Faculty Syllabus

BIOL-2401 Anatomy and Physiology I

Bryan Hudson


Credit Spring 2026

Section(s)

BIOL-2401-022 (15547)
LEC TuTh 9:00am - 10:20am RRC RRC3 3330.00

LAB TuTh 10:30am - 11:50am RRC RRC3 3325.00

Course Information

Section Information

Course Name, Number, Section & Synonym BIOL-2401-022-15547
Course Description This course is the first part of a two course sequence. It is a study of the structure and function of the human body including cells, tissues and organs of the following systems: integumentary, skeletal, muscular, nervous and special senses. Emphasis is on interrelationships among systems and regulation of physiological functions involved in maintaining homeostasis.
Instructional Method LEC
Location Round Rock Campus - RRC - RRC3 - 3330.00
Course Days & Times TuTh 9:00am - 10:20am
Credits & Contact Hours 4 Credit Hours / 48 Contact Hours
Prerequisites
Instructional Method LAB
Location Round Rock Campus - RRC - RRC3 - 3325.00
Course Days & Times TuTh 10:30am - 11:50am
Credits & Contact Hours 4 Credit Hours / 48 Contact Hours
Prerequisites

Instructor Information

Name Bryan Hudson
ACC E-Mail Address bryan.hudson@austincc.edu
Office Location RRC 3315
Office Phone Number 5122230324
Office Hours T Th 12:00 PM - 12:30 PM
Other Information Or by appointment
Course Requirements

  • Course Requirements

    Course Description

    Paired course: This course is designed for students entering into professional programs, with a focus on those pursuing careers in allied health. Many community college students interested in allied health and higher medical programs can benefit from gaining a background in basic biology prior to attempting more demanding and conceptually challenging classes. This course will cover many of the topics necessary to do well in your prerequisite course work and clinical course work. It will also provide you with a foundation in laboratory skills and hone your problem-solving abilities. The first five weeks of the course will revolve predominantly around BIOL1308 (introductory biology) while the second eleven weeks of the course will focus predominantly on BIOL2401 (introduction to anatomy and physiology I).

    Course Description BIOL1308 (Introduction to Biology): An introduction to basic biological concepts including the metric system, physical and chemical properties of life, cell structure and function, cell reproduction, and metabolism. Critical thinking skills, study skills, and basic math skills are also included. This course is designed to prepare students to take the anatomy and physiology assessment tests, anatomy and physiology courses (BIOL 2401, BIOL 2402, BIOL 2404), and general biology courses (including BIOL 1408 and BIOL 1406). This course is not part of the core curriculum.

    BIOL 2401: Anatomy and Physiology I is the first part of a two course sequence. It is a study of the structure and function of the human body including cells, tissues and organs of the following systems: integumentary, skeletal, muscular, nervous and special senses. Emphasis is on interrelationships among systems and regulation of physiological functions involved in maintaining homeostasis. The lab provides a hands-on learning experience for exploration of human system components and basic physiology. Systems to be studied include integumentary, skeletal, muscular, nervous, and special senses.

     

    SKILLS REQUIREMENTS: Reading, writing, and mathematics proficiency as determined by the COMPASS or ASSET test, or by the statewide THEA test, or by providing an official transcript from another college.

     

    PREREQUISITES: This course has skill prerequisite R which means you must have reading skills at ACC placement skill level 5 or above or you must have passed a state-approved assessment test (TASP or COMPASS) in reading or you must be exempt from assessment through transcript hours from another college or you must have appropriate ACT, SAT, TAKS, or TASS scores. For more details see http://www.austincc.edu/support/assessment/assessmenteligibility.php.

    If you do not have the required skill and course prerequisites you must withdraw from the class. If you do not withdraw, the instructor will drop you from the class.

    Course Rationale:

    This course is designed for students entering professional programs such as nursing school. It provides a foundation for the clinical topics covered in those courses by requiring mastery of factual material, laboratory techniques, and problem-solving skills. This course is a prerequisite for Introduction to Microbiology (BIOL 2420) and Anatomy and Physiology II  (BIOL 2402) and is intended to adequately prepare students for these courses and for health sciences programs.

Readings

  • Readings

    Textbooks and Materials:

    1. Access to Cengage (Through Blackboard)
    2. All Lecture homework and Lab Handouts will be available on Blackboard.
Course Subjects

  • Course Subjects

    Wk Wk

    Date

    Lecture Topic

    Lab Topic

    Due Dates

    1

    Mon Jan 19

    MLK JR Day

     

     

    Tue Jan 20

    Syllabus/Introduction to A&P

    Lab 1: Safety Training/Intro to Human Body 1

     

    Wed Jan 21

    Levels of Organization and Anatomy terms

     

     

    Thu Jan 22

    Body Cavities, Membranes, Regional terms

    Lab 2 Intro to Human Body 2

     

    2

    Mon Jan 26

    Metric system and practice

     

    Group study guide for Intro 1 and Intro 2 due

    Tue Jan 27

    Metric system and practice

    Lab 3: Intro to Metric system

     

    Wed Jan 28

    Atoms & Molecules Dimensional Analysis and practice

     

     

    Thu Jan 29

    Molecules & Bonds

    Lab 4: Dimensional Analysis & Graphing

     

    3

    Mon Feb 2

    Molecules & Bonds

     

    Group Lab Report due: Metric and dimensional Analysis

    Tue Feb 3

    Molecules & Bonds

    (lecture): Properties of Water and case study

    Case study due before leaving class.

    Wed Feb 4

    pH/Acids and Bases/Buffers

     

     

    Thu Feb 5

    pH/Acids and Bases/Buffers

    Lab 5:  pH lab MCj03499660000[1]

     

    4

    Mon Feb 9

    Biomolecules: Intro and Carbs

     

    Group Lab Report due: pH

    Tue Feb 10

    Biomolecules: Proteins

    Lab 6: Intro to Microscope lab.

     

    Wed Feb 11

    Biomolecules: Fats

     

    Group study guide for Microscopes is due

    Thu Feb 12

    Biomolecules: Nucleic acids

    Lecture: Plasma Membrane

    All Unit 1 Cengage Hwk due Saturday, Feb 14th 

    5

    Mon Feb 16

    Exam 1: Water, properties of matter, chemical reactions, pH, biomolecules

    Tue Feb 17

    Practical 1 (Labs 1-6)

    Lecture: Membrane Transport

     

    Wed Feb 18

    Membrane Transport

     

     

    Thu Feb 19

    Membrane Transport and Osmolarity

    Lab 7: Cell Membrane lab

     

    6

     

    Mon Feb 23

    Finish transport; Membrane Potentials

     

    Group study guide due: Membranes

    Tue Feb 24

    Cell organelles

    Lab 8: Passive Transport MCj03499660000[1]

     

    Wed Feb 25

    Overview: DNA Replication/Transcription

     

    Group Lab Report due: Passive

    Thu Feb 26

    Gene Expression Lecture

    Lab 9: Cell lab

     

    7

    Mon Mar 2

    Tissues 1

     

    Group Lab report due: Cell anatomy

    Tue Mar 3

    Tissues 2

    Lab 10: Tissues 1 E.T.

     

    Wed Mar 4

    Integumentary system (Unit 3)

     

    Group study guide due: E.T.

    Thu Mar 5

    Integument system (Unit 3)

    Lab 11: Tissues 2 C.T.

     

    Group study guide due: C.T. Unit 2 Homework due Saturday, Mar 7th

    8

    Mon Mar 9

    EXAM 2: Membrane (structure, transport, potentials), organelles, DNA replication & transcription, body systems, tissues

    Tue Mar 10

    Practical 2 (Labs 7-11)

    Lab 12: Integumentary

     

    Wed Mar 11

    Skeletal Tissues

     

    Group study guide Integumentary due

    Thu Mar 12

    Skeletal 2

    Lab 13: Skeletal 1 Axial

     

    SPRING BREAK MAR 16TH-20ST

     

     

    Date

    Lecture Topic

    Lab Topic

    Due Dates

    9

    Mon Mar 23

    Skeletal 3

     

     

    Tue Mar 24

    Skeletal 4 (joints)

    Lab 14: Skeletal 2 Appendicular

     

    Wed Mar 25

    Overview: Cell Respiration (unit 4)

     

    Skeletal guides 1 and 2 due

    Thu Mar 26

    Overview: Aerobic/Anaerobic Respiration (unit 4 exam material)

    Lab 13 and 14: Skeletal review and practice practical

    Unit 3 HW due Sat Mar 28th

    10

    Mon Mar 30

    Exam 3: Integument, Skeletal system

    Tue Mar 31

    Practical 3 (Labs 12-14) Skeletal anatomy

    Muscles 15 (Muscle Tissues)

     

    Wed Apr 1

    Muscles 2

     

    Muscle 15 study guide due

    Thu Apr 2

    Muscles 2 cont.

    Lab 16: Muscle 1 lab

     

    11

    Mon Apr 6

    Muscles 3

     

    Muscle 16 study guide due

    Tue Apr 7

    Muscles 4

    Lab 17: Muscle 2 lab

     

    Wed Apr 8

    Nervous Tissue (Unit 5 material)

     

    Muscle 17 study guide due

    Thu Apr 9

    Nervous system 2 (Unit 5 material)

    Lab 18: Neurons and brain (Unit 5 material)

     

    12

    Mon Apr 13

    Exam 4: Cell respiration, muscle tissues, muscle system

    Tue Apr 14

    Practical 4 (Labs 15-16) Muscle anatomy

    Lab 18: Brain cont.

     

    Wed Apr 15

    Nervous system 3

     

    Lab 18 study guide due

    Thu Apr 16

    Nervous system 4

    Lab 18 & 19: Brain and Cranial Nerves

     

    13

    Mon Apr 20

    Nervous system 5

     

    Lab 19 study guide due

    Tue Apr 21

    Nervous system 6

    Lab 20: Brain dissection MCj03499660000[1]

     

    Wed Apr 22

    Nervous system 7

     

    Lab 20 study guide due

    Thu Apr 23

    Start Sensory (Unit 6 material)

    Lab 21: Spinal cord/PNS

    Lab 21 study guide and Unit 5 HW due Sat, Apr 25th

    14

    Mon Apr 27

    Exam 5: Nervous Tissues, CNS, PNS

    Tue Apr 28

    Practical 5 (Labs 18-21)

    Lecture and Lab 22: Sensory 1 (Eye) with Eye dissectionMCj03499660000[1]

     

    Wed Apr 29

    Sensory 2 Intro Sensory Physiology

     

    Sensory 1 Eye study guide

    Thu Apr 30

    Sensory 3 Intro Sensory Physiology Cont.

    Lab 24: Sensory Anatomy 2 (Ear)

     

    15

    Mon May 4

    Sensory 4 Eye Physiology

     

    Sensory 2 Ear study guide

    Tue May 5

    Sensory 5 Ear Physiology

    Lab 25: Sensory Physiology 1

     

    Wed May 6

    Sensory 6: Olfactory/Gustatory

     

    Lab 25 report due

    Thu May 7

    Autonomic Nervous System

    Lab 26: Sensory Physiology 2

    Lab 26 lab report due Sat May 9th

    16

    Mon May 11

    Autonomic Nervous System

     

    Unit 6 HW due Mon, May 11th

    Tue May 12

    ANS Case Studies (case studies due on blackboard)

    No lab

     

    Wed May 13

    Exam 6 (ANS, sensory)

    Thu May 14

    Practical 6 (Labs 23-26)

    Required Online Comp final due Sun, May 18th

    * Changes to the schedule may occur: if they do, changes will be announced in class. MCj03499660000[1] PPE for lab class. 

    ***ALL ASSIGNMENTS ARE DUE AT 12PM (MIDNIGHT)***

Student Learning Outcomes/Learning Objectives

  • Student Learning Outcomes/Learning Objectives

    Learning Outcomes for Lecture

    Upon successful completion of this course, students will:

    • Describe basic physiochemical concepts that underlie the structure and function of cells
    • Describe the structure and function of the four classes of biomolecules
    • Describe the structure and function of eukaryotic cells and their organelles
    • Describe the processes by which substances move into and out of cells
    • Describe the structure and function of enzymes
    • Discuss energy transfer in cells and the pathways of cellular respiration
    • Describe DNA replication, protein synthesis, mitosis and meiosis
    • Analyze, synthesize, evaluate and apply information
    • Apply mathematical, logical and scientific principles and methods
    • Use anatomical terminology to identify and describe locations of major organs of each system 
covered.
    • Explain interrelationships among molecular, cellular, tissue, and organ functions in each system.
    • Describe the interdependency and interactions of the systems.
    • Explain contributions of organs and systems to the maintenance of homeostasis.
    • Identify causes and effects of homeostatic imbalances.
    • Describe modern technology and tools used to study anatomy and physiology.

    Learning Outcomes for Lab

    Upon successful completion of this course, students will:

    • Apply appropriate safety and ethical standards.
    • Locate and identify anatomical structures.
    • Appropriately utilize laboratory equipment, such as microscopes, dissection tools, general lab ware, physiology data acquisition systems, and virtual simulations.
    • Work collaboratively to perform experiments.
    • Demonstrate the steps involved in the scientific method.
    • Communicate results of scientific investigations, analyze data and formulate conclusions.
    • Use critical thinking and scientific problem-solving skills, including, but not limited to, inferring, integrating, synthesizing, and summarizing, to make decisions, recommendations and predictions.

     

    General Education:

    As a Core Curriculum course, students completing this course will demonstrate competence in:

    • Critical Thinking - Gathering, analyzing, synthesizing, evaluating and applying information. 
    • Interpersonal Skills - Interacting collaboratively to achieve common goals.
    • Quantitative and Empirical Reasoning - Applying mathematical, logical and scientific principles and methods.
    • Written, Oral and Visual Communication - Communicating effectively, adapting to purpose, structure, audience, and medium.

     

College Policies

Office Hours

T Th 12:00 PM - 12:30 PM RRC 3315

NOTE Or by appointment

M W 12:00 PM - 2:50 PM RRC 3315

NOTE Or by appointment

Office Hours

T Th 12:00 PM - 12:30 PM RRC 3315

NOTE Or by appointment

M W 12:00 PM - 2:50 PM RRC 3315

NOTE Or by appointment

Published: 01/17/2026 17:12:10