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department of Physiology

Professional Courses

Body Sytems I - Block 3, First Year Medical Curriculum

Podiatry School Courses

Bioscience I (Physiology for Physical Therapy Students)

Dental Physiology (D-277)

 

Body Systems I - Block 3, First Year Medical Curriculum

 

Goals, Assessment, and Educational Philosophy:

 

The goals of the Block 3 (Body Systems I) component on the first year medical school curriculum are to:

 

  • Provide the students with the fundamental facts and concepts necessary to understand the microscopic structure, embryological development and function of the cardiovascular system, the pulmonary system, the gastrointestinal system, and the kidneys.
  • Provide the basic understanding of organ structure, development, and function necessary to successfully complete the remaining requirements of the preclinical curriculum.
  • Provide the students with the fund of knowledge necessary to successfully complete the third and fourth year clinical rotations.

The goals of Block 3 will be assessed by:

  • Evaluating students’ performance on the Block 3 examinations and quizzes.
  • Evaluating the students’ performance on end of year standardized tests.
  • Evaluating the students’ performance on Step 1 of the National Board Examination.
  • Soliciting feedback from year 2 Block Coordinators and year 3 clinical rotation coordinators with respect to the preparedness of the students to apply the concepts of Block 3 to other preclinical courses and patient scenarios.


The educational philosophy can be described by noting that students are best served by providing multiple approaches to learning. As such, information will be presented in lecture format, as well as in small group learning environments--conferences, laboratories, and workshops. In addition, the students will be provided the opportunity to use computer-based animations, simulations, lectures, and problem sets to learn additional basic information, as well as to supplement the information presented in lecture and/or small group sessions. Where appropriate, the principles of structure, development, and function will be highlighted using clinically-based examples.

 

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Podiatry School Courses

 

Department of Physiology faculty members teach the Podiatric Physiology course and part of the Neuroscience course for first year professional students in the Doctor of Podiatric Medicine program at Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine, in Center City Philadelphia.

 

The Physiology component of the Neuroscience course consists of Cell Physiology and Neurophysiology.

 

The Podiatric Physiology course builds upon the foundation of Cell Physiology that students learned in the first half of the Neuroscience course and presents the major areas of normal human Physiology categorized by organ systems. Each of these discrete areas has its own block of lectures and a unit examination:

 

  • Cardiovascular Physiology
  • Respiratory Physiology
  • Gastrointestinal Physiology
  • Renal Physiology
  • Endocrine Physiology

The course is designed to enable students to do well on Part I of the NBPME qualifying examinations. The content of the course covers the areas delineated by the National Board of Podiatric Medical Examiners.

 

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Bioscience I (Physiology for Physical Therapy Students)


The goal of this course is to provide the students with an opportunity to learn basic facts and principles of physiology. The course will be focused on cellular, cardiovascular, pulmonary, and renal physiology. The topics to be discussed have been selected to be relevant to the modern practicing physical therapist. Special emphasis is placed on the conferences during which a practicing physical therapist and a physiologist lead a discussion on the application of physiology to understanding diseases commonly encountered by PTs.

 

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Dental Physiology (D-277)

 

Physiology is the science which explores the normal vital processes and mechanisms necessary for the maintenance of life. Thus, the breadth and depth of this course ranges from delineating sub-cellular mechanisms to delineating integrated mechanisms at the the organ level and up to the whole organism. Human physiology will be the focus in Dental Physiology, with reference to other species as necessitated by current paradigms. In fundamental terms, students participating in this course will be given insights as to how the human body functions as a living unit. Thus, at the end of the course, the students will be able to recognize and understand normal human physiologic mechanisms. Such a fundamental understanding is vital as it enables the students to better understand the sciences of pathology and pharmacology. This, in turn, provides the students with the tools to successfully manage pathophysiologic and pharmacologic processes in their patients.

 

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