Human Anatomy and Physiology I           (Biology 201)

Yavapai College

Fall 2007

Instructor:  Larry M. Frolich, Ph.D.

E-mail:  Larry_Frolich@yc.edu

            Office:  4-233A, Tel. (928) 717-7628

Office Hours:  M/W 1:00-2:00 pm; 4:45-6:00 pm  Tu/Th 6:00-8:00 am; 10:45-11:00 am

Course Website: http://faculty.yc.edu/lfrolich/

 

In many ways, this course involves learning a new language.  To learn a new language, it is essential to have direct experience with the objects or material being described—in this case the human body, fetal pig and other laboratory specimens—and to find ways to ingrain the words involved.  It is best to hear the terms, write them down, touch the structures while dissecting, draw the structures, label them, write their definitions, say them out loud and then repeat it all over again.  This can get to be a boring and repetitive process, but it is important to remember the power that comes from being able to describe the details of the human body, and how it works, with precision, and at a level that was previously not possible. 

 

Students often ask me what might be the best way to excel in this course.  Every student is an individual with their own strengths and weaknesses and every year I learn about new ways to study and approach anatomy and physiology.  But I do have a few tips that seem to be universally useful to all students:

• PREPARATION:  Students who get an A in this class always come prepared to class and lab.  It is a simple fact.  They have read ahead and they are already familiar with the systems and parts of the body and the terms to describe them.  They know which figures in the lab manual or text apply to what we are covering that day.
• TIME:  This course requires time outside of class in order to do well—at least 10 hours/week.
• REPETITION:  Read it, hear it, see it, say it, DRAW IT (this seems to be key); then do it again.
• ATTITUDE:  Students with a better attitude do better in this class.

 

Website:  http://faculty.yc.edu/lfrolich/  The website for this course serves as your guide and allows me, as the instructor, to take the role of an organizer and explainer, rather than the holder of information. Presentations for the entire semester, along with note-taking handouts and links to other websites, can be found here.  In addition, learning objectives and all logistical information regarding schedules, readings, and grading are posted.  If you have a question, please consult the website first and then send me an email if you can’t find the answer.

 

 

 

Three Parts:  The semester is split into three parts, each treated as a mostly independent unit with a non-cumulative exam.  The attached weekly schedule gives the themes for each part of the course, as well as weekly topics and text chapters to be covered.

 

The Compendium Notebook:  Students often tell me they have studied thoroughly and reviewed extensively for an exam, but just don’t do well on tests.  To help with this problem, you will have the option of “paying down” your exam grade for each section of the course by presenting a compendium review notebook during the class meeting prior to the exam.  Most students also find that the compendium notebook is a great way to prepare for the exam.  Detailed instructions for putting together this compendium can be found on the course website.

 

Lab:  Lab exercises are tightly linked to the course material and form an integral and crucial part of your learning experience.  Labs involve either observation of the human cadaver, dissection of fetal pigs or other materials, examination of microscope slides, or physiological experiments, usually using our own bodies as the experimental subjects (nothing invasive or dangerous). 

 

Attendance:  Any student who misses lecture or lab during the first two weeks of the semester, without prior consent from instructor, may be withdrawn from the course.  All exams and assignments must be completed at the designated time.  If presented late, they will only be considered with written evidence of an emergency or urgent situation.

 

Withdrawal:  Students may withdraw until the mid-semester withdrawal date.  After that date, if you continue in the class, I assume it is because you wish to receive the grade that you earn (A-F).  If you wish the S/U grading option, you must request it before the third exam.

 

Course Content (for all Yavapai College Anatomy and Physiology I sections, from course catalog):

• Anatomical terms and homeostasis
• Cytological and histological anatomy and functions
• Integumentary system
• Anatomy and physiology of the skeletal system
• Axial and appendicular skeleton, joints
• Anatomy and physiology of the muscular system
• Gross and microscopic anatomy of muscles
• Muscle contraction
• Anatomy and physiology of the nervous system
• The central and peripheral nervous systems
• The automatic nervous system
• The senses

 

Learning Outcomes (for all Yavapai Anatomy and Physiology I sections, from course catalog):

Upon successful completion of this course, the learner will be able to:

• Identify the parts of a typical cell and describe their function and structure.
• Identify and describe the four basic tissue types, their anatomy and functions.
• Describe the anatomy and functions of the integumentary system.
• Identify and describe the anatomy and physiology of the skeletal system.
• Identify and describe the anatomy of joints, axial and appendicular skeletal systems.
• Identify and describe the anatomy and physiology of the muscular system.
• Identify and describe the gross and microscopic anatomy of muscles.
• Describe the biological processes involved in muscle contraction.
• Identify and describe the anatomy and physiology of the nervous system.
• Describe and identify brain and spinal cord anatomy and reflexes.
• Describe the biological processes involved in the nerve impulse.
• Describe and identify the anatomy and physiology of the autonomic nervous system.
• Describe and identify the anatomy and physiology of the senses.

 

 

 

Written Exams (100 points each for total of 300 points):  Anatomy and Physiology is mostly a factual subject with objective exams used as the main evaluation tool.  Each exam will be based on lecture material and associated chapters from the text.  Each exam will be worth 100 points.  Exams will be a combination of multiple choice, fill-in-the-blank, matching, and short answer questions.  The exams are NOT cumulative and only test on the material from the most recent section of the course.  Exams will be available from Tuesday until Friday during exam week in the out-of-classroom testing center (hours on course website).  Make-up exams will be given only if proof of a legitimate emergency can be provided.

 

Compendium Notebooks (use to “pay down” exam points):  At the class meeting prior to exams, you will have a chance to present a compendium review notebook for that section of the course.  This notebook can help you to “pay down” the cost or “insure” up to 30 points on that exam.  In other words, if you present a perfect compendium notebook, it will be worth 30 points towards the total 100 points of the exam.  Then, the percentage you get on the exam will apply to the remaining 70 points.  Thus, let’s say you get 60% of the questions on the exam correct.  You already have 30 points for your notebook, plus 60% of the remaining 70 points (42) gives you a total of 72 points for that exam.  Compare this to a grade of 60 points that you would have gotten without presenting a perfect notebook, and you can see that it could mean the difference between failing and passing the exam.

 

Quizzes (100 points for total quiz average):  Weekly quizzes are given to inspire the student to keep on top of studying and as a gauge for how well one is doing in the class.  If you are not doing well on the quizzes and find them difficult, then that is a sign that you need to change your approach to studying for Anatomy and Physiology.  Each quiz is worth ten points and the quiz average then contributes 100 points (the equivalent of one lecture exam) to the semester total.  Quizzes are based on the material from the previous week.  Exam week and the week immediately following exams will have no quizzes.

 

Lab Practicals (100 points each for 300 points total):  Your understanding in lab is evaluated in three lab practical exams.  Lab practical exams will be the same week as the lecture exams and cover just the lab material from that section of the course.  As the first lab practical nears, I will provide some sample questions and discuss strategies (beyond keeping on top of lab and studying hard) to do well on these exams.  Lab practicals cannot be made up for any reason.  If you miss a lab practical for an emergency reason, you must contact the instructor to discuss alternative arrangements.  You must show a cumulative passing grade on the lab practicals or you cannot pass the class, no matter how well you do on the other exams and evaluations.

 

Online Website Notebooks (100 points total):  Over the course of the semester, we will be look at a lot of websites related to anatomy and physiology and its practical application in health-related areas.  Each of you will create an online notebook where you will catalog and review a number of websites related to a particular health and well-being topic.  This assignment not only helps you to become good at using the internet as a resource tool, but it also provides all of us with a fantastic health and well-being website data-base.  Detailed instructions will be provided on the course website.

 

Final Grade:               Lecture Exams                       300 points

                                    TOTAL POSSIBLE                 800 POINTS

 

Letter grades are assigned according the following point (and percentage) accumulations.

                        A:  More than 720 points (90%)

                        B:  More than 640 points (80%)

                        C:  More than 560 points (70%)

                        D:  More than 480 points (60%)

                        F:  Less than 480 points                                 (Grade calculator is on next page)

 

            From the outset, I assume that students who have advanced sufficiently in their academic professional goals to be taking this course are self-motivated and want to achieve at the highest level.  I view my own role as one of a colleague who serves to orient and guide the student. In both the classroom, and especially in the lab, where tight collaboration is a necessity, I strive to create an environment that promotes a strong sense of professional respect and expect students to do the same.  While observing the norms of academic honesty, we seek a cooperative approach to learning where we all take advantage of each others’ strengths and skills in a collegial way, much as one would hope to find in a well-managed workplace. 

Anatomy and Physiology requires serious and time-intensive dedication.  A minimum of ten hours preparation, study and revision outside of class is needed to pass, and perhaps more time to really excel.  Think of class as a quick orientation to what you need to learn during the rest of the week or over the weekend.  I strongly encourage students to study together.  Nonetheless, any plagiarism or violation of academic honesty in the preparation of class assignments, or during exams, will result in an instant “F” for the semester.

We have the special privilege, in this class, of working with human cadavers and human bones in the laboratory.  This will usually involve “pro-sections” or professionally prepared preparations that you will view during the course of the lab.  I believe that the presence of the cadavers (and other human specimens) deserves a special reverence and respect.  People who donate their bodies do not receive any compensation and it is an astounding and worthy gift—one that merits remembering every time we enter the anatomy lab.  Photographs may not be taken in lab and individuals not enrolled in the class are not allowed to enter the lab—you may not bring in friends or visitors.  When we work with the cadaver, we normally just expose the areas that are of interest and keep the rest of the body covered with moist cloths.

 

            If any student in this class has a disability, including a learning disability, please let me know so that I can give you Disability Resources contact information and we can work together to arrange the accommodations that might be needed for this class.

 

 

EVALUATION TOOL	Points possible	My points
EXAM 1	100
PRACTICAL 1	100
EXAM 2	100
PRACTICAL 2	100
EXAM 3	100
PRACTICAL 3	100
WEBSITE NOTEBOOKS	100
WEEKLY QUIZZES
Week 1	10
Week 2	10
Week 3	10
Week 5	10
Week 6	10
Week 7	10
Week 8	10
Week 11	10
Week 12	10
Week 13	10
Total for Semester	800