Anatomy & Physiology of Humans and Marine Organisms

This course will relate structure and function to provide an integrated view of how bodies work.  The focus will be on understanding body processes rather than memorizing body parts.  The first two thirds of the course will focus on human anatomy and physiology.  We will study multiple systems in the human body including the integumentary, nervous, muscular, circulatory, and respiratory systems.  Using data collected in class along with systems thinking tools, we will investigate how the different organ systems work together to maintain balance in the body.  The last third of the course will focus on the biology and physiology of marine animals such as invertebrates (starfish, jellyfish, etc.), fish, and marine mammals.  We will discuss special adaptations these organisms have to breathing and moving underwater and living in salty and turbulent environments.  We will end the year by discussing human impacts on marine life (overfishing, pollution, ocean acidification) and ocean conservation.  Student work in the course will largely consist of hands-on labs and dissections.  Each semester, students will also independently research a topic that they will present to the class.   

FALL SEMESTER

Unit 1:  The human body: an orientation

Unit 2:  The integumentary (skin, hair, nails) system

Unit 3:  The nervous system