Module 1.0. Homeostasis, Membranes, Electrophysiology and ANS

1.1. Homeostasis

1.1.1. Homeostasis Defined

1.1.2. Homeostatic Control Systems

1.1.3. Feedback Response Loop

1.2. Cell Transport; Water & Solutes

1.2.1. Fluid Compartments

1.2.3. Diffusion of Solutes

1.2.4. Active Transport

1.2.5. Bulk Transport

1.3. Electrophysiology

1.3.1. Ions and Cell Membranes

1.3.2. Membrane Potentials

1.3.3. Graded Potential

1.3.4. Action Potentials

1.3.5. Refractory Periods

1.3.6. Propagation of an Action Potential

1.4. The Synapse

1.5. The Autonomic Nervous System

1.5.1. Organization of the Nervous System

1.5.2. Structural Organization of the ANS

1.5.3. The SNS and the PNS

1.5.4. The Enteric Nervous System

1.5.5. Physiology of the ANS

1.5.6. Neurotransmitters of the ANS

1.5.7. Receptors of the ANS

1.5.8. Actions of the Autonomic Nervous System

1.5.9. Table of Actions for the SNS and PNS and Some Common Drugs

Module 2.0. Skeletal Muscle and Special Senses

2.1. Structural Organization of Skeletal Muscle

2.2.1. Neuromuscular Junction, Excitation-Contraction Coupling

2.2.2. Muscle Contractures and Cramps

2.3. Whole Muscle Contraction, Fiber Type, Fatigue and Muscle Pharmacology

2.3.1. Motor Units

2.3.2. Factors that Influence the Force of Contraction

2.3.3. Energy Source for Muscle Contraction

2.3.4. Skeletal Muscle Fiber Types

2.3.6. Muscle Pharmacology

2.4. Smooth Muscle

2.4.1. Smooth Muscle Contraction

2.5. Control of Body Movement

2.5.1. Voluntary Control of Muscle

2.5.2. Reflexes

2.6. Taste and Smell

2.6.2. The Sense of Smell

2.7.1. Structure of the Eye

2.7.2. Focusing Light on the Retina

2.7.3. Converting Light to Action Potentials

2.7.4. The Retina

2.7.5. Phototransduction

2.7.6. Receptive Fields

2.8. Hearing and Equilibrium

2.8.1. The Nature of Sound

2.8.2. The Hearing Apparatus

2.8.3. Sound Vibrations to Action Potentials

2.8.4. The Sense of Balance and Equilibrium

Module 3.0. Cardiovascular System

3.1. Structure of the Heart

3.1.1. Chambers and Circulation

3.2. Cardiac Cell Action Potentials

3.2.1. Action Potentials in Cardiac Muscle Cells

3.2.2. Action Potentials in Cardiac Autorhythmic cells

3.2.3. Cellular Mechanisms of Inotropy and Chronotropy

3.3. Electrophysiology of Heart Muscle

3.3.1. Heart Conduction System

3.3.2. Electrocardiogram (ECG)

3.3.3. Abnormal ECG - Current of Injury

3.4. The Cardiac Cycle

3.4.1. Cardiac cycle

3.4.2. Cardiac Measurements and Pressure Volume Loops

3.5. Blood vessels and Blood Pressure

3.5.1. Arteries and Veins

3.5.2. Capillaries

3.5.3. Blood Pressure Regulation and Shock

3.5.4. Capillary Exchange

3.5.5. Myogenic and Paracrine Regulation of Vasoconstriction and Vasodilation

3.6.1. Composition of Blood

3.6.2. Hematopoeisis

3.6.3. Breaking Down Red Blood Cells

3.6.4. Hemostasis

Module 4.0. Urinary and Respiratory Systems

4.1. Function and Structure of the Kidney

4.1.1. Urinary System Function

4.1.2. Functional Anatomy of the Urinary System

4.1.3. The Nephron: Functional Unit of the Kidney

4.1.4. The Renal Corpuscle: Bowman's Capsule

4.2. Physiology of Urine Production

4.2.1. Filtration

4.2.2. Renal Clearance

4.2.3. Tubular Reabsorption

4.2.4. Urine Concentration and Dilution

4.2.5. Hormonal Regulation of Urine Production

4.3. Acid/Base Balance

4.3.2. Acid/Base Disturbances

4.4. The Respiratory System

4.4.1. Respiratory System Structure and Function

4.4.2. Respiratory Membrane

4.4.3. Respiratory pressures and Inspriation/Expiration

4.4.4. Alveoli and Surfactant

4.4.5. Pneumothorax

4.4.6. Pressure-Volume Loops and the Work of Breathing

4.5. Gas Exchange and Transport

4.5.1. Gas Laws

4.5.2. Partial Pressure Gradients in the Lung

4.5.3. Alveolar Gas Equation

4.5.4. Oxygen and Carbon Dioxide Transport in the Blood

4.5.5. Alveolar Ventilation

4.5.6. Ventilation/Perfusion Ratio

4.6. Chronic Bronchitis and Emphysema

4.6.1. Respiratory Control by the Medulla Oblongata

4.6.2. Chemicals that Regulate Ventilation

Module 5.0. Digestive, Endocrine and Reproductive Systems

5.1. Functional Anatomy of the Digestive System

5.1.1. Layers of the Digestive Tract

5.1.2. Enteric Nervous System

5.1.3. Organs of the Digestive System

5.2.1. Carbohydrates

5.2.2. Proteins

5.2.4. Lipoproteins

5.3. Regulation of Digestive Secretions

5.4. Endocrine System

5.4.1. Overview of the Endocrine System

5.4.2. Hormone Receptors

5.4.3. Hormones of the Body

5.4.4. Other Hormones: Melatonin and Pheromones

5.5. The Hypothalamus and Pituitary Gland

5.5.1. Structure and Function of the Hypothalamus and Pituitary Gland

5.5.2. The Posterior Pituitary

5.5.3. The Anterior Pituitary

5.5.4. Growth Hormone

5.5.5. Prolactin

5.5.6. Thyroid Hormones

5.5.7. Adrenal Hormones

5.6.1. Insulin and Glucagon

5.6.2. Diabetes Mellitus

5.7. Reproductive System Anatomy

5.7.1. Female Reproductive Anatomy

5.7.2. Male Reproductive Anatomy

5.7.3. Sexual Development at Puberty

5.7.4. Male Reproductive Endocrine Axis

5.7.5. Spermatogenesis

5.7.6. Female Reproductive System: Oogenesis

5.7.7. Ovulation and Fertilization

5.7.8. The Ovarian Cycle

5.7.9. The Uterine Cycle

5.7.10. Pregnancy

Appendix A. Gender

Appendix B. The Placebo Effect

B.2.2. Examples of the Placebo Effect

B.2.3. How do Placebos Work?

B.2.4. Are Placebos Ethical?

B.2.5. How do we validate actual effectiveness of placebos

B.2.6. Tips for evaluating scientific evidence

B.2.7. What about Faith Healings

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<p id="p_cyyy" name="p_cyyy">The word placebo is derived from Latin and means “I shall please”. We apply the word placebo to anything that is used with the intent to deceive the recipient. In other words, placebos have no actual effect but we want the person to believe that the substance will help them. Placebos are used extensively in medical research to test the efficacy of the drug being tested. Stated another way, to test the efficacy of a drug, random volunteers are given the actual drug or a placebo that does not contain the drug but looks just like the drug being tested. These studies are done blind, meaning that the people involved do not know which drug is real and which drug is the placebo. It is expected that this sort of blind testing will prove if the drug actually works or not. Ironically, it was quickly discovered that if the person believes that the substance will help them, even if it contains only sugar, in many cases, it does! This phenomenon is called the placebo effect. The effectiveness of the placebo effect depends on many factors including:</p><ol id="ol_xeQS" name="ol_xeQS">
<li id="li_gzLM" name="li_gzLM">The personal beliefs and expectations of the person receiving the placebo</li>
<li id="li_pzxi" name="li_pzxi">Memories about therapies that the person believes have worked in the past</li>
<li id="li_oeEY" name="li_oeEY">Encouraging words given by people in authority such as doctors or other medical personnel</li>
<li id="li_AwgI" name="li_AwgI">Color, shape, smell, and taste of the placebo</li>
<li id="li_LZxC" name="li_LZxC">Interactions with other people who feel that the placebo treatment was effective</li>
<li id="li_usRz" name="li_usRz">The sight of health professionals, hospitals and medical instruments that reinforce the belief that the placebo is beneficial.</li>
</ol><p id="p_dBtH" name="p_dBtH">Below are some interesting studies illustrating the belief factors from the list above. See if you can determine which of the factors were used in each study to “deceive” the participants.</p>