Course overview
- Study period
- Semester 2, 2025 (28/07/2025 - 22/11/2025)
- Study level
- Undergraduate
- Location
- St Lucia
- Attendance mode
- In Person
- Units
- 2
- Administrative campus
- St Lucia
- Coordinating unit
- Biomedical Sciences School
This course focuses on function of human gastrointestinal, endocrine, sensory and motor nervous systems in health and altered function in disease. The relevant pharmacology will also be addressed.
The course covers general and specialised cell physiology, including human gastrointestinal, endocrine, metabolic, sensory & motor nervous systems in health & altered function in disease. Relevant pharmacology will also be covered.
Course requirements
Assumed background
PHYL2062
Prerequisites
You'll need to complete the following courses before enrolling in this one:
PHYL2062
Incompatible
You can't enrol in this course if you've already completed the following:
PL262
Restrictions
BPhty students only.
Course contact
School enquiries
Student and Academic Administration Team
The SBMS Student and Academic Administration Team is located on Level 1 of the Sir William Macgregor Building (64-130).
Course staff
Lecturer
Dr Cassy Spiller
Timetable
The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.
Aims and outcomes
To enable the students to develop a working knowledge of the functions and needs of mammalian tissues, organs and systems as a basis to:
(i) optimise physical well being
(ii) interpret data indicating disturbed function and
(iii) solve problems for management of disturbed function
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
KNOWLEDGE - Have a working knowledge of the functions and needs of mammalian tissues, organs and systems and how these relate to whole body function.
LO2.
KNOWLEDGE - Have an understanding of general and specialised cell physiology of the gastrointestinal, endocrine, sensory & motor nervous systems in health & altered function in disease, and be able to convey this knowledge in a clinical context.
LO3.
KNOWLEDGE - Consider the assertions made in lectures and textbooks, and the conditions under which these assertions may or may not apply.
LO4.
PRACTICALITY - Have confidence in dealing with practical situations that you will encounter during your career.
LO5.
PRACTICALITY - Have experienced some of the techniques used in physiological or pharmacological experimentation.
LO6.
PRACTICALITY - Demonstrate an understanding of methods of data collection and analysis, and developed an ability to evaluate experimental results taking into account the sources and magnitude of experimental variation.
Assessment
Assessment summary
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quiz, Reflection |
Meta-learning 1-4 (individual)
|
12% (3% per task) |
14/08/2025 1:00 pm 3/09/2025 1:00 pm 24/09/2025 1:00 pm 22/10/2025 1:00 pm
Each task will open 1 week prior to the due date, it can be completed any time within that week. Please note Meta-learning task 1 will close on Thursday, as the Wednesday that week is the Ekka holiday. |
| Examination |
In-Semester Exam
|
28% |
In-semester Saturday 6/09/2025 - 20/09/2025
Will be held on either the 6/09/25, 13/09/25 or 20/09/25 (personal timetables to be released on 7/08/25) |
| Examination |
End of Semester exam
|
60% |
End of Semester Exam Period 8/11/2025 - 22/11/2025 |
Assessment details
Meta-learning 1-4 (individual)
- Online
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Quiz, Reflection
- Weight
- 12% (3% per task)
- Due date
14/08/2025 1:00 pm
3/09/2025 1:00 pm
24/09/2025 1:00 pm
22/10/2025 1:00 pm
Each task will open 1 week prior to the due date, it can be completed any time within that week. Please note Meta-learning task 1 will close on Thursday, as the Wednesday that week is the Ekka holiday.
Task description
Meta-learning tasks, open for 1 week prior to due date.
Details of the quiz format and marking criteria will be provided on Blackboard during the semester.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Translation (MT) are emerging tools that may support students in completing this assessment task. Students may appropriately use AI and/or MT in completing this assessment task. Students must clearly reference any use of AI or MT in each instance. A failure to reference generative AI or MT use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Submission guidelines
Details of the quiz format and marking criteria will be provided on Blackboard during the semester.
We recommend that you do not use the Blackboard Phone App nor a wireless network connection when completing this Blackboard assessment. Both are unstable and could affect your ability to complete your Blackboard assessment, by for example:
- you may lose connectivity and lose the work you have completed;
- your submission could indicate you have completed your assessment task, but nothing has been delivered into BlackBoard.
Please ensure that you only use a reliable internet connection.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 7 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
Extensions for this task are limited to 7 days to encourage immediate engagement with course material and to support effective and timely learning.
A request for an extension must be submitted through my.UQ as soon as it becomes evident that an extension is needed, but no later than one calendar day after the assessment task submission due date and time.
Requests for extension received more than one calendar day after the assessment task submission due date and time will not be accepted for consideration unless you provide evidence of exceptional circumstances preventing you from submitting a request prior to the deadline, e.g., due to hospitalisation.
If you have been granted an extension, then the assessment specied penalty listed under Late Submission will be applied to submissions made after the due date of the approved extension.
Late submission
As the tasks are open for a week, no late submissions are available for these tasks.
In-Semester Exam
- Identity Verified
- In-person
- Online
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Examination
- Weight
- 28%
- Due date
In-semester Saturday
6/09/2025 - 20/09/2025
Will be held on either the 6/09/25, 13/09/25 or 20/09/25 (personal timetables to be released on 7/08/25)
- Other conditions
- Time limited.
Task description
The in-semester exam will cover all the lecture and laboratory/practical materials prior to the end of week 6 of the semester.
The in-semester Saturday exam will be held on either 6/09/25, 13/09/25 or 20/09/25.
Students will receive their personal exam timetable from Examinations on or after the Thursday of Week 2.
The exam will be a closed book invigilated exam held on campus, undertaken via the Inspera eAssessment platform. Students will be required to bring a laptop to the exam that meets the device requirements for Inspera. It is important that you check before the exam that your laptop meets the device requirements for using the Inspera Assessment platform. If you do not own a suitable laptop, you can borrow one from the Library. The Library website Get familiar with Inspera provides the latest information for students about using Inspera. Further information about the exam will be provided on Blackboard. Have your UQ student ID card available for all your exams.
Have your UQ student ID card available for all your exams.
This assessment task is to be completed in-person. The use of generative Articial Intelligence (AI) or Machine Translation (MT) tools will not be permitted. Any attempted use of AI or MT may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Exam details
| Planning time | 10 minutes |
|---|---|
| Duration | 60 minutes |
| Calculator options | No calculators permitted |
| Open/closed book | Closed book examination - no written materials permitted |
| Exam platform | Inspera |
| Invigilation | Invigilated in person |
Submission guidelines
Deferral or extension
You may be able to defer this exam.
End of Semester exam
- Identity Verified
- In-person
- Online
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Examination
- Weight
- 60%
- Due date
End of Semester Exam Period
8/11/2025 - 22/11/2025
- Other conditions
- Time limited.
Task description
Covers all lectures and laboratory / practical class materials. Details of the examination format will be provided in Blackboard during the semester.
The exam will be a closed book invigilated exam held on campus, undertaken via the Inspera eAssessment platform. Students will be required to bring a laptop to the exam that meets the device requirements for Inspera. It is important that you check before the exam that your laptop meets the device requirements for using the Inspera Assessment platform. If you do not own a suitable laptop, you can borrow one from the Library. The Library website Get familiar with Inspera provides the latest information for students about using Inspera. Further information about the exam will be provided on Blackboard.
Have your UQ student ID card available for all your exams.
This assessment task is to be completed in-person. The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools will not be permitted. Any attempted use of AI may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct.
Exam details
| Planning time | 10 minutes |
|---|---|
| Duration | 90 minutes |
| Calculator options | No calculators permitted |
| Open/closed book | Closed book examination - no written materials permitted |
| Exam platform | Inspera |
| Invigilation | Invigilated in person |
Submission guidelines
Deferral or extension
You may be able to defer this exam.
Course grading
Full criteria for each grade is available in the Assessment Procedure.
| Grade | Cut off Percent | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 (Low Fail) | 0 - 29 |
Absence of evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: A cumulative score for all intra-semester and end of semester assessment items 0% - 29%. |
| 2 (Fail) | 30 - 39 |
Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: A cumulative score for all intra-semester and end of semester assessment items of 30% - 39%. |
| 3 (Marginal Fail) | 45 - 49 |
Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes Course grade description: A cumulative score for all intra-semester and end of semester assessment items of 45% - 49%. |
| 4 (Pass) | 50 - 64 |
Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: A cumulative score for all intra-semester and end of semester assessment items of 50% - 64%. |
| 5 (Credit) | 65 - 74 |
Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: A cumulative score for all intra-semester and end of semester assessment items of 65% - 74%. |
| 6 (Distinction) | 75 - 84 |
Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: A cumulative score for all intra-semester and end of semester assessment items of 75% - 84%. |
| 7 (High Distinction) | 85 - 100 |
Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: A cumulative score for all intra-semester and end of semester assessment items of 85% - 100%. |
Additional course grading information
No assessment items are compulsory. A mark of zero will be recorded if an assessment item is not submitted. Penalties apply for late submission unless there is an approved extension date.ﾠ
Supplementary assessment
Supplementary assessment is available for this course.
The supplementary assessment may be in the form of an exam (written or oral), a written submission or another assessment as determined by the Course Coordinator. It may be made up of multiple components and will allow students to meet any outstanding Learning Outcomes. The final grade awarded will be based on the results of the supplementary assessment only and a passing grade will be awarded only if a student passes the supplementary assessment.
Additional assessment information
Refer to the SBMS Assessment Guidelines for School specific assessment information.
Learning resources
You'll need the following resources to successfully complete the course. We've indicated below if you need a personal copy of the reading materials or your own item.
Library resources
Library resources are available on the UQ Library website.
Other course materials
If we've listed something under further requirement, you'll need to provide your own.
Required
| Item | Description | Further Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Required - Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) | Clean white laboratory coat, safety glasses and fully enclosed shoes. Students will not be permitted in the laboratory without these items. Each student must have their UQ Student Identification Card visibly displayed above the waist. While public health directions no longer require face masks to be worn, they are recommended when you cannot physically distance, you are a vulnerable person or caring for vulnerable people. Please note that cloth masks are not acceptable in laboratory classes in the School of Biomedical Sciences. PPE and identification card holders can be purchased from the School Locker. | own item needed |
Learning activities
The learning activities for this course are outlined below. Learn more about the learning outcomes that apply to this course.
Filter activity type by
Please select
| Learning period | Activity type | Topic |
|---|---|---|
Week 1 (28 Jul - 03 Aug) |
Lecture |
Course Introduction An introduction to the aims and objectives of the course, practicals and assessments. |
Lecture |
Autonomic Nervous System module (2 lectures) Structure and function of the ANS; Neurotransmitters and receptors |
|
Multiple weeks From Week 2 To Week 3 |
Lecture |
Endocrine System module (6 lectures) L1 - The endocrine system and endocrine action. Hormone structure and functions. Descriptions of various classes of hormones. Amino acid derivatives, peptide hormones, lipid derivatives. L2 - Growth: the role of growth hormone & IGFs; abnormalities of growth. L3 - Parathyroid function, maintaining calcium balance; bone metabolism. L4 - The endocrinology of reproduction; male reproduction; female reproduction. L5 - Metabolism: thyroid function; hypothyroid and hyperthyroid states. L6 - The adrenal glands: coping with stress; abnormalities of the adrenal cortex |
Week 4 (18 Aug - 24 Aug) |
Lecture |
Metabolism module (3 lectures) Introduction to metabolic reactions and pathways; Diabetes and Metabolic Syndrome; Understanding metabolic regulation and its influence on cell physiology |
Multiple weeks From Week 5 To Week 6 |
Lecture |
Gastrointestinal tract module (4 lectures) L1 - Anatomy, histology & physiology of GIT to explain the relationship structure and function; L2 - Physiology & Pathophysiology of Upper GIT and some therapeutic approaches; L3 - Accessory organs (liver, gallbladder, pancreas, sublingual salivary glands) and Lower GIT physiology & pathophysiology; L4 - Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) pathogenesis and clinical and therapeutic aspects |
Week 5 (25 Aug - 31 Aug) |
Practical |
OGTT Practical On-campus, in-person class. P1 Friday 10am - 1pm; P2 Friday 2pm - 5pm Learning outcomes: L03, L04, L05, L06 |
Multiple weeks From Week 7 To Week 8 |
Lecture |
Sensory Nervous System module (5 lectures) L1 - Introduction to sensory systems; L2 - Somatosensory system; L3 - Vestibular system; L4 - Vision; L5 - Hearing. |
Week 8 (15 Sep - 21 Sep) |
Practical |
Somatosensory Practical On-campus, in-person class. P1 Friday 10am - 1pm; P2 Friday 2pm - 5pm Learning outcomes: L03, L04, L05, L06 |
Multiple weeks From Week 9 To Week 10 |
Lecture |
Motor Nervous System module (6 lectures) Motorneurons, Skeletal Muscle and Muscle Afferents: L1 - cell and molecular aspects of excitation-contraction coupling; from the arrival of the action potential at the alpha motorneurons' nerve terminal through to the activation of the thick and thin filaments within in skeletal muscle to cause muscle contraction. L2 - twitch summation (spatial summation of muscle cell contractions) and length-tension relationship; how motorneurons control the force of muscle contraction, and motor unit, motor pools, size principal, rate modulation. L3 - Motor control: how the activity output of the alpha motoneuron is controlled, beginning with peripheral afferent input control, though to spinal cord reflexes (simple and complex). This will also include how motoneurons are organised within the spinal cord, and how various types of interneuronal circuits control co-ordinated muscle contraction (i.e. flexion and extension). L4 - Posture Reflexes and Brain Stem Motor Centres: the role of Brain Stem Motor Centres on Motorneuron output - reflex control of posture. L5 - Motor Areas of the Cerebral cortex, Cerebellum and its role in the correction of ongoing movement - Motor Areas of the Cerebral cortex, and clinical upper and lower motorneuron lesions. L6 - The Cerebellum and its role in the correction of ongoing movement: namely, how it functions as a comparator. |
Week 9 (22 Sep - 28 Sep) |
Practical |
Vestibular Function Practical Online module, no in-person class scheduled Learning outcomes: L04, L05, L06 |
Week 10 (06 Oct - 12 Oct) |
Practical |
Vision Practical On-campus, in-person class. P1 Friday 10am - 1pm; P2 Friday 2pm - 5pm Learning outcomes: L04, L05, L06 |
Multiple weeks From Week 11 To Week 12 |
Lecture |
Pharmacology module (6 lectures) L1 - Introduction to Pharmacodynamics. Receptors, Agonists and Antagonists. L2 - Introduction to Pharmacokinetics: Dose-response curves, routes of drug administration, absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion. L3 - Adverse drug reactions. Drug-Drug-Interaction. Individual response to drug treatment. L4 - Pathology and pharmacological treatment of Parkinsons disease. L5 - Pharmacological control of pain. The Opioids - their uses, abuses and side effects. L6 - The pathology of inflammation and how different anti-inflammatory drugs moderate the processes. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) & glucocorticoids. |
Week 11 (13 Oct - 19 Oct) |
Practical |
Electromyography (EMG) Practical On-campus, in-person class. P1 Friday 10am - 1pm; P2 Friday 2pm - 5pm Learning outcomes: L03, L04, L05, L06 |
Week 13 (27 Oct - 02 Nov) |
Lecture |
No lectures No lectures are scheduled for the final week to allow you to undertake revision. |
Policies and procedures
University policies and procedures apply to all aspects of student life. As a UQ student, you must comply with University-wide and program-specific requirements, including the:
- Student Code of Conduct Policy
- Student Integrity and Misconduct Policy and Procedure
- Assessment Procedure
- Examinations Procedure
- Reasonable Adjustments for Students Policy and Procedure
Learn more about UQ policies on my.UQ and the Policy and Procedure Library.
School guidelines
Your school has additional guidelines you'll need to follow for this course: