This course enables the integrated study of current knowledge of how the body functions from the sub-cellular level up to the whole animal. There is special emphasis on cellular communication and aspects of neuroscience and cardiovascular science, which are among the most rapidly advancing areas of Physiology.
When you register for a degree in Physiology with Pharmacology you will become affiliated with the Department of Cell Physiology and Pharmacology and with the Department of Pre-Clinical Sciences. This means that you will have the benefit of informal contacts with staff and post-graduate students, participation in departmental events and seminar programmes, and the use of some of the departments' facilities.

Course Structure

First Year

As part of the common first year you will have an introduction to physiological processes occurring in whole tissues and systems with an emphasis on the underlying cellular mechanisms. All Biological Sciences students take the same modules covering the breadth of modern biology.

Second Year

In the second and third years the degree course takes the form of two complementary streams, approaching Physiology from the standpoints of the cell and of the organ system. In addition, there is a considerable Pharmacology element, which examines the action of drugs in different cellular and organ systems.

The second year modules focus on cellular and systems physiology and will introduce you to the concepts underlying pharmacology and the mechanisms of drug action. Cell physiology addresses the properties of non-excitable and excitable cells including the mechanisms by which cell homeostasis is maintained. There is a strong focus on the organisation and physiology of the nervous system. The systems aspect introduces you to the physiology of the major body systems whilst pharmacology concentrates on the mechanism of action of major classes of drugs acting on these different body systems.

Final Year

The final year modules cover topics from the cellular to the organismal level. Much attention is focused on the communication in the nervous system and on the cellular responses of neurones to chemical messengers and drugs. The visual and auditory systems are used as examples to highlight the principles of central integration along with the mechanisms underlying memory and movement control. There is also a strong emphasis on the cardiovascular system which provides students with a comprehensive understanding of heart function and regulation of blood flow. Comparative physiology taught jointly by physiologists and zoologists examines the different mechanisms by which distinct animal groups have solved basic physiological problems such as locomotion and vision. In your final year you will also undertake a laboratory - or library-based in-depth research project on a specific topic related to physiology that interests you.

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