https://courseoutline.auckland.ac.nz/dco/course/MEDSCI/205/1253

MEDSCI 205 : The Physiology of Human Organ Systems

Medical and Health Sciences

2025 Semester One (1253) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

An integrative approach is used to study fundamental physiological processes which enable the body to overcome the challenge of life. Drawing on examples of normal and abnormal function, the course examines the interaction of vital physiological processes, from cellular control mechanisms to multiple organ systems. Topics include: control of fluid and electrolytes, cardiovascular control, energy use, and the delivery of oxygen and metabolites.

Course Overview

Medsci 205 is a core stage II paper that further develops the understanding of Physiology which is the scientific study of how living organisms function. It is a concept orientated, integrative physiology paper covering topics including Homeostasis (Kidney Physiology and Energetics), the Cardiovascular and Respiratory Systems, and Fetal Physiology.

Physiology is a quantitative experimental science. It involves asking questions, designing and conducting experiments, analysing problems and interpreting experimental data.  The course integrates theory and practical work across lectures, laboratories and tutorials. The majority of the laboratory sessions require student participation as test subjects, making the labs particularly engaging. Tutorials cover case study scenarios and lab report writing to assist in understanding and presenting content.

Course Requirements

Prerequisite: BIOSCI 107, MEDSCI 142 Restriction: PHARMACY 205

Course Contacts

Dr Rohit Ramchandra 
Course Director     
Department of Physiology, FMHS, Grafton
Email: r.ramchandra@auckland.ac.nz
Phone: 923 5183
Room: 503-401A

Dr Sally Rutherford
Course Coordinator           
Department of Physiology, FMHS, Grafton
Email s.rutherford@auckland.ac.nz
Phone: 923 1690
Room: 505-102

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 3: Knowledge and Practice
Capability 4: Critical Thinking
Capability 5: Solution Seeking
Capability 6: Communication
Capability 7: Collaboration
Capability 8: Ethics and Professionalism
Graduate Profile: Bachelor of Science

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Explain the general concepts of homeostasis and the principles of positive and negative feedback in physiological systems. (Capability 3, 4 and 6)
  2. Explain the general concepts of renal function and fluid balance and make practical application of this knowledge. (Capability 3, 4 and 6)
  3. Explain the general concepts of sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems and their vital role in maintenance of Blood Pressure. (Capability 3, 4 and 6)
  4. Explain key concepts of cardiac and vascular physiology, rhythm generation and the basis of electrical activity in the heart. (Capability 3, 4 and 6)
  5. Explain the key principles of energetics and its application in cell metabolism. (Capability 3, 4 and 6)
  6. Explain and apply key principles of respiratory physiology. (Capability 3, 4, 5 and 6)
  7. Gain basic principles of fetal physiology and their application to intrauterine developments. (Capability 3 and 4)
  8. Identify, describe and analyse practical data to further cement basic concepts learnt in lectures and practical laboratory sessions. (Capability 4, 5, 6 and 7)
  9. Explain and communicate scientific ideas clearly and succinctly. (Capability 4, 6, 7 and 8)
  10. Develop oral and written communications skills. (Capability 6 and 7)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Practical Assessments 40% Individual Coursework
Tests 20% Individual Test
Final Exam 40% Individual Examination
3 types 100%
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Practical Assessments
Tests
Final Exam
"In any paper that includes practical work as well as written work, a student must obtain passes in both the practical and written work in order to pass that paper as a whole."
To pass Medsci 205 course, you are required to pass both the final exam and the internal assessments. This means:
1. Final exam: you need to obtain at least 20% out of 40%.
2. Internal Assessments: you need to obtain at least 30% out of 60% (made up of 40% practical lab activities and 20% module tests).
3. Practical requirements: You need to
(a) Attend and actively participate in all laboratory practical sessions.
(b) Submit all practical assessments (as above).
(c) Receive a minimum mark of 20% out of 40% in the laboratory course component.

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.

For this course, you can expect 6 hours of lectures, 3 hour laboratory session and a 2 hour tutorial session per fortnight which is 11 hours per fortnight in total. 

5 hours of reading and thinking about the content and 5+ hours (based on past student feedback) of work on lab assignments and/or test preparation per fortnight can be expected. 

It is a conceptual course which requires a student to think, understand and then apply. Hard work is definitely rewarded.

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Attendance is required at scheduled activities including labs/tutorials to complete and receive credit for components of the course.
Most lectures will be available as recordings for revision, however this is not meant to replace attendance. Other learning activities including seminars/tutorials/labs will not be available as recordings.
Attendance on campus is required for the tests/exam.
The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.

Learning Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Course materials are made available in the course website located in the University’s learning platform CANVAS which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available). 

The course guide material alone does not replace attending lectures and reading the textbook.

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

Based on the SET feedback around the lab report assessments we have increased the weighing of this assessment to truly reflect the associated workload.  We will also be providing more opportunity to practice for module tests in the tutorials.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework, tests and examinations as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against electronic source material using computerised detection mechanisms. Upon reasonable request, students may be required to provide an electronic version of their work for computerised review.

Medsci 205 laboratories include practical group work in order to obtain raw data. The analysis, data presentation, and written components of the related assessments must be completed independently by each student, and adhere to the academic integrity standards set by the University of Auckland Student Academic Conduct Statute.

GenAI
We do not allow the use of AI in creating any written assessment because:
1. All our written assessments are intended to upskill you in academic writing (in addition to understanding the topic), which will be hindered with the use of AI.
2. It does not demonstrate your ability to communicate scientific ideas clearly, logically, and concisely within the field of sensory neuroscience (Course learning outcome 3), and claiming it as your own is academically dishonest.
If you choose to use GenAI to assist you during the semester, please ensure that it is limited to the planning or information gathering stages of your assessments. It is your responsibility to verify any information (and their sources) to ensure they are accurate. Any writing submitted for assessment must be written independently by you, in your own words.  

Paraphrasing tools
Improving your academic writing is one of the learning outcomes of this course. Paraphrasing tools such as Grammarly can be a useful resource for learning about writing, though it may not always align with scientific writing styles. If you choose to use such a tool, ensure you are:
1. Still creating your own thoughts and writing
2. Thinking critically about any suggested changes
3. Learning from any suggestions made by the tool so you can improve your writing skills, rather than simply using the suggestions in your assessments.
4. Not using it to re-write full paragraphs of text and claiming it as your own writing.

If your assessment appears to use GenAI platforms in its final product, you will be asked to have a meeting with teaching staff, and a formal academic misconduct process may be initiated.

Class Representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and your assessment is fair, and not compromised. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the University Website for information about how to proceed.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course you may be asked to submit your coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.