Introduction

Welcome to the Human Physiology Lab Manual!

In this manual, you will find a comprehensive guide to the weekly labs that form the core of your hands-on learning experience in physiology.  These labs are designed to provide you with practical skills and deepen your understanding of physiological concepts covered in an introductory Human Physiology course. Throughout the semester, we will also begin using Microsoft Excel, a common computing tool commonly used for data organization, graphing and basic statistical analysis.

We’re also excited to include an important component to this course: the Physiology of Physiology Students (POPS) Research Project.  This project allows you to explore specific areas of physiology in greater depth.  In addition to your weekly labs, this assignment will engage you in independent research, foster critical thinking and deepen your understanding of the process of scientific inquiry.

At the beginning of the semester, your group will select a research topic, develop a hypothesis, and design an experiment to test your hypothesis.  This project will culminate in a final report and presentation, where you will showcase your findings and share insights with your peers and instructor.

At the end of this manual, you will find a POPS Project section, which includes valuable resources to assist you in your research.  We believe this project will enrich your learning experience, and we look forward to seeing the creative and insightful work you’ll produce.

Pre-Lab Responsibilities:

• Be sure to read the supplemental reading materials before coming to lab.
• Complete any prelab questions found at the end of each prelab reading.
• Check with your instructor to see if you are responsible for any other work before the lab begins.
• Review your syllabus for supplemental instructions and homework due dates.

During Lab:

• Come prepared to actively engage with the lab activities each week.
• A printed copy of the lab protocol will be available for each group during lab for your reference. We recommend having access to the protocol on your smartphone or laptop as well.
• At the end of each lab, you should be able to answer a formal assessment question in short essay format to demonstrate your understanding.
• By this stage, you should feel confident in your ability to complete the post-class quiz as a reflection of your learning.

After completing all lab activities and assessments, your group is expected to continue work on the POPS Research Project.

Let’s begin this journey into the fascinating world of physiology, where each lab session and research project will bring your closer to mastering the complexities of the human body.