Physiologist Course

Lesson 1 • Introduction to Organ Systems

Surveys all major organ systems and their primary functions in brief. Sets the roadmap for deeper study in subsequent chapters.

Lesson 2 • Homeostasis and Feedback Mechanisms

Explains negative and positive feedback loops that regulate internal conditions. Provides the conceptual framework for understanding all regulatory physiology.

Lesson 3 • Tissue Types and Organization

Identifies the four primary tissue types and their structural properties. Connects cellular biology to organ-level function.

Lesson 4 • Cell Structure and Function

Covers organelle roles, membrane transport, and cellular metabolism as the building blocks of physiology. Anchors all subsequent organ-system content.

Lesson 1 • Synaptic Transmission

Explains chemical and electrical synapses, neurotransmitter release, and receptor binding. Connects neural signaling to behavior and pharmacology.

Lesson 2 • Sensory Transduction and Perception

Covers mechanoreceptors, photoreceptors, chemoreceptors, and thermoreceptors and their transduction mechanisms. Links peripheral sensing to central interpretation.

Lesson 3 • Motor Control and Coordination

Describes upper and lower motor neuron pathways, cerebellar coordination, and basal ganglia modulation. Completes the sensorimotor loop.

Lesson 4 • Central and Peripheral Nervous Systems

Maps CNS and PNS divisions, their anatomical regions, and functional roles. Provides structural context for understanding neural control of organ systems.

Lesson 1 • Vascular Physiology and Hemodynamics

Applies Poiseuille's law and Laplace's law to blood flow and vessel wall tension. Connects vascular structure to resistance and flow distribution.

Lesson 2 • Coronary and Regional Circulation

Describes blood flow regulation in coronary, cerebral, pulmonary, and skeletal muscle beds. Highlights autoregulation and metabolic vasodilation.

Lesson 3 • Cardiac Mechanics and the Cardiac Cycle

Details systole, diastole, pressure-volume relationships, and cardiac output determinants. Provides quantitative tools for assessing heart performance.

Lesson 4 • Blood Pressure Regulation

Integrates baroreceptor reflexes, renal mechanisms, and hormonal control of arterial pressure. Demonstrates multi-system coordination introduced in Chapter 1.

Lesson 1 • Pulmonary Mechanics and Ventilation

Covers lung volumes, compliance, airway resistance, and the work of breathing. Establishes mechanical foundations for gas exchange analysis.

Lesson 2 • Acid-Base Physiology

Applies Henderson-Hasselbalch principles to respiratory and metabolic acid-base disorders. Enables systematic blood gas interpretation.

Lesson 3 • Oxygen and Carbon Dioxide Transport

Details hemoglobin binding kinetics, dissolved gas fractions, and CO2 carriage forms. Bridges gas exchange to tissue delivery.

Lesson 4 • Gas Exchange and Diffusion

Applies Fick's law to alveolar-capillary O2 and CO2 transfer. Connects ventilation mechanics to blood gas composition.

Lesson 1 • Electrolyte Regulation

Details renal handling of sodium, potassium, calcium, and phosphate. Demonstrates how hormonal axes maintain electrolyte balance.

Lesson 2 • Urine Concentration and Dilution

Explains the medullary osmotic gradient and ADH-dependent water reabsorption. Integrates hormonal control introduced in Chapter 1.

Lesson 3 • Tubular Reabsorption and Secretion

Maps solute handling along proximal tubule, loop of Henle, and distal segments. Connects transport proteins to clinical electrolyte disorders.

Lesson 4 • Renal Contribution to Acid-Base Balance

Covers bicarbonate reabsorption, titratable acid excretion, and ammonium production. Complements respiratory acid-base content from Chapter 4.

Lesson 1 • Glucose Homeostasis and Pancreatic Hormones

Details insulin and glucagon secretion, receptor signaling, and metabolic effects on liver, muscle, and adipose. Anchors metabolic physiology content.

Lesson 2 • Hypothalamic-Pituitary Axes

Maps releasing hormones, tropic hormones, and target-organ feedback for each major axis. Demonstrates hierarchical endocrine control.

Lesson 3 • Calcium, Bone, and Mineral Metabolism

Integrates PTH, calcitonin, and vitamin D in calcium and phosphate regulation. Builds on renal electrolyte content from Chapter 5.

Lesson 4 • Principles of Hormone Action

Classifies hormones by chemical nature, receptor type, and signal transduction pathway. Provides the mechanistic framework for all endocrine content.

Lesson 1 • Metabolic Responses to Exercise

Quantifies energy substrate utilization across exercise intensities and durations. Builds on metabolic physiology from Chapter 6.

Lesson 2 • Cardiovascular and Respiratory Adaptations

Describes acute cardiac output increases, ventilatory drive, and oxygen delivery during exercise. Integrates Chapters 3 and 4 content.

Lesson 3 • Training Adaptations and Detraining

Quantifies cardiac, skeletal muscle, and metabolic adaptations to endurance and resistance training. Addresses reversibility of adaptations.

Lesson 4 • Altitude and Hypoxic Physiology

Covers acute hypoxic ventilatory response, erythropoietic adaptation, and chronic acclimatization. Applies respiratory and hematologic physiology.

Lesson 1 • Neuroendocrine Stress Response

Traces the integrated HPA axis, sympathoadrenal, and cytokine responses to physiological stress. Synthesizes Chapters 2 and 6.

Lesson 2 • Cardiovascular-Renal Integration

Analyzes how heart failure triggers renal sodium retention and volume expansion. Integrates Chapters 3 and 5 in a clinical context.

Lesson 3 • Respiratory-Metabolic Interactions

Examines how metabolic disorders alter ventilatory drive and how lung disease disrupts metabolism. Bridges Chapters 4 and 6.

Lesson 4 • Physiological Responses to Hemorrhage

Applies cardiovascular, renal, and endocrine physiology to staged hemorrhagic shock. Demonstrates compensatory and decompensatory phases.