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Physiology

Physiology is the study of processes in living tissue at the cellular, organ and whole-body organizational levels. Physiologists analyze body-organ function, both separately and as part of an integrated system. Physicians must know this discipline thoroughly since most disease processes are expressions of abnormal physiology.

Well-developed research programs within the Department of Physiology include the physiology and pathophysiology of cardiovascular, renal, endocrine, membrane, neural and cellular systems. A number of different experimental models are used in the laboratory, ranging from the whole animal to subcellular biochemical and molecular events. Sophisticated techniques are used to explore mechanisms underlying the functions of subcellular organelles, isolated cells, tissues, major organ systems and the whole animal. Such studies might require cell culture, radioimmunoassays, isolated perfused single capillaries, artificial membranes, single ion channel electrophysiological recordings, sensitive chromatographic or electrophoretic procedures or direct measurements of ion concentrations within living cells. Modern molecular biological techniques are employed to probe the genetic expression of the cell. The department has an outstanding national reputation that is reflected in the excellent federal grant support awarded to its faculty.

Physiology, as a discipline, is integrated into the medical school curriculum with other basic medical sciences. It is presented as part of a problem-solving approach to teaching normal and abnormal mammalian function. This cooperative effort allows students to bring together scientific knowledge from several disciplines to explain patient symptoms, diagnoses and therapy. The scientific method is emphasized by faculty tutors as students, in small groups, seek to apply physiological principles in explaining events that occur in simulated patient models.

The department offers a doctorate in physiology, and graduate students are supported financially by federal training and research grants as well as assistantships. Students may consider a six-year program to obtain a joint MD and PhD degree. Broad areas of specialization include cardiovascular, membrane, renal and endocrine physiology.

Physiology course descriptions

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