Advanced Placement Biology

In Anatomy & Physiology, students will  utilize rigorous academic content, laboratory experiences, and clinical applications to familiarize students with the structures and functions of their own body systems. Students will gain a more detailed explanation of human body systems and their related organs. Students will explore the interactions of these systems and the mechanisms of maintaining a fine balance within each one and within the body as a whole. Students will participate in a significant amount of laboratory work to teach about these connections within this college preparatory course.

Essential Learning Goals

• • • Structure (20%) – As each body system is explored, students will understand that each system is made up of specialized cells that form specific tissues/organs. They will be able to identify the various parts within systems.

    • Function (50%) – As each body system is explored, students will understand the essential functions of human tissues/organs/systems, how they work in isolation and together, and how feedback mechanisms maintain homeostasis.

    • Conducting Investigations (30%) – Students will individually and collaboratively design and/or conduct investigations to explore and/or test models, produce data for analysis, and/or develop a thorough understanding of the content. 

Major Assessments & Success Criteria

• • Students will be assessed on their understanding of the body parts and how they function and work together. Students will use anatomy terms and physiological concepts while communicating and collaborating during the following types of assessments:

    • Laboratory investigations/performance task

    • Quizzes

    • Tests/summative assessments

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Learning Experiences

• • Students will be offered learning experiences, such as:

    • Vocabulary practice

    • Structure identification

    • Exploration of connections among systems 

    • Patient diagnosis investigation

    • Bone structure and case study

    • Muscle structure and applications to joint movements

    • Dissections: Chicken wing, heart, eye, brain

    • Comparative anatomy

    • Heart rate and blood pressure medical skills

    • Digestion Lab

    • Fetal pig comprehensive dissection