PSL300H1F - Human Physiology I

Course Coordinator:

Meeting Time:

Monday, Wednesday, and Friday | 2:00–3:00 PM (36L/5T)

Course Delivery:

Blended Learning (Online & In-Person in Con Hall)

Course Description

How does pregnancy prevent another ovulation from occurring? Why do you pull your hand away from a hot stove before you even realize it hurts? Why does your heart race when you’re nervous? How does your brain transform light, sound, and touch into the rich sensory experiences that shape your perception of the world? We’ll even touch upon the physiology of learning!

Throughout the course, you’ll move beyond memorizing facts to develop a mechanistic understanding of physiological processes, predict how the body responds to changing conditions, and apply physiological principles to solve clinically relevant problems.

Course Topics

Endocrine Physiology

Reproductive Physiology

Foundations of Neurophysiology

Somatic and Autonomic Nervous Systems

Sensory Physiology and Learning

Skeletal Muscle Physiology

Physiological Integration and Homeostasis

Learning Experience

PSL300 is delivered through a blended learning model that combines the flexibility of online learning with the engagement of interactive in-person sessions.

Approximately 3 hours/week of asynchronous Online Foundational Learning

1-hour weekly In-Person Applied Learning (Physiology in Practice) with course faculty; these interactive classes build on the online lectures through concept integration, physiological reasoning, clinical examples, and exam-style problem-solving.

5 total hours for tutorials.

Assessment & Scheduling

Students should consider Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 2:00–3:00 PM as scheduled course time and must remain available during this period. In-person Applied Learning (Physiology in Practice) sessions are typically held on Wednesdays, while the two 50-minute in-person term tests are typically held on Fridays. However, course activities and assessments may be scheduled on any of these three days as needed.

Students should not enrol in courses, laboratories, work commitments, or other activities that conflict with these scheduled course times. Accommodations will not be provided for such scheduling conflicts.

The cumulative final examination will be held in person during the University of Toronto’s official Final Assessment Period, as scheduled by the Faculty of Arts & Science. The course syllabus will include assessment weights and dates, and additional course policies will be provided there.

Assessment weights and important course policies will be provided in the course syllabus.

Recommended Preparation

BIO130H1/BIO150Y1

CHM135H1/CHM136H1/CHM138H1/CHM139H1/CHM151Y1

One full-course equivalent from the MAT100-series and/or PHY100-series

Exclusions

PSL200Y1, PSL201Y1, PSL302Y1