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Physiology Courses

Key to Course Descriptions.

For Distribution Requirement purposes, all PSL courses are classified as SCIENCE courses.

Course Winter Timetable


PSL201Y1
Basic Human Physiology        52L

A survey course intended for students who are not proceeding further in Physiology.

Exclusion: Any PSL course taken previously or concurrently
Prerequisite: 100-level course in BIO or equivalent


PSL299Y1
Research Opportunity Program

Credit course for supervised participation in faculty research project. See page 45 for details.


PSL300H1
Human Physiology I        39L, 5T

Principles of neurophysiology and endocrinology for students enroled in the Neuroscience program.

Exclusion: PSL201Y1, PSY391H1
Prerequisite: BIO150Y1; CHM138H1; PHY100-series


PSL301H1
Human Physiology II        39L, 4T

Principles of respiratory, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, renal and reproductive physiology for students enroled in the Neuroscience program.

Exclusion: PSL201Y1
Prerequisite: BIO150Y1; CHM138H1; PSL300H1


JBO302Y1
Human Physiology and Biophysics
       78L, 12T

Principles of Human Physiology with tutorials on the biophysical concepts applied to physiological processes. Restricted to students enroled in the Biophysics program.

Exclusion: PSL201Y1, PSL302Y1
Prerequisite: BIO150Y1; CHM138H1; MAT135Y1/MAT137Y1; PHY138Y1/PHY140Y1


PSL302Y1
Human Physiology        78L, 9T

Principles of Human Physiology for students enroled in Basic Medical Science programs.

Exclusion: PSL201Y1
Prerequisite: BIO150Y1, CHM138H1; MAT100-series/PHY100-series


PSL303Y1
Topics in Cellular, Molecular and Organismic Physiology
       78L, 26T

Using homeostasis and feedback as a unifying theme, topics in control systems, cell signaling, rhythms, environmental adaptations and body weight regulations are examined. Tutorials use computer simulations and problem sets.
Prerequisite: JBO302Y1/PSL302Y1, MAT 100-series, PHY 100-series
Co-requisite: PSL372H1, PSL374H1 or permission of Department


PSL350H1
Mammalian Molecular Biology        20L, 6S

Molecular biology is essential for understanding mammalian function. The knowledge from BIO250Y1 of DNA, RNA, and protein is extended to current, primary literature on mammalian molecular biology. Application of molecular biology to disease and to complex behaviors is followed by small group sessions on topics with a bioethics component.
Prerequisite: BIO250Y1

Exclusion: BIO349H1/JLM349H1/MGY311Y1
Pre- or co-requisite: PSL300H1/PSL301H1/PSL302Y1/ JBO302Y1/BCH210H1


PSL372H1
Mammalian Physiology Laboratory
       13L, 39P

A laboratory course covering selected topics in physiology.
Prerequisite: BIO250Y1, BCH210H1, MAT 100-series/PHY 100-series
Pre- or co-requisite: PSL302Y1, BCH370H1 (recommended)


PSL374H1
Advanced Physiology Laboratory
       13L, 13S, 39P

A problem-based laboratory course focused on the integration of organ systems to understand the control mechanisms of body function.
Prerequisite: BIO250Y1, PSL302Y1, PSL372H1
Co-requisite: BCH370H1


PSL420H1
Reproduction I: Development and Function
       26L

This course provides an in-depth review of the development and function of the male and female reproductive systems. Topics include sex determination and differentiation, gametogenesis, hormonal control of the reproductive systems, the female ovulatory cycle, seasonal breeding, sexual behaviour, fertilization and implantation.
Prerequisite: PSL302Y1


PSL421H1
Reproduction II: Pregnancy and Birth
       26L

General overview of the integrated physiologic events associated with pregnancy and birth. The approach emphasizes physiologic processes using insights gained from studies of humans, animals, cells and genes. Where appropriate the clinical consequences of aberrant development are reviewed.
Prerequisite: PSL302Y1
Recommended Preparation: PSL420H1


PSL425H1
Integrative Metabolism and its Endocrine Regulation
       26L

This course integrates the newest findings and experimental approaches from cellular and molecular biology into metabolic function at the tissue, organ and whole body level.
Prerequisite: BCH210H1, PSL302Y1
Recommended Preparation: PSL303Y1


PSL432H1
Theoretical Physiology        26L

Theoretical treatment of neurophysiology. Mathematical modeling and analysis of neurophysiological systems.
Prerequisite: MAT235Y1/MAT237Y1; APM346H1/MAT244H1
Recommended Preparation: PHY200-series; PSL201Y1/PSL302Y1/ ZOO252Y1


PSL440Y1
Neuroscience I: Systems and Behaviour
       78L

Introduction to systems neuroscience. A review of basic neuroanatomy and physiology followed by in-depth study of selected sensory and motor systems. Students with an elementary neuroscience background progress to reading neuroscience literature on their own.
Prerequisite: PSL300H1/PSL302Y1/PSY290H1/ZOO332H1 or equivalent


PSL443H1
Motor Control Systems        26L

Control of body movement and posture by the nervous system in normal and pathological conditions. Topics include nonlinear dynamical systems, central pattern generators in the cerebral cortex, brainstem and spinal cord, reflexes, and basal ganglia-cerebellar function.
Prerequisite: PSL300H1/PSL302Y1


PSL444Y1
Neuroscience II: Cellular and Molecular
       78L

Overview of the fundamentals of cellular and molecular aspects of brain function. Course material is updated yearly to reflect the rapid evolution of ideas in Neuroscience.
Prerequisite: PSL300H1/PSL302Y1/ZOO332H1


PSL452H1
Membrane Physiology        26L

Biophysics and molecular biology of ion channels. Topics include equivalent circuits for cells, molecular structure of voltage-gated channels, distribution of channels, relationship between single-channel and whole-cell recording and regulation of channel function by voltage, phosphorylation, G-proteins and metabolites.
Prerequisite: PSL303Y1
Recommended Preparation: PSL432H1


PSL454H1
Physiological Instrumentation and Electronics
       13L, 39P

A practical approach to instrumentation as a preparation for using sophisticated measurement systems.
Prerequisite: PHY138Y1 or equivalent


PSL460H1
Molecular Physiology        26L, 4S

An overview of the ways in which techniques in molecular biology are being used to resolve current issues in physiology. The systems to be studied include individual cells, organ systems, integrated systems, and whole animal physiology and pathophysiology.
Prerequisite: BCH210H1, BIO250Y1, BIO349H1/PSL350H1, PSL302Y1


PSL462H1
Molecular Aspects of Cardiovascular Function
       26L

Heart anatomy and development, ion channels and contractile proteins involved in cardiac and smooth muscle contraction are studied. Emphasis is on regulation of electrical and contractile function of kinases, metabolism, volume and ions.
Prerequisite: PSL303Y1


PSL470H1
Cardiovascular Physiology        26L, 13T

Development of the cardiovascular system from conception to adulthood with particular emphasis on maturational changes, age-related differences and developmental problems from cellular/molecular to whole organ/system.
Prerequisite: PSL302Y1


PSL472H1
Sleep Physiology and  Chronobiology
      26L

An in-depth analysis of the basic physiology underlying sleep and circadian rhythms, and of their impact on important physiological processes, of which effects on cardio-respiratory systems are emphasized.
Prerequisite: PSL302Y1


PSL497H1
Scientific Communication        26L/ST

Students learn to read, write and speak about current research in Physiology.
Prerequisite: PSL302Y1


PSL498Y1/499H1
Project in Physiology        156P/78P

Laboratory research project with reading assignments leading to a final report. By special arrangement with a Physiology staff member after admission to course. PSL498Y1 is recommended for students applying to the Physiology graduate program.
Prerequisite: PSL303Y1, PSL372H1, PSL374H1, permission of Department