
Email: Craig.Daly@glasgow.ac.uk
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Name |
School |
Building |
Ext. |
Email address |
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Dr Francis Burton |
Cardiovascular and Metabolic Health |
Sir James Black Building |
6598 |
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Dr Des Gilmore |
Medicine, Dentistry and Nursing |
Sir James Black Building |
5961 |
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Dr David Hughes |
Psychology and Neuroscience |
Sir James Black Building |
4577 |
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Dr Leanne McKay |
Psychology and Neuroscience |
Sir James Black Building |
4990 |
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Professor Godfrey Smith |
Cardiovascular and Metabolic Health |
Sir James Black Building |
5963 |
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Dr Shona McQuilken |
Cardiovascular and Metabolic Health |
Sir James Black Building |
2681 |
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Dr Jenny Clancy |
Medicine, Dentistry and Nursing |
Thomson building |
4189 |
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Professor Craig Daly |
Cardiovascular and Metabolic Health |
Sir James Black Building |
3920 |
All 0141 330-xxxx telephone numbers can be dialled
directly from outside the University. If dialling from a University extension,
dial the last 4 digits only.
Dr Graham Christie
University of Dundee
Email: g.r.christie@dundee.ac.uk
The Life Sciences Office is located in Room 354 of the Sir
James Black Building. Opening hours for enquiries are: Monday to Friday: 9:30am
to 4:30pm.
Course Code
BIOL4007
Course Title
Autonomic Nervous System 4Y option
Academic Session
2023-24
Short Description of the Course
Students will explore the importance of the autonomic
nervous system (ANS) in health and disease. This will include evaluating our
current understanding of the ANS and the research methods used to investigate
the ANS further.
Requirements of Entry
Normally, only available to final-year School of Life
Sciences students in a Degree Group C (Human Life Sciences group) programme.
Visiting students may be allowed to enrol, at the discretion of the School of
Life Sciences Chief Adviser and the Course Coordinator.
Associated Programmes
This course is offered by the Physiology programme.
Available to visiting students
Yes
Available to Erasmus students
Yes
Typically offered
Semester 1
Timetable
There is normally one 3-hour session on Fridays, which
may be split over more than one session.
Course Aims
This course aims to encourage students to develop a
deep understanding of the autonomic nervous system, to evaluate the techniques
used to investigate the ANS and to provide experience in discussing and
presenting current research.
Intended Learning Outcomes of Course
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
· Discuss and
critically appraise the current state of understanding of the ANS;
· Relate the
organisation and physiology of the ANS to the different processes controlled by
the ANS;
· Evaluate
the research techniques used to investigate the role of the ANS in physiology
and pathophysiology;
· Produce a
clear, organised presentation relating to current research in the ANS.
Minimum Requirements for Award of Credits
Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the
components (including examinations) of the course’s summative assessment.
Description of Summative Assessment
The course will be assessed by a 2-hour examination
(80%) and in-course assessment consisting of a presentation (20%).
Are reassessment opportunities normally available for
all summative assessments in this course
Not applicable for Honours courses
Formative Assessment and Feedback
Staff will provide verbal feedback during student-led teaching;
this feedback is intended to help students to develop their critical thinking,
which will feedforward to the examination. Other students may also provide
useful feedback comments.
Individual written feedback will be provided for the
oral presentation to help students prepare for future assessments.
Examination Diet
April/May
Total Exam Duration
120 minutes
Session 1: ANS Anatomy and Enteric Nervous
System
Dr McQuilken will give an overview of ANS anatomy
and discuss the Enteric Nervous System.
Session 2: Autonomic Anatomy, Pain, Temperature and
Sex
Dr Gilmore will discuss the importance of the autonomic
nerves in regulating temperature and in sexual function.
Session 3: Respiration
Dr McKay will describe and discuss the autonomic
control of the airways and aspects of central control of breathing.
Session 4: Pain
Dr Hughes will discuss chronic pain and the ANS.
Session 5: ANS control of the Heart
Professor Smith and Dr Burton will examine sympathetic
and parasympathetic control of the heart.
Session 6: ANS studies of the vasculature
Professor Daly will examine the role of autonomic
nerves in regulating vascular tone.
Session 7: ANS control of blood pressure
Professor Kennedy will lead a computer simulation which
looks at the effect of various drugs on blood pressure. The software simulates
an anaesthetised rat or cat.
Session 8: ANS Neuromodulation
Dr Clancy will discuss neuromodulation in relation to
the ANS.
Session 9: ENS in Disease
Dr McQuilken will discuss the possible roles of the
enteric nervous system in disease and give examples of the techniques used to
study this.
Session 10: Student Presentations