Course coordinator
Dr Suja Pillai
Course overview
- Study period
- Semester 1, 2026 (23/02/2026 - 20/06/2026)
- Study level
- Undergraduate
- Location
- St Lucia
- Attendance mode
- In Person
- Units
- 2
- Administrative campus
- St Lucia
- Coordinating unit
- Biomedical Sciences School
Physiology of Systems & Clinical Application to Speech Pathology Practice
PHYL2068 is designed for speech pathology students to gain an in-depth understanding of human physiology in direct correlation with communication and swallowing functions.
By the end of the course, students will:
- Understand the physiological processes of body systems relevant to speech, language, and swallowing.
- Analyse the impact of various diseases on communication and swallowing, guiding the management and treatment of these disorders.
- Apply practical and theoretical knowledge to evaluate physiological data and research, enhancing their communication and collaborative skills.
The course explores the general and specialised aspects of cell and system physiology, focusing on the neurological underpinnings of speech and language, as well as the physiology of the cardiovascular, nervous, respiratory and gastrointestinal systems. It frequently relates these systems to communication and swallowing.
This course is delivered on Blackboard Ultra, an updated interface and navigation for Blackboard.
Each module is supported by weekly in-person lectures, followed by interactive activity workshops designed to deepen your understanding of the content. These face-to-face sessions will also include some assessments.
Additionally, you will participate in practical classes throughout the semester, further reinforcing your understanding of the course material.
Course requirements
Recommended prerequisites
We recommend completing the following courses before enrolling in this one:
ANAT1002
Restrictions
Available for Speech Pathology 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 Lachlan Rash
Dr Benjamin Weger
Timetable
The timetable for this course is available on the UQ Public Timetable.
Aims and outcomes
To enable speech pathology students to develop an understanding of physiological systems and mechanisms as they relate to communication and swallowing, and an appreciation of relationship between these underlying mechanisms, clinical presentations and treatment options.
Learning outcomes
After successfully completing this course you should be able to:
LO1.
Describe general and specialised physiology of the cardiovascular, respiratory, gastrointestinal, sensory and motor nervous systems in healthy and aging populations as they relate to communication and swallowing.
LO2.
Describe physiological causes basis of diseases in individuals with communication and swallowing disorders.
LO3.
Apply knowledge of pathophysiology to describe the clinical presentation of individuals with communication and swallowing disorders and discuss pharmacological treatment options.
LO4.
Apply techniques used in physiological experimentation, including hypothesis testing, methods of data collection and analysis, to evaluate experimental results.
LO5.
Demonstrate collaborative learning skills and effective communication in a group setting.
LO6.
Reflect effectively on your learning in physiology.
Assessment
Assessment summary
| Category | Assessment task | Weight | Due date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tutorial/ Problem Set |
Assessment 1A - Workshop Activities - Short Answer Questions
|
12% |
3/03/2026 - 29/05/2026
To be completed in class. |
| Quiz |
Assessment 1B - Workshop Activities - Module Quizzes
|
18% (3 x 6%) |
Module 1 and 2 Quiz 27/03/2026 5:00 pm Module 3 and 4 Quiz 1/05/2026 5:00 pm Module 5 and 6 Quiz 29/05/2026 5:00 pm |
| Project |
Assessment 2 - Case Study Report
|
20% |
17/04/2026 1:00 pm |
| Examination |
End of Semester Exam
|
50% |
End of Semester Exam Period 6/06/2026 - 20/06/2026 |
Assessment details
Assessment 1A - Workshop Activities - Short Answer Questions
- In-person
- Online
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Tutorial/ Problem Set
- Weight
- 12%
- Due date
3/03/2026 - 29/05/2026
To be completed in class.
- Other conditions
- Time limited.
Task description
We will offer twelve (12) content-specific workshops throughout the semester to enhance your understanding of the course material. In each of these workshops, you will have assessment items. These are as follows:
Short Answer Questions
During the semester, we will have nine (9) workshops where you will engage in small group activities to answer short questions based on the course content.
Important:
- You must submit these answers individually on Blackboard.
- To contribute towards your final grade, you must submit at least 6 out of the 9 workshop assignments.
- Completing and submitting at least 6 assignments will earn 12% of your total grade for this course.
- Failure to submit at least 6 assignments will mean you receive 0%.
Note: Week 1 is your introduction, and while there will be activities, these are not marked but designed to help you understand the workshop format.
More details will be provided during class and available on the Course Blackboard page.
What if I am unable to attend all six? We have given you a lot of notice to manage your time and attend these classes. However, if you cannot attend due to significant illness or other exceptional circumstances, please contact your Course Coordinator to discuss your options.
This task has been designed to be challenging, authentic and complex. Whilst students may use AI and/or MT technologies, successful completion of assessment in this course will require students to critically engage in specific contexts and tasks for which artificial intelligence will provide only limited support and guidance. A failure to reference generative AI or MT use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct. To pass this assessment, students will be required to demonstrate detailed comprehension of their written submission independent of AI and MT tools.
Submission guidelines
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 cannot defer or apply for an extension for this assessment.
Late submission
No late submissions permitted.
Assessment 1B - Workshop Activities - Module Quizzes
- In-person
- Online
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Quiz
- Weight
- 18% (3 x 6%)
- Due date
Module 1 and 2 Quiz 27/03/2026 5:00 pm
Module 3 and 4 Quiz 1/05/2026 5:00 pm
Module 5 and 6 Quiz 29/05/2026 5:00 pm
- Other conditions
- Time limited.
Task description
You will be required to complete module quizzes, which are designed to assess your understanding of course content.
- The quizzes will occur:
- Week 5: Covering Modules 1 & 2
- Week 9: Covering Modules 3 & 4
- Week 13: Covering Modules 5 & 6
- Each quiz is worth 6%, totalling 18% of your final grade.
- All quizzes must be completed individually.
- Quizzes will be conducted using Blackboard.
Detailed instructions and additional information will be provided during the first workshop and via Blackboard announcements.
This task has been designed to be challenging, authentic and complex. Whilst students may use AI and/or MT technologies, successful completion of assessment in this course will require students to critically engage in specific contexts and tasks for which artificial intelligence will provide only limited support and guidance. A failure to reference generative AI or MT use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct. To pass this assessment, students will be required to demonstrate detailed comprehension of their written submission independent of AI and MT tools.
Submission guidelines
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 cannot defer or apply for an extension for this assessment.
Late submission
No late submission is possible.
Assessment 2 - Case Study Report
- Team or group-based
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Project
- Weight
- 20%
- Due date
17/04/2026 1:00 pm
- Other conditions
- Peer assessment factor.
Task description
For this assessment, you will receive a case study that outlines a client's health situation. Your main task is to analyse the details of the case and synthesise this information to prepare a report which:
- Clearly depicts the pathophysiology behind the client’s health conditions.
- Demonstrate how different biological systems are interconnected in the client’s case.
Objectives:
- This assessment is designed to enhance your understanding of the interactions between biological systems in health and disease contexts, which will help retain complex details, foster critical thinking, and enhance collaborative learning.
Group Activity:
- You will complete this task within a group setting.
Additional Support and Information:
- Detailed information about this assessment will be provided during your Masterclasses and Blackboard.
This task has been designed to be challenging, authentic and complex. Whilst students may use AI and/or MT technologies, successful completion of assessment in this course will require students to critically engage in specific contexts and tasks for which artificial intelligence will provide only limited support and guidance. A failure to reference generative AI or MT use may constitute student misconduct under the Student Code of Conduct. To pass this assessment, students will be required to demonstrate detailed comprehension of their written submission independent of AI and MT tools.
Submission guidelines
You must submit your Assessment task, with the electronic coversheet to Turnitin by the submission deadline.
You may submit drafts to Turnitin up to the due date, but you will only be able to submit once on or after the due date.
You should also keep an electronic copy of every piece of assessment you submit.
Deferral or extension
You may be able to apply for an extension.
The maximum extension allowed is 28 days. Extensions are given in multiples of 24 hours.
Requests for extension must be made prior to the submission deadline, even if you are awaiting your supporting documentation. Late requests for extension 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 specified late submission penalty in the table above will apply to submissions made after the due date of the approved extension.
Late submission
A penalty of 10% of the maximum possible mark will be deducted per 24 hours from time submission is due for up to 7 days. After 7 days, you will receive a mark of 0.
If you are experiencing technical difficulties uploading your submission, please email a copy of your assessment to sbms@enquire.uq.edu.au so this can be logged on your behalf before the due date.
End of Semester Exam
- Identity Verified
- In-person
- Online
- Mode
- Written
- Category
- Examination
- Weight
- 50%
- Due date
End of Semester Exam Period
6/06/2026 - 20/06/2026
- Other conditions
- Time limited, Secure.
Task description
The end-of-semester exam in this course is designed to assess your comprehensive understanding of the covered material.
Exam Format:
- 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.
- Question Types: Multiple-choice, short-answer, label the images, fill in the blanks, and other assorted questions
- Content Coverage: The exam will cover all lectures, practical material, and modules, with the focus proportional to the number of lectures in each module.
Attendance at modules, workshops, and practical classes is highly recommended, as there will be explicit questions on these sections in the exam.
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.
More details of the examination format will be provided on Blackboard during the semester.
Exam details
| Planning time | 10 minutes |
|---|---|
| Duration | 120 minutes |
| Calculator options | (In person) Casio FX82 series only or UQ approved and labelled calculator |
| Open/closed book | Closed book examination - no written materials permitted |
| Exam platform | Inspera |
| Invigilation | Invigilated in person |
Submission guidelines
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.
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 allﾠassessment itemsﾠofﾠ0% - 29%. |
| 2 (Fail) | 30 - 44 |
Minimal evidence of achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: A cumulative score for allﾠassessment itemsﾠofﾠ30% - 44%. |
| 3 (Marginal Fail) | 45 - 49 |
Demonstrated evidence of developing achievement of course learning outcomes Course grade description: A cumulative score for allﾠassessment itemsﾠofﾠ45% - 49%. |
| 4 (Pass) | 50 - 64 |
Demonstrated evidence of functional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: A cumulative score for allﾠassessment items of 50% - 64%. |
| 5 (Credit) | 65 - 74 |
Demonstrated evidence of proficient achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: A cumulative score for allﾠassessment items of 65%ﾠ- 74%. |
| 6 (Distinction) | 75 - 84 |
Demonstrated evidence of advanced achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: A cumulative score for allﾠassessment itemsﾠofﾠ75% - 84%. |
| 7 (High Distinction) | 85 - 100 |
Demonstrated evidence of exceptional achievement of course learning outcomes. Course grade description: A cumulative score for allﾠassessment itemsﾠofﾠ85% - 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. Assessment items such as Inspera exams or In-Person invigilated quizzes (even if conducted via an online platform) cannot be completed off-Campus and students are expected to return to Campus to complete these types of assessment items.
Additional assessment information
Information onﾠ applying for an assessment extensionﾠ can be found on the ﾠApplying for an extension website.
Information onﾠ applying for a deferred examﾠ can be found on the ﾠDeferring an exam website.
Information onﾠ assessment re-mark requests ﾠcan be found on the ﾠQuerying a result website.
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.
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 |
|---|---|---|
Multiple weeks From Week 1 To Week 13 |
Workshop |
Weekly lectures These classes will have lectures followed by activities to work through with your classmates to help you learn and/or consolidate your knowledge. You will also have an assessment in each (please see the assessment section). Your lecturers will facilitate these classes, allowing you some 1:1 time to discuss anything you are confused about. |
Multiple weeks From Week 1 To Week 2 |
Workshop |
Module 1: Biological foundations & homeostasis Module 1 aims to establish a strong foundation for understanding key concepts in speech pathology. It starts with defining physiology and its importance in this field, then explores chemical basics essential for biological functions. The focus then shifts to homeostasis, vital for bodily balance, encompassing negative and positive feedback mechanisms. We'll also examine cellular components, appreciating the complexity of organelles and how cells form tissues and organs. Concluding with an overview of major body systems, this module sets the stage for deeper, specialised discussions in subsequent modules, ensuring a comprehensive and integrated understanding for all students. |
Week 2 (02 Mar - 08 Mar) |
Practical |
Physiology Practical - Osmosis "Osmosis" practical demonstrates the mechanisms by which the fluids move within the body's compartments. This has important implications for how the body maintains fluid balance and the effect of introducing solutions (such as by intravenous injection) to the body. |
Multiple weeks From Week 4 To Week 5 |
Workshop |
Module 2: The Nervous and Muscular system Module 2 focuses on the brain, spinal cord, and muscle physiology. Understanding these areas is crucial for treating conditions like stuttering or post-stroke communication issues stemming from nervous system dysfunctions. The module covers the basics of system-level understanding, including control of muscles and sensory feedback, and highlights neuro- and muscle physiology, which is important for speech pathology. It delves into motor and sensory systems and movement disorders. |
Week 4 (16 Mar - 22 Mar) |
Practical |
Physiology Practical - Skeletal Muscle The "Skeletal Muscle" practical further examines muscle contraction, investigating how the strength of muscle contractions is controlled. |
Week 5 (23 Mar - 29 Mar) |
Practical |
Physiology Practical : Action Potential [Online] The "Action Potential" practical features a computer-based module designed to showcase the electrical properties of nerves. This activity can be completed at the student's own pace but should be finished by the end of this week. |
Multiple weeks From Week 6 To Week 7 |
Workshop |
Module 3: The Cardiovascular system Module 3 focuses on the cardiovascular system It begins by examining how oxygenated blood is pumped by the heart throughout the body and how deoxygenated blood carrying carbon dioxide returns to the lungs for gas exchange. Emphasizing their interdependent relationship, the module covers the mechanics of cardiac conduction and contraction and the process of air intake, oxygen transport, and carbon dioxide expulsion. While these systems are initially taught separately, their overlapping functions are highlighted. |
Week 6 (30 Mar - 05 Apr) |
Practical |
Physiology Practical - Blood pressure The "Blood Pressure" practical examines the measurement of arterial blood pressure and the effect of posture and stress on Blood Pressure. You will also investigate the venous circulation and listen to the heart sounds. |
Week 7 (13 Apr - 19 Apr) |
Practical |
Physiology Practical - Spirometry "Spirometry" is a practical session focused on measuring lung volumes and airflow, along with exploring the factors affecting these measurements. |
Multiple weeks From Week 8 To Week 9 |
Workshop |
Module 4: Respiration and the process of speech This module focuses on the physiology of how we breathe, which is respiration. We will then relate this to articulation, resonation, and phonation in speech production. |
Week 8 (20 Apr - 26 Apr) |
Practical |
Physiology Practical Respiration [Online] "Respiration" is an online clinical scenario based on a respiratory case. |
Multiple weeks From Week 10 To Week 11 |
Workshop |
Module 5: The gastrointestinal system In this module, you will learn about the gastrointestinal system, including the essential processes of ingestion, swallowing, motility, and mechanical and chemical digestion. |
Multiple weeks From Week 12 To Week 13 |
Workshop |
Module 6: Sensory Neurobiology, Mastication and Deglutition. In sensory neurobiology students will explore sensory reception, with a focus on sensory systems that are highly relevant to speech pathology – the auditory, gustatory, and olfactory systems. Whilst in the second part of this module students will focus on mastication and swallowing in depth. The goal of this final module is for students to integrate previous knowledge in neuroanatomy and physiology to obtain an advanced understanding of body processes. |
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
- AI for Assessment Guide
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: