91562 Health and Homeostasis 1
Warning: The information on this page is indicative. The subject outline for a
particular session, location and mode of offering is the authoritative source
of all information about the subject for that offering. Required texts, recommended texts and references in particular are likely to change. Students will be provided with a subject outline once they enrol in the subject.
Subject handbook information prior to 2025 is available in the Archives.
Credit points: 6 cp
Result type: Grade and marks
There are course requisites for this subject. See access conditions.
Anti-requisite(s): 91528 Health and Homeostasis
Description
This subject, along with 91561 Health and Homeostasis 2, provides the underpinning anatomy and physiology for the subsequent pathophysiology and pharmacology subjects in the Bachelor of Nursing (C10122). The subject provides the foundation knowledge in chemistry and biology forming the basis for the study of human anatomy and physiology. Also, through the guiding principle of homeostasis, this subject describes the contribution of the different organ systems to maintain a state of wellness.
In this subject, students are introduced to organ systems of the body including skeletal, muscular, cardiovascular, respiratory, gastrointestinal systems, as well as and introduction to microbiology and pharmacology. The subject provides points of reference with regard to the structure and function of individual human organs judged to be in a state of good health (e.g. heart rate, lung volume and capacity, and organ architecture). The lessons begin with the histology of the tissues and gradually progress to organs within the system.
The activities in this subject introduce medical terms and present clinical case scenarios. The latter is utilised as a tool to understand the relevance as well as the application, in a clinical and professional setting, of the knowledge acquired in the teaching sessions.
As part of the preparation for Pathophysiology and Pharmacology 1 and 2 (91528 and 91530), a brief overview about pharmacology and pharmacokinetics is included in the current curriculum.
Subject learning objectives (SLOs)
Upon successful completion of this subject students should be able to:
| 1. | Identify the locations and significant structural features of the major organs of the body |
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| 2. | Identify the organisation and function of organs within their respective systems (cardiovascular, endocrine, musculoskeletal, nervous, respiratory) |
| 3. | Explain how the different organs work together to achieve the system’s functions |
| 4. | Explain the contributions of organ systems to maintain homeostasis within the body and thus health |
| 5. | Investigate the effects of physiological changes on the different organs or systems through clinical case scenarios |
| 6. | Evaluate the quality of, and utilise wherever appropriate, published resources in the areas of health and homeostasis, including anatomy and physiology |
Course intended learning outcomes (CILOs)
This subject also contributes specifically to the development of following course intended learning outcomes:
- Works in partnership with patients including them in decisions related to their care. (1.2)
- Works in partnership with healthcare providers and other stakeholders toward common goals that prioritise patients' values, needs and preferences. (3.3)
- Uses information and communication technologies to access valid sources of evidence. (4.1)
- Plans and provides care based on the best available evidence including clinical expertise and patients' individual needs, values and preferences. (4.3)
Contribution to the development of graduate attributes
Health and Homeostasis is a second stage subject in the Bachelor of Nursing where you will learn anatomy and physiology of the healthy human body.
This subject develops the Faculty of Health Graduate Attributes:
GA1.2: Demonstrate the characteristics and skills required for professional engagement and effective lifelong learning
Through the practicals and tutorials, you are encouraged to use reputable information, sources such as the internet, refereed journals, and textbooks, and you will develop research skills required for continued intellectual development. This graduate attribute is assessed based on the completion and submission of your analysis of clinical case scenarios.
GA 3.3: Speak, read, write and listen effectively and with sensitivity to different audiences and contexts
You will be given the opportunity to demonstrate your communication skills by preparing assignments that aim to educate yourself and your peers. This graduate attribute is assessed based on the completion and submission of your clinical case scenario analysis.
GA 4.1: Demonstrate information literacy and technology skills and effectively apply these in the exercise of clinical judgement
With the help of online resources, tutorials and practicals, you should be able to acquire disciplinary knowledge and to apply this learning to understand anatomy and physiology. Your mastery of this graduate attribute is assessed in the online quizzes and analysis of clinical case scenarios
GA 4.3: Inquire critically to apply knowledge for the purposes of patient and professional education
Your participation in the hands-on activities in the practicals and in the discussion of clinical case scenarios during the tutorials promote enquiry-based learning of the organisation, structure and functions of organs and systems as well as homeostasis and health. This graduate attribute is assessed based on the accuracy of your responses in the online quizzes and the quality of your analysis of clinical case scenarios.
Teaching and learning strategies
As you go through the online resources, tutorials, and practical sessions, you will learn the key concepts in anatomy and physiology and the skill to analyse physiological processes in clinical case scenarios.
- Please read the weekly Road Maps to get an overview of the assigned topics and tasks.
- Focus your efforts on the concepts enumerated in the must-know list.
These documents are available online.
There are no traditional face-to-face lectures. Every week, you will attend two hours of practical (i.e., laboratory) sessions and one hour of tutorial sessions within the UTS campus.
Health and Homeostasis 1 fosters
- blended learning to combine online educational materials and classroom activities and
- flipped learning to introduce learning materials before class with class time being used to enhance understanding of the concepts through active participation and problem-solving activities using clinical case scenarios.
Every week, you are encouraged to write down your notes in your manual.
*Before going to the practical and tutorial activities, you are expected to have read the Online Resources about the topic for the week.
Self-Directed Learning
You will learn subject content through independent learning activities in the form of PDF handouts or curated videos in the online learning resources in Modules in Canvas. Please see the Program for the schedule of the topics.
- These PDF handouts are compulsory readings and are based on the prescribed textbook.
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Your mastery and understanding of the content of these handouts, together with the content of the laboratory/tutorial manual, will be assessed in the online quizzes and clinical case scenario analysis.
Some topics are available as brief documents and as short videos to promote flexibility of learning and to allow you to pause and reflect during your learning before proceeding to the next topic. It is your responsibility to give yourself sufficient time each week to watch or read through the online resources or sections of the recommended textbook readings before attending your practical and tutorial sessions. While reading the materials in the Modules, please be guided by the weekly learning objectives contained in each handout.
Your learning experience is also supplemented with teaching materials from Pearson’s Mastering such as the Study Area. You can access this teaching tool after registering online.
Practicals/Laboratory Classes
During the practical classes, you will work in small groups to investigate the anatomical organisation of specific organs within organ systems, including supervised dissection, and to measure markers of certain physiological processes.
- Student-based group work, i.e., team or collaborative work, is an integral part of learning. It facilitates peer learning and development of graduate attributes.
In your group, you will be working from a manual wherein there are activities to complete, diagrams to label, allocated spaces for drawings, and questions to answer. Your understanding of the online resources or the textbook will enhance your learning experience during the dissections and other laboratory activities.
- You are strongly encouraged to complete the activities and write down your answers in your manual.
- After a lab activity, you will participate in the discussion of how you gathered the data, analysed them, and made appropriate conclusions.
- The manuals are not marked or collected at the end of the session.
For certain lab activities, you are encouraged to complete the pre-lab or post-lab work in your manual. The answers and feedback will appear online.
Tutorial Classes
Every week during the tutorial classes, you will participate in collaborative work and discussion to analyse clinical case scenarios that emphasise important concepts in anatomy and physiology. You will use your understanding of the online resources or the textbook in interpreting laboratory investigations, correlating the signs and symptoms with the affected anatomical structures, and explaining systematically physiological processes involved in the cases.
You are encouraged to be familiar with the content of the tutorial section in the manual, especially the medical terms, before attending your respective classes. A supplementary teaching and learning tool on how to analyse clinical case scenarios is available in Canvas.
Important Features of the Activities
In every prac and tutorial activity, clinical case scenarios have been embedded to demonstrate why knowing anatomy and physiology of a particular organ system is important. The focus is understanding normal anatomy and physiology and applying this knowledge in clinical case scenarios.
Your mastery and understanding of the content of the pracs and tutorials, together with the online learning resources in Modules, will be assessed in the clinical case scenario analysis and online quizzes (see Assessment Tasks section).
Feedback
Feedback during the laboratory and tutorial activities is available in the form of post-activity discussions and tests.
Questions and Queries
If you have a question about the content of the subject or any assessment task, please be sure to check CANVAS modules, Announcements, and then email the subject coordinator at the supplied email.
- Please use your UTS email address always when communicating with any UTS staff.
- You are expected to demonstrate professionalism and respect when communicating with your peers and with UTS staff.
Content (topics)
In Health and Homeostasis 1, you will learn normal anatomy and physiology and explore the components and functions of the organ systems covered in this subject.
- Cell structure, tissue organisation, and tissue types
- Regional divisions, cavities, and surface markers of the human body
- Concept of homeostasis with regard to the normal physiology and functions of the healthy human
- Characteristic features of the principal tissue types that make up the human organs
- Functions, organisation, principal tissues and organs of the systems of the human body (cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, gastrointestinal, and respiratory)
As part of preparation and support for related nursing-related subjects, you will receive an introduction to pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, and microbiology
Assessment
Assessment task 1: Clinical Case Scenario Analysis
| Intent: | To apply your knowledge learned though the subject to critically evaluate clinical case scenarios and come to a reasoned conclusion. This task contributes to the Graduate Attributes 1.2, 3.3, 4.1 and 4.3 |
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| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 This assessment task contributes to the development of course intended learning outcome(s): 1.2, 3.3, 4.1 and 4.3 |
| Type: | Report |
| Groupwork: | Group, individually assessed |
| Weight: | 30% |
| Length: | For each clinical case scenario, you can provide up to 600 words in response to the three questions. |
| Criteria: | Your analysis of the clinical case scenario will be assessed based on your ability to correctly and logically identify the tissues and organs involved in the cases as well as to clearly explain the physiological processes that link the signs and symptoms with the affected tissues and organs. A mastery of the normal anatomy and physiology will significantly aid in answering the questions. Adherence to the instructions about the layout and protocol for preparing and completing the task will also be assessed. Your responses to the questions should be sufficiently supported by references. Please read the rubric provided online. |
Assessment task 2: Quizzes
| Intent: | To give you the opportunity to test your knowledge and understanding of the topics covered in the practicals and tutorials. This assessment task contributes to the development of the following Graduate Attributes: 4.1 Demonstrate information literacy and technology skills and effectively apply these in the exercise of clinical judgement. 4.3 Inquire critically to apply knowledge for the purposes of patient and professional education |
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| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 This assessment task contributes to the development of course intended learning outcome(s): 4.1 and 4.3 |
| Type: | Quiz/test |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 40% |
| Length: | Each online quiz in Pearson's Mastering has 20 items. The summative lab test has 30 items. |
| Criteria: | You will be assessed based on the relevance and accuracy of your responses to the questions. |
Assessment task 3: In Class Practical Test
| Intent: | To determine the depth and extent of your knowledge and understanding of the Practical content in the laboratory activities This task assesses the Graduate Attributes 4.1 and 4.3. |
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| Objective(s): | This assessment task addresses subject learning objective(s): 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 This assessment task contributes to the development of course intended learning outcome(s): 4.1 and 4.3 |
| Type: | Examination |
| Groupwork: | Individual |
| Weight: | 30% |
| Length: | You will have 1.5 minutes to answer each question. |
| Criteria: | You will be assessed based on the relevance and accuracy of your answers to the questions. |
Minimum requirements
You must obtain an overall grade of 50 or more. All assessment tasks are compulsory.
Required texts
Marieb, EN and Hoehn, K. Human Anatomy & Physiology. Global edition. England: Pearson Education Limited. (12th edition)
Recommended texts
McKinley, MP, et al. Anatomy & Physiology: an integrative approach. New York: McGraw Hill Education. (Note: Either 3rd or 4th edition is fine.)