PSL300H Human Physiology I

Course Syllabus Summer 2019

Arts & Science Course Overview

Principles of neurophysiology, endocrinology, and reproductive physiology for students enrolled

in Life Science programs

Recommended preparation: BIO130H1/BIO150Y1; CHM138H1, One full-course equivalent

from: MAT100-series and/or PHY100-series

Exclusion: PSL201Y, PSL302Y

Course Coordinator: Dr. Christine Wong, Office: Medical Sciences Building room MS3368 –
meetings by appointment only, E-mail: cjaye.wong@utoronto.ca

Course Director: Dr. Nohjin Kee, E-mail: nohjin.kee@utoronto.ca

Course Lecturers:

Dr. Kaori Yamada Austin

Dr. Christine Wong

Dr. Sandeep Dhillon

Classes: 6hrs/week – Tuesday & Thursday, 5 – 8 pm, MS 3153

Tutorials: 5hrs/term –Tuesday 4-5, 8-9 pm; Thursday 4-5, 8-9 pm See course schedule below
for tutorial dates.

Textbook:

RequiredTextbook: Silverthorn DU. Human Physiology: An Integrated Approach. 8th ed.

Boston: Pearson, 2019. Earlier editions are acceptable but any section/page/figure references will
be made to this one. Other Recommended References: Sherwood & Kell: Human Physiology, 1st
Cnd ed., Nelson; Rhoades & Tanner: Medical Physiology, Lippincott; and Ganong: Review of
Medical Physiology, Lange.
Evaluation1:  

Term work 60%

During (best 5 out of 6 on-line and tutorial quizzes for
Quizzes 10%
term combined total of 10%; there are no makeup quizzes)
(multiple choice; covers all material from May 7  –
May 21 Term Test 1 25%
May 16, inclusive)                       
(multiple choice covers all material from May 21 –
June 4 Term Test 2 25%
May 30, inclusive)
Final Exam (40%; cumulative, covers all course material, multiple choice, in Final
Exam Period)

The format of the term tests & quizzes are similar to that of the final exam and both are based
primarily on the lecture material, but questions may come from the required text and the
tutorials.
1
For consideration for missed term tests, contact Dr. Wong within 24 hrs of the test and
provide original documentation to the Department of Physiology Undergraduate Office
(MS3209) within three days of the term test date. Digital copies of medical notes are not
accepted. If you miss more than one quiz, you must submit appropriate documentation
within three days of the evaluation as indicated above to be considered for accommodation.

Online Quizzes

 There will be threeonline  All questions are multiple choice; you must select the most
correct answer.
 The dates for allonline quizzes are posted on the course syllabus.
 The quizzes will be available for 3 days.
 The quizzes will appear on Quercus at 9:00 AM EST (EST:Toronto time) on the posted
date and the link will disappear 72 hours later.
 The quizzes can be written an unlimited number of times during the 72 hours.
 There will be no makeup quizzes for any reason.

Tutorials

Tutorials are mandatory and will include an in-class quiz. Quizzes will be multiple choice in
format, cover material from previous lectures and readings, and will be cumulative in nature. The
quizzes will be conducted through an on-line tool. Any problems with tutorial quiz grades must
be reported to the TA before the end of class. Be sure to check that quiz grades have been
recorded to the Quercus site before leaving the tutorial room; if there have been errors, fill in the
required documentation provided by the TA. Requests for grade corrections after the tutorial
class time will not be considered.
Term Tests

There will be two term tests, of 50 minute duration and containing about 26-30 questions per
test. All questions are multiple choice. You must select the most correct answer. The score for
each question is ONE OR ZERO. The answers will be posted on the course website. Students
who miss a test for genuine, documented medical reasons must submit an original copy of the
official U of T medical certificate (http://www.illnessverification.utoronto.ca/index.php) must be
submitted to the Department of Physiology Undergraduate office (MSB 3209) within three days
of the date of the missed test to be considered for accommodation. Only original documents will
be accepted – digital copies will NOT be accepted.

Make-up Tests

Students who miss a term test for genuine, documented medical reasons may write the make-up
test if documentation is received by the deadline and verified as accurate. An official U of T
medical certificate (http://www.illnessverification.utoronto.ca/index.php) must be submitted to
the undergraduate office within three days of the date of the missed test. The format of the test
and length will not necessarily be the same as the original test.

Final Examination

This exam will be held during the final exam period on a date scheduled by The Faculty of Arts
and Science. Do not make travel plans until you know the final exam date. The exam covers all
of the course material, lasts 2 hours, contains about 55-65 multiple choice questions. All
questions are multiple choice; you must select the most correct answer.

Resources:

Quercus Course Site: Check for course information on our Quercus site (q.utoronto.ca) accessed
through the U of T website. We post the syllabus, class slide PDFs, announcements, online
quizzes, and marks to this site.

A course Discussion Board (access via the Quercus Course Site) is provided for communication
among members of the class and queries may be posted to lecturers regarding course material,
although it is preferable that other members of the class answer the questions. This creates the
best learning situation for all concerned. The lecturer will respond only when the answers are
‘off-base’. The discussion board is not a place to denigrate individuals or ‘badmouth’ lecturers; if
you have a personal complaint, send an e-mail to the course coordinator.

A warning about unofficial course websites: In the past, students have set up course websites on
Facebook etc. Information on these sites should be treated with suspicion. For example, do not
rely on these sites for information about what is on the tests or exam, or when or where the tests
will take place. Also students should verify physiological information with another source such
as the textbook or the instructor.

 
Accessibility Accommodations: Students with diverse learning styles and needs are welcome in
this course. Please feel free to approach the Course Coordinator or Accessibility Services so we
can assist you in achieving academic success in this course. University of Toronto Accessibility
Services. Accessed December 8,  2016. (http://www.studentlife.utoronto.ca/as/faculty-and-staff).

Rules/Policies/Regulations:

PSL300 Exclusions, Prerequisites & Corequisites (see Arts & Science calendar): Just a
reminder that Arts & Science has rules about taking a course and its exclusions, so be sure to
check with your registrar if you have or are taking our PSL exclusion: PSL201Y. PSL300 is a
Science Distribution Requirement Status, a Living Things and Their Environment (4) Breadth
Requirement.

Copyright at U of T: In this course, students are welcome to print out and save electronically a
copy of course materials for their own personal use (in fact we encourage you to do so and to
make backup copies in the event of loss or the inability to access Portal at critical times).
However, “lectures and course materials prepared by the instructor are considered by the
University to be an instructor’s intellectual property covered by the Canadian Copyright Act.
Students wishing to record lecture or other course material in any way are required to ask the
instructor’s explicit permission, and may not do so unless permission is granted. This includes
tape recording, filming, photographing PowerPoint slides, Quercus materials, etc. Such
permission is only for that individual student’s own study purposes and does not include
permission to “publish” them in any way. It is absolutely forbidden for a student to publish
an instructor’s notes to a website or sell them in other form without formal permission.”
Accessed December 13, 2016. (http://www.artsci.utoronto.ca/faculty-staff/teacher-
info/academic-handbook-for-instructors/sections-4-5#electronic).

Academic Integrity: “Academic integrity is fundamental to learning and scholarship at the

University of Toronto. Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in this
academic community ensures that the U of T degree that you earn will be valued as a true
indication of your individual academic achievement, and will continue to receive the respect and
recognition it deserves.

Familiarize yourself with the University of Toronto’s Code of Behaviour on Academic Matters
(http://www.governingcouncil.utoronto.ca/policies/behaveac.htm). It is the rule book for
academic behaviour at the U of T, and you are expected to know the rules. Potential offences
include, but are not limited to:

In papers and assignments:

 Using someone else’s ideas or words without appropriate acknowledgement.

 Copying material word-for-word from a source (including lecture and study group notes)
and not placing the words within quotation marks.
 Submitting your own work in more than one course without the permission of the
instructor.
 Making up sources or facts.
  Including references to sources that you did not use.
 Obtaining or providing unauthorized assistance on any assignment including:
o working in groups on assignments that are supposed to be individual work;
o having someone rewrite or add material to your work while “editing”.
 Lending your work to a classmate who submits it as his/her own without your
permission.

On tests and exams:

 Using or possessing any unauthorized aid, including a cell phone.

 Looking at someone else’s answers
 Letting someone else look at your answers.
 Misrepresenting your identity.
 Submitting an altered test for re-grading.

Misrepresentation:

 Falsifying or altering any documentation required by the University, including doctor’s

notes.
 Falsifying institutional documents or grades.”

“The University of Toronto treats cases of academic misconduct very seriously. All suspected
cases of academic dishonesty will be investigated following the procedures outlined in the Code.
The consequences for academic misconduct can be severe, including a failure in the course and a
notation on your transcript. If you have any questions about what is or is not permitted in this
course, please do not hesitate to contact me. If you have questions about appropriate research and
citation methods, seek out additional information from me, or from other available campus
resources like the U of T Writing Website. If you are experiencing personal challenges that are
having an impact on your academic work, please speak to me or seek the advice of your college
registrar.” Academic Integrity Statement for Syllabi. Faculty of Arts & Science, Student
Academic Integrity. Accessed December 12, 2016.
(http://www.artsci.utoronto.ca/osai/instructors-and-staff/tips-templates).
Course Schedule:

           
WEE DATE LECTUR QUIZ+TES TUTORIA
SYSTEM TOPICS
K OF S ER TS LS
01.
May 6, Dr. Yamad Cell membrane & transport
May 7 MEMBRA    
2019 a Austin mechanisms
NE
Membrane resting and action
           
potentials
        Action potential conduction    
02. Synaptic
Dr. Yamad
  May 9 MEMBRA potentials: ionotropic and meta    
a Austin
NE botropic
Receptor potentials, adaptation;
           
peripheral/CNS
        Blood-brain barrier and CSF    
May
May Dr. Yamad Tutorial
13, 03. CNS Overview of neuroanatomy
14 a Austin Quiz-01
2019
        Somatosensory receptors    
        Somatosensory pathways    
May Dr. Yamad Tutorial
  04. CNS Visual: Eyeball optics, retina
16 a Austin Quiz-01
        Vision: Central processing    
        Vision: Colour vision    
May ON-LINE
         
17-20 QUIZ 1
May TERM TEST1 (1 to 4
May Dr. Yamad TERM
20, 05. CNS inclusive; Lectures following
21 a Austin TEST 1
2019 term test )
Vestibular apparatus, taste, and
           
smell
        Hearing    
May Dr. Yamad
  06. CNS Motor circuits: reflexes
23 a Austin
Central pattern generators:
           
spinal and brainstem
        Cortical motor areas    
May
May Sympathetic, parasympathetic Tutorial
27, 07. CNS Dr. Wong
28 efferents; autonomic reflexes Quiz-02
2019
 Hypothalamus; autonomic
           
programs
Circadian rhythms & learning
           
(CNS)
08.
MUSCLE
May Motor unit, neuromuscular Tutorial
  & Dr. Wong
30 junction, twitch, tetanus Quiz-02
ENDOCRI
NE
        Sliding filament mechanism    
      Endocrine Principles    
May
ON-LINE
  31-        
QUIZ 2
June3
June 3, 09. TERM TEST 2 (5 to 8
Dr. Dhillo TERM
June 4 ENDOCRI inclusive; Lectures following
n TEST 2
 2019 NE term test)
        Hormones    
Receptors & signal
           
transduction
10.
Dr. Dhillo
  June 6 ENDOCRI Growth control & thyroid  
n
NE
        Calcium balance    
        Fluid balance    
11.
June
June ENDOCRI Dr. Dhillo Tutorial
10, Endocrine pancreas
11 NE & n Quiz-03
2019
REPRO
        Adrenal cortex    
        Male reproduction    
June1 Tutorial
  12. REPRO Dr. Wong Female reproduction  
3 Quiz-03
        Pregnancy    
Sex determination; fetal
           
endocrine dev & disease
June ON-LINE
         
14-17 QUIZ 3

Note: The term tests cover the topics provided during the lecture dates indicated