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
Why can a mother’s immune system sometimes attack her unborn baby’s red blood cells? Why do some swimmers suddenly black out underwater without ever feeling the urge to breathe? How does your heart instantly adapt to exercise without conscious thought? How do your kidneys decide when to conserve water, or eliminate it? And perhaps more importantly… how do you vomit (not the most glamorous topic, but might be worth knowing)?
Through real-world and clinically relevant examples, you’ll develop the ability to integrate physiological concepts, predict the body’s responses to changing conditions, and apply your knowledge to solve complex physiological problems.
Course Topics
Blood Physiology
Innate and Adaptive Immunity
Cardiovascular Physiology
Respiratory Physiology
Renal Physiology
Gastrointestinal Physiology
Learning Experience
PSL301 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 upon the online lectures through concept integration, physiological reasoning, clinical examples, and exam-style problem solving.
5 total hours for tutorials.
Assessment & Scheduling
Students will complete two 50-minute in-person term tests, typically scheduled Fridays from 2:00–3:00 PM, although tests may also be held on Mondays or Wednesdays during the scheduled course time. 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.
Because the weekly In-Person Applied Learning (Physiology in Practice) sessions and course assessments are scheduled during the course meeting time, students should not enroll in other courses, laboratories, work commitments, or extracurricular activities that conflict with Mondays, Wednesdays, or Fridays from 2:00–3:00 PM. Scheduling conflicts cannot be accommodated.
Assessment weights and important course policies will be provided in the course syllabus.
Recommended Preparations:
BIO130H1/BIO150Y1
CHM135H1/CHM136H1/CHM138H1/CHM139H1/CHM151Y1
One full-course equivalent from the MAT100-series and/or PHY100-series
Exclusions: PSL200Y1, PSL201Y1, PSL302Y1
Recommended Textbook
Silverthorn DU. Human Physiology: An Integrated Approach.
Earlier editions are acceptable.
Additional physiology references may be recommended throughout the course.
We hope you enjoy learning in this course as much as we love teaching it! J
