A&P Curriculum

This unit...

General idea of the body working to maintain homeostasis through different body systems.

Students will know...

1. Vocabulary of appropriate terminology to effectively communicate information related to anatomy and physiology.

2. The principle of homeostasis and the use of feedback loops to control physiological systems in the human body.

3. Synthesize ideas to make a connection between knowledge of anatomy and physiology and real-world situations, including healthy lifestyle decisions and homeostatic imbalances.

Students will be able to...

1. Use anatomical knowledge to predict physiological consequences, and use knowledge of function to predict the features of anatomical structures.

Essential Questions

1. What is the importance of being able to  communicate the location of a wound in anatomical terms?

2. Explain the importance of having the body divided into different regions and quadrants.

3. Why do scientists use anatomical position?

4. What are the systems of the human body and why do they interrelate?

Anatomical position:

1.  Describe a person in anatomical position.

2.  Describe how to use the terms right and left in anatomical reference.  

Body planes & sections:

1.  Identify the various planes in which a body might be dissected.

2.  Describe the appearance of a body presented along various planes.

Body cavities & regions:

1.  Describe the location of the body cavities and identify the major organs found in each cavity.

2.  List and describe the location of the major anatomical regions of the body.

3.  Describe the location of the four abdominopelvic quadrants and the nine abdominopelvic regions and list the major organs located in each.

Directional terms:

1.  List and define the major directional terms used in anatomy.

2.  Describe the location of body structures, using appropriate directional terminology.

Basic terminology:

1.  Define the terms anatomy and physiology.

2.  Give specific examples to show the interrelationship between anatomy and physiology. 

3.  Describe the location of structures of the body, using basic regional and systemic terminology.

Levels of organization:

1.  Describe, in order from simplest to most complex, the major levels of organization in the human organism.

2.  Give an example of each level of organization.

Survey of body systems:

1.  List the organ systems of the human body and their major components.

2.  Describe the major functions of each organ system.

Definition

1. Define homeostasis.

2. Define the following terms as they relate to homeostasis: setpoint, variable, receptor

(sensor), effector (target), and control (integrating) center.

3. List the main physiological variables for which the body attempts to maintain

homeostasis.

4. Explain the difference between a regulated variable and a controlled variable.

5. Define the law of mass balance and relate it to body homeostasis.

6. Compare and contrast equilibrium and steady-state.

General types of homeostatic mechanisms

1. List the steps in a response pathway, starting with the stimulus and ending with the response.

2. List the steps in a feedback mechanism (loop) and explain the function of each step.

3. Compare and contrast positive and negative feedback in terms of the relationship between stimulus and response, and describe examples of each.

4. Explain why negative feedback is the most common mechanism used to maintain homeostasis.

5. Describe a feedforward (anticipatory) response, how it helps maintain homeostasis, and an example of a feedforward response.

Homeostasis and Control Pathways (Additional detail in Module B, Cell-Cell Communication & Control Systems)

Homeostasis

• Define homeostasis and explain its importance for body function.

• Compare and contrast equilibrium and steady state, then explain and list an example of how a system can be a steady-state disequilibrium.

• Explain the roles of the following in maintaining body homeostasis: setpoint and acceptable range, regulated (monitored) variable, controlled variable, negative feedback.

• List physiological variables for which the body attempts to maintain homeostasis (e.g., plasma glucose concentration) and variables that are not subject to homeostatic regulation (e.g., plasma cholesterol concentration), then explain why each variable belongs in the given category.

• Compare a regulated and controlled variable by describing a generalized model of a process subject to homeostatic regulation (e.g., heart rate is controlled to regulate blood pressure. Sensors exist for blood pressure, but no sensors specifically monitor heart rate.).

• Explain how the principle of mass balance and homeostasis are interrelated and describe an example in the body.

• Describe physiological processes or parameters that cycle in a predictable fashion over a period of time (e.g., daily, monthly).

Control Pathways

• List the steps of a physiological reflex from stimulus to response using a control system model (i.e., input, control center, output)

• Compare and contrast negative feedback, positive feedback, and feedforward in terms of the relationship between stimulus and response and describe examples of each.

• Predict outcome(s) when a response pathway is altered or disrupted.

• Given a change in the response of a pathway, predict which component(s) of the pathway may have been altered or disrupted.

• Apply knowledge of the steps of a physiological reflex to the components of a given example, then determine if the reflex is associated with the maintenance of homeostasis

Atoms and Molecules

1. Compare and contrast the terms atoms, elements, molecules, and compounds.

2. Describe the charge, mass, and relative location of electrons, protons, and neutronsin an atom.

3. Relate the number of electrons in an electron shell to the atom’s chemical stability and its ability to form chemical bonds.

4. Compare and contrast the terms ion, electrolyte, free radical, isotope, and radioisotope.

5. Explain how ions and isotopes are produced by changing the relative number of specific subatomic particles, using one element as an example.

6. Distinguish among the terms atomic number, mass number, and atomic weight.

Chemical Bonding

1. Explain the mechanism of each type of chemical bond and provide biologically significant examples of each: covalent, ionic, and hydrogen bonds.

2. Compare and contrast nonpolar covalent and polar covalent bonds.

3. List the following types of bonds in order by relative strength: nonpolar covalent, polar covalent, ionic, and hydrogen bonds.

Inorganic compounds and solutions

1. Describe the physiologically important properties of water.

2. Compare and contrast the terms solution, solute, solvent, colloid suspension, and emulsion.

3. Define the terms salt, pH, acid, base, and buffer.

4. State the pH values for acidic, neutral, and alkaline (basic) solutions.

Organic Compounds

1. Define the term organic molecule.

2. Explain the relationship between monomers and polymers.

3. Define and provide examples of dehydration synthesis and hydrolysis reactions.

4. Compare and contrast the general molecular structure of carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids using chemical formulas.

5. Describe the building blocks of carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids, and explain how these building blocks combine with themselves or other molecules to create complex molecules in each class, providing specific examples.

6. Describe the four levels of protein structure and the importance of protein shape for function.

7. Define enzyme and describe factors that affect enzyme activity.

Energy transfer using ATP

1. Explain the role of ATP in the cell.

2. Describe the generalized reversible reaction for ATP synthesis and the release of energy from ATP.

General organization of a cell

1. Describe the three main parts of a cell (plasma [cell] membrane, cytoplasm, and nucleus), and explain the general functions of each part.

2. Compare and contrast cytoplasm and cytosol.

3. Describe the structure and roles of the cytoskeleton.

Cellular membrane structure and function

1. Describe the chemical composition, general structure (i.e., fluid mosaic model), and properties of all cellular membranes.

2. Describe the structure of the plasma (cell) membrane, including its composition and arrangement of lipids, proteins, and carbohydrates.

3. Describe the functions of different plasma membrane proteins (e.g., structural proteins, receptor proteins, channels).

Mechanisms for movement of materials across plasma (cell) membranes

1. Compare and contrast intracellular fluid and extracellular fluid with respect to chemical composition and location.

2. Compare and contrast simple diffusion across membranes and facilitated diffusion in respect to their mechanisms, the type of material being moved, and the energy source for the movement.

3. Compare and contrast facilitated diffusion, primary active transport, and secondary active transport in respect to their mechanisms, the type of material being moved, and the energy source for the movement.

4. Define osmosis and explain how it differs from simple diffusion across membranes.

5. Compare and contrast osmolarity and tonicity of solutions.

6. Describe the effects of hypertonic, isotonic, and hypotonic solutions on cells.

7. Compare and contrast exocytosis, endocytosis, phagocytosis, and pinocytosis in respect to their mechanisms, the direction of movement, the type of material being moved, and the energy source for the movement.

Membrane potential

1. Define resting membrane potential (RMP).

2. Explain the role of ion concentration gradients and membrane permeability to ions in establishing a membrane potential.

3. Explain how sodium-potassium ATPase pumps help maintain the resting membrane potential.

Organelles

1. Define the term organelle.

2. Describe the structure and function of the various cellular organelles.

Protein synthesis

1. Define the terms genetic code, transcription, and translation.

2. Explain the process of RNA synthesis.

3. Explain the roles of tRNA, mRNA, and rRNA in protein synthesis.

Cellular respiration (introduction)

1. Define the term cellular respiration.

2. Explain the process by which glucose is converted through metabolic pathways to carbon dioxide and water (e.g., glycolysis, citric acid [Krebs or tricarboxylic acid] cycle, electron transport chain).

Cell cycle

1. Describe the general phases (e.g., G phases, S phase, cellular division) of the cell cycle.

2. Compare and contrast somatic cell division (mitosis) and reproductive cell division (meiosis).

3. Describe DNA replication.

4. Compare and contrast chromatin, chromosomes, and chromatids.

5. Describe the events that take place during mitosis and cytokinesis.