Faculty Syllabus

BIOL-2401 Anatomy and Physiology I


Angela Wheeler


Credit Spring 2025


Section(s)

BIOL-2401-037 (24543)
LEC TuTh 4:30pm - 5:50pm HYS HYS1 01313.00

LAB Tu 6:00pm - 8:50pm HYS HYS1 01326.00

Course Requirements

This is a paired course with BIOL 1308-040. These courses are co-requisites and must be taken together.

Course Description:

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.

BIOL 1308 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.

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.

Course Prerequisites:

High school biology

Managing the Prerequisite Course Load:

Many ACC Health Sciences programs require BIOL 2401, BIOL 2402, and BIOL 2420 as prerequisites. Due to the rigorous nature of each of these courses, it is not recommended to take two of them in one semester. The Biology department recommends taking these courses in the following sequence in order to balance the course load:

Semester 1: BIOL 2401 – A&P I 

Semester 2: BIOL 2402 – A&P II

Semester 3: BIOL 2420 – Microbiology for the Health Sciences

 

Course Rationale:

This course is designed for students entering professional programs. 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.

Student Learning Outcomes:

Specific skills and competencies expected of students who complete this course include the following:

Learning Outcomes for Lecture

Upon successful completion of this course, students will:

  • 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.

Departmental Common Course Objectives:

The ACC Biology Department has specified the content for this course in the departmental common course objectives. Click here to view the Common Course Objectives


Readings

Required Textbooks and Materials:

Lecture: Marieb Human Anatomy and Physiology, 12th ed. by Mastering Edition by Pearson  (available First Day on Blackboard)

Lab: Lab manual available on blackboard. Safety eyewear that meets Z87.1 standards and closed-toed shoes are required.

Computer Access: All course materials will be located on Blackboard.  All homework will be submitted online. Click here to access Blackboard.

Optional Free Apps:

  • Nearpod – We will use this app/website for in-class quizzes. Bring post-it notes if you do not own a device that you can bring to class
  • Remind- I will use this to text out information.  I will also post all announcements on Blackboard. Click here to join the Remind text group and begin receiving messages.

Blackboard: 

I will post all grades, lecture objectives, homework, and lab handouts on Blackboard. Please check this site on a daily basis for announcements and all needed materials. I will also send emails out via the Blackboard system. Please forward your ACC email address to your personal email.


Student Learning Outcomes/Learning Objectives

Instructional Methodology: Lecture and Lab

This course will be taught in person for both lectures and labs but will require work to be done outside of class time. All course documents, power points, announcements, lab reports, online homework, and assessments will be done via the ACC Blackboard system. If you do not know how to log on to this system, please call the ACC help desk at 223-4636. The student is responsible for communicating with their professor and completing any assignments or other activities designated by their professor.

Before Class:

  • Read the assigned chapter in the syllabus
  • Review PowerPoint and answer questions that are embedded in the PowerPoint
  • Read over lab material

During Class:

  • Take notes and complete nearpod quizzes
  • Complete lab protocols. Record notes and observations.

After Class:

  • Review your notes
  • Submit Online HW by the posted due date
  • Work on Extra Credit/Exam Reviews on topics for which you need extra practice
  • Complete lab reports on Blackboard

 

Grading System: 

Your final grade depends on the total number of points you accumulate from these sources. 

Source

Number

Points Each

Total Points

Lecture Exam

6*

100

600

Lab Exam

5

50

250

Lab Reports

10

10

100

Online homework

10

10

100

Nearpod Quizzes

varies

varies

50

Optional Extended Learning/Exam Reviews

Student Choice***

Will vary

Extra/ Alternative Credit

 

 

 

 

Total Points

 

 

1100

*A cumulative final exam may replace your lowest exam grade

***Students may receive extra points for completing various extended learning activities

 

FINAL GRADING SCALE:

Letter Grade

A

B

C

D

F

Final Point Total

990-1100

880-989

770-879

660-769

Below 660

 

Explanation of grades

Lecture Exams

  • Test will be given with a 60-minute time limit.
  • All test materials will come from PowerPoint material and questions done in class or in the homework.
  • Test will be
    • 80 points multiple choice, fill-in-blank, matching, true/false
    • 20 points short answer/essay

Lecture Quizzes

  • Quizzes will be given via Nearpod during class; you must be present to earn these points
  • Questions are embedded in lecture PowerPoints that are posted in Blackboard for advance review

Online HW

  • Housed in Blackboard under the labeled homework folder
  • Graded and scored in Blackboard
  • Similar to test questions
  • Answers will be released AFTER due date to use for studying

Optional Exam Reviews

  • Housed in a folder under the appropriate exam link
  • These are extra practice to help you study for the exam. You may receive partial credit.
  • May ONLY be submitted via Safe Assign in Blackboard. Assignments will not be accepted via email or shared Google Docs.
  • Due before day of exam

Lab Exams

  • Critical thinking questions all related directly to lab experiences, equipment used, data analysis and lab lectures.
  • Test will be given with a 60-minute time limit.
  • These are taken on the scheduled dates during scheduled lab time.

Lab Reports

  • Lab protocols and data tables will be provided for you.
  • Questions, data, observations, and analysis will be completed in the lab and the report will be submitted through blackboard quizzes.

 

COURSE POLICIES:

Attendance/Class Participation:
Regular and punctual class and laboratory attendance are encouraged for maximum success of all students. If you are more than 15 minutes late to class, you will be counted absent. If you are absent more than 5 times, you will be withdrawn from the course. If attendance or compliance with other course policies is unsatisfactory, the instructor may withdraw students from the class. If a student must miss class because of illness or quarantine, this must be communicated to the instructor prior to the class to receive online/virtual options. Students who do not submit the student information sheet by the drop date will be dropped from the class.

Students are expected to be prepared for each lecture and lab class and to participate in all class activities.  Students should expect to spend at least 2 hours outside of class for each hour spent in class in order to pass the course with a grade of C.  More time may be needed to pass or to get a higher grade, depending on the background and preparation of the student coming into the course.   Make sure you have enough time to accomplish your goals.

 

Exam Policy:

Exams will be taken in class on the posted days. Exams consist of 80 points from multiple choice/matching questions and 20 points from short answer/essay questions. You will only have ONE hour to complete your exam. You may not leave the room for any reason during your exam. If you arrive after the first person has completed their exam, you will not be permitted to start your exam. If you miss a lecture exam, you will take the final cumulative exam to replace your lowest/missed test score. There are no make-ups or retests. Exams are not released to students, but you may come by office hours to go over exam questions.

Late Work:

I accept NO late work. If you miss an assignment of any kind, you may complete extra credit activities to make up for missed points.

Lab Policies: 

  • You will be working in groups and should be able to work through lab materials as a group. However, post-lab reports are INDIVIDUAL assignments.
  • Post-Lab questions, data, observations, and analysis will be completed and submitted through blackboard quizzes. You must be present for the lab to turn in the post-lab questions.
  • You must wear closed-toe shoes and safety glasses to every lab unless directed otherwise by your instructor. Leave a pair of tennis shoes in your car!
  • Lab practicals will be individual, completed in 60 minutes, and will consist of questions, data analysis, and procedures you experienced in the lab. Write everything down!
  • There are no make-ups for missed labs or lab practical exams.

Course Subjects

Course Schedule: Dates are tentative and subject to change. Please note that schedule changes may occur during the semester.  Any changes will be announced in class, emailed, posted as a Blackboard Announcement, and sent through Remind 101.

Date

Lecture

Lab

Week 1: 1/21-1/23

Course Orientation

Module 1: Orientation to the Human Body

Mandatory Lab Safety Training

Metric practice

Week 2: 1/27-1/30

Module 2: Chemistry of Life

Exam Review

Lab 1: pH Lab

 

Week 3: 1/3-1/6

Exam 1 (2/3)

Module 3: Cell Structure and Function

Lab 2: Passive Transport

 

Week 4:  2/10-2/13

Finish Module 3

Exam Review

Lab Exam 1 (2/13)

 

Week 5: 2/17-2/20

Exam 2 (2/17)

Module 4:Tissues

Lab 3: Microscope Use and Tissues

Week 6: 2/24-2/27

Module 5: The Integumentary System

Module 6: The Skeletal System

Lab 4: Integument and Skeletal System

 

Week 7: 3/3-3/6

Finish Module 6

Exam Review

Lab Exam 2 (3/6)

 

Week 8: 3/10-3/213

Exam 3 (3/10)

Module 7: The Muscular System

Lab 5: Muscle Anatomy and EMG

 

                3/17-3/23

Spring Break – No Class

 

Week 9: 3/24-3/27

Finish Module 7

Module 8: Intro to the Nervous System

Lab 6: Neural Tissue/PhysioEx

Week 10: 3/31-4/3

Finish Module 8

Exam Review    

Lab Exam 3 (4/3)

 

Week 11: 4/7-4/10

Exam 4 (4/7)

Module 9: Nervous System (CNS)

Lab 7: Nervous System Anatomy

Week 12: 4/14-4/17

Module 9: Nervous System (PNS)

Lab 8: Brain Dissection

 

Week 13: 4/21-4/24

Module 9: Nervous System (ANS)

Exam Review

Lab Exam 4 (4/24)

 

Week 14: 4/28-5/1

Exam 5 (4/28)

Module 10: Special Senses

Lab 9: Reflex Lab

Week 15: 5/5-5/8

Finish Module 10

Exam Review

Lab 10: Eye Anatomy

 

Week 16: 12/9-12/15

Exam 6 (5/12)

Cumulative Final  (5/14)

Lab Exam 5 (5/15)

 


Office Hours

T Th 9:15 AM - 10:15 AM SAC 1329

NOTE

M T W Th 3:15 PM - 4:15 PM HYS 1204

NOTE

M T W Th F 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM Zoom

NOTE Email awheeler@austincc.edu to schedule.

Published: 01/20/2025 23:47:02