This unit (RBM3264) examines in detail the mechanisms of nerve and muscle function, including behaviour of excitable cells; mechanisms of muscle contraction; muscle fibre types; metabolic processes in active muscle; neuromuscular fatigue; and muscle plasticity. Students are also introduced to current research techniques in nerve and muscle physiology.
Prerequisites
RBM2800 - Cardiorespiratory and Renal Physiology
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Learning Outcomes
| 1. | Critically reflect on the experimental evidence describing ionic movement, the action potential and its synaptic transmission at the neuromuscular junction; | ||
| 2. | Discriminate between the structural and functional properties of skeletal, cardiac and smooth muscles; | ||
| 3. | Interrogate the regulation of intracellular calcium and its effects on muscle fatigue and damage processes; | ||
| 4. | Investigate muscle fibre types, metabolism and fatigue and analyse the immense plasticity of skeletal muscle; and | ||
| 5. | Experiment according to ethical protocols on both animal tissue and human subjects to illustrate basic properties of nerve/muscle function. |
Assessment
| Assessment type | Description | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Laboratory Work | Laboratory reports (3) reports - (1800 words in total) | 30% |
| Other | Workshop questions (600 words in total) | 25% |
| Exercise | Justified response to Physiological reasoning questions (open book, 2.5 hours) | 45% |
Where to next?
As part of a course
This unit is studied as part of the following courses. Refer to the course page for information on how to apply for the course.
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