BIOL 427

THE KING'S UNIVERSITY

TERM:

2023-24 Winter

COURSE NUMBER:

BIOL 427

COURSE TITLE:

Physiology of the Cardiovascular System

NAME OF INSTRUCTOR:

Dr Caitlynd Myburgh

CREDIT WEIGHT AND WEEKLY TIME DISTRIBUTION:

credits 3(hrs lect 3 - hrs sem 0 - hrs lab 0)

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

This course examines more advanced concepts in both normal cardiovascular physiology as well as pathophysiology in humans using a higher order of thinking as required from senior students. The integration between the cardiovascular system, exercise, and general health is shown. Students investigate relevant research and topics in the field, evaluate content and share their findings in open discussions with their peers.

Same as KINS 427.

Prerequisites: BIOL/KINS 308

REQUIRED TEXTS:

This course will not make use of a prescribed textbook; it will however make use of current research articles and online sources. This will be compiled into a course pack that will be available to students from the King’s bookstore. There is also the option to build a book for this course on Moodle, and will be compiled of current academic sources and the application to real-word problems in the field of cardiovascular physiology. These sources will be carefully selected by the instructor to align with course objectives, but the chosen publications may vary with each offering as research evolves in this field.

MARK DISTRIBUTION IN PERCENT:


Assignments and/or quizzes	30%
Journal clubs	15%
Presentations	15%
Online/class discussions	10%
Applied cardiac group project	10%
Final assessment	20%

	100%

LECTURE OUTLINE:

THE HEART

Electrical conduction pathophysiology – Heart block & Arrhythmia.
Myocardial pathology – Heart failure.
Congenital defects – Tetralogy of Fallot vs Patent ductus arteriosus.

THE VASCULATURE

Normal functioning.
Risk factors and the vasculature in research.
Vascular changes –Hypertension (Functional), Atherosclerosis (Structural).
Microvascular pathologies – Stroke, Myocardial infarction, retinal vasculopathy, renal/glomerular vasculopathy.
Macrovascular pathologies – Carotid artery disease, emboli and thrombi.

EXERCISE AND HEALTH

Role of cardiovascular system in exercise.
Benefits of exercise to the cardiovascular system (“Sitting is the new smoking”).
Exercise in research.

CURRENT TOPICS OF INTEREST

Global hypertension – May Measurement Month campaign?
Heart and gut microbiome connection?
Oxidative stress?
COVID-19 (Impact on CV system& ACE inhibitors, vaccine related myocarditis)?
Cardiovascular disease in your community?

Required texts, assignments, and grade distributions may vary from one offering of this course to the next. Please consult the course instructor for up to date details.