PATHOPHYSIOLOGY-BIOL 300

COURSE SYLLABUS
SPRING SEMESTER 2009
Instructor: Christopher Westerkamp, Ph.D.
Office: ASC 2018
Telephone: 231-591-5037
E-Mail: westerc@ferris.edu
Office Hours: MTWR 9:00am – 10:00am
M 3:00pm – 4:00pm

Class Schedule: T R 3-4:15 in STARR 136 3 Credit hours

Course Description: A study of general principles and causes of

disease and resultant abnormal physiological functions of the organ
systems. Included are discussions on cancer, aging, inflammation,
stress, cardiovascular, nervous, respiratory, endocrine, excretory,
digestive and musculoskeletal system dysfunction.

Prerequisites: BIOL 205 and CHEM 124

Required Materials:
Understanding Pathophysiology, Huether and McCance, 3rd, 4th, or 5th
edition. The 3rd edition is cheaper and contains 99% of the material
contained in the 4th or 5th edition.

Course Objectives:
1. Describe alterations in physiological function in human
organs and systems.
2. Determine physiological changes from normal and the
cause of this change.
3. Analyze physiological responses to illness and disease.
4. Describe internal and external factors that affect specific
physiological states along the health and illness
continuum.
5. Apply knowledge of pathophysiology to case studies.

Grading Policies:
There will be three scheduled exams, each of which are listed on
the course schedule. The exams will test your mastery of material
covered since the previous exam, with the final exam combining the
material from the last exam as well as having a comprehensive
portion.
2 Exams @ 100 points each
1 Final Exam @ 200 points

1
 Group presentations will comprise of 3-5 students making a 15-20
minute presentation over their selected topic which will be worth 100
points. These presentations can be delivered using any technologies
you wish to use and should incorporate information about the etiology,
epidemiology, common populations, special treatments, any current
findings that have affected knowledge of the disease, etc. Topics will
be chosen in the second week and presented at the beginning of class
on your selected date for that topic.
Case studies and in class assignments (clickers) will make up the
remaining 150 points for the class.

GRADING SCALE:
The total points achieved by the student in this course will be
converted into a percent total and the final grade will be determined
according to the following scale:

93 - 100 = A 73 - 76.9 = C
90 - 92.9 = A- 70 - 72.9 = C-
87 - 89.9 = B+ 67 - 69.9 = D+
83 - 86.9 = B 63 - 66.9 = D
80 - 82.9 = B- 60 - 62.9 = D-
77 - 79.9 = C+ Below 60 = F

This is a set scale and will not be changed.

FerrisConnect and Gmail:

All class notes and other supplemental materials including grades,
notes, case studies, notes from the instructor, and a message board
will be on FerrisConnect. Please check the Ferris Connect BIOL 300
home page often so that you will not miss any of this important
material.
To contact me make sure you email me at westerc@ferris.edu and
NOT through FerrisConnect. My Google Talk username is
cmwesterkamp if you have any questions that you want answered
sooner…probably.

Common Courtesies:
Electronic devices other than your CPS clicker such as MP3 players, cell
phones, calculators, laptops are not necessary for this class. You are
welcome to use them so long as they are not a distraction to you or
your classmates.
Academic dishonesty of any form will not be tolerated and will be
forwarded to the Office of Student Conduct.

2
 Date Topics and References
January 13 Introduction, Cell Function and Dysfunction, inflammation, Cancer
15 Membrane transport, metabolism, cell injury, tissue repair, altered growth
20 Introduction xxi, Chapters 1 (esp. 2-22), 2,(esp. 36-58),3 (esp. 62-70, 82-94),
22 5, 9, and 10
27 Fluid and Electrolyte Balance
29 Water & sodium balance, ADH, renin, ANP, capillary filtration, potassium,
calcium, and acid-base balance
Chapter 4 and p. 594-598
February 3 Stress and Disease, Pain, ANS, stress response p. 305-310, p. 293-302,
5* and Chapter 8
10 Exam 1
12 Adaptive Immunity and Infectious Disease
17 Chapter 6 and 7
19*
24 Neural Disorders
26 Chapters 12 (pp. 273-277), 14, and 15
March 3 Endocrine pathophysiology
5* Hypothalamus, pituitary, GH, thyroid hormones, cortisol, glucagon, insulin and
diabetes mellitus
Chapters 17, 18 (Neural and Immunity presentations)

7-15 Spring Break

17 Hematological pathophysiology
19 Chapter 19 (pp. 481-486, 495-504), 20
24 Exam 2
26 Cardiovascular pathophysiology Cardiac and circulatory functions,
31 baroreceptor disorders, atherosclerosis, coronary artery disease, shock,
hypertension, heart failure
Chapters 22 and 23
April 2 Renal failure and Urinary
7 Chapters 28 and 29
9 Mid-semester recess
14* Renal continued
16 Respiratory pathophysiology
21* Chapters 25 and 26
23 Digestive system pathophysiology
28 Chapters 33 and 34
30
May 5 Final – 2:00-3:40
I reserve the right to make any reasonable and necessary changes to this syllabus

3
Presentation Topics:
1. Cancer: Lung, Breast, Colon, Leukemia, Skin
2. Neural: ADHD, Autism, Alzheimer’s, ALS, Guillain-Barre, Intracranial aneurysm,
MS, myasthenia gravis, Parkinson’s
3. Endocrine: Cushing’s, Grave’s,
4. Hematologic: Thalassemia, von Willebrand’s disease,
5. Cardiovascular: PAD,
6. Respiratory: cor pulmonale, pulmonary hypertension
7. Digestive: Appendicitis, Cirrhosis, GERD,
8. Renal
9. Infectious Disease: lupus erythematosus
10. Aging
11.