Program Overview

BMSC309 - Advanced Cardiovascular Physiology

Year

2024

Credit Points

10

Campus Offering

The unit is offered online.

Unit Rationale, Description, and Aim

Cardiovascular diseases have a high prevalence and mortality rate in Australia and worldwide. It is essential for healthcare professionals to understand the morphology and function of the cardiovascular system. This unit focuses on the molecular and cellular aspects of cardiac function, the structure and function of the vascular system, and integrated cardiovascular regulation. The unit takes a clinically-oriented approach, linking the content to pathology, molecular medicine, and current biomedical research.

Learning Outcomes

To successfully complete this unit, students will be able to:

• Discuss the molecular and cellular basis of the unique electrical and mechanical properties of the heart and explain how these properties are involved in cardiovascular regulation
• Explain the gross and microscopic organisation as well as the specific, cellular- and molecular-level characteristics of the heart and blood vessels, and discuss the functional consequences of these features
• Compare and contrast the main elements of local and systemic control of blood flow, explain their significance in maintaining homeostasis, and discuss pathologies associated with inadequate maintenance and/or control of blood flow
• Explain the distinguishing features of coronary, cerebral, pulmonary, splanchnic, renal, cutaneous, and skeletal muscle circulation and discuss their contribution to the redistribution of circulation during physical exercise
• Demonstrate the ability to communicate cardiovascular physiology-related information in both written and oral forms

Content

Topics will include:

• Cardiac and smooth musclefrom molecules to organs
• Electrical properties of and excitation contraction coupling in the heart
• ECGtypes of ECG recordings, the origin of ECG, and information that can be derived from ECG under physiological and pathological conditions
• Homo- and heterometric regulation of the cardiac output
• Haemodynamics, Hagen-Poiseuille law, Reynolds number, and vascular compliance
• Components of the vascular tone and their significance in controlling blood flow and blood pressure
• Cardiovascular reflexes and humoral regulation of circulation including the role of endothelium
• Characteristics of coronary, cerebral, pulmonary, splanchnic, cutaneous, and skeletal muscle blood flow
• Molecular aspects of cardiovascular adaptation during exercise

Learning and Teaching Strategy and Rationale

The unit uses active learning to help students understand the organisation and complex function of the cardiovascular system. Lectures and weekly workshops are used to deliver the content, with an emphasis on student participation, discussion, and feedback.

Assessment Strategy and Rationale

A range of assessment procedures is used to meet the unit learning outcomes and develop graduate attributes consistent with University assessment requirements. The assessment tasks for this unit are designed to allow students to demonstrate achievement of each learning outcome.

Summative Assessments

• Assignment 1: Quiz (Parts A and B) - 15% + 15%
• Assignment 2: Vodcast presentation - 30%
• Assignment 3: Worksheet assessment (case study) - 40%

Representative Texts and References

• Boron W. F., Boulpaep E. L. (2016). Medical Physiology (3rd ed.). Elsevier.
• Hall J. E., Hall M. E. (2020). Guyton and Hall Textbook of Medical Physiology (14th ed.). Elsevier.
• Herlihy, B. (2013) The Human Body in Health and Illness, 5th edition, Elsevier.
• Sherwood, L. (2010) Human Physiology: From Cells to Systems, 7th edition, Cengage Learning.
• Silverthorn D. U. (2018). Human Physiology: An Integrated Approach (8th ed.). Pearson.
• West J. B., Taylor N. B. (2011). Best and Taylor's Physiological Basis of Medical Practice (13th ed.). Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.