Summer 2026 BME 201: Quantitative Human Physiology (Units: 1.5)
Territory Acknowledgement
We acknowledge and respect the Lək̓ʷəŋən (Songhees and Xʷsepsəm/Esquimalt) Peoples on whose territory the university stands, and the Lək̓ʷəŋən and W̱SÁNEĆ Peoples whose historical relationships with the land continue to this day.
Withdrawal without reduction of tuition fees: 2026-05-18
Withdrawal with 50% reduction of tuition fees: 2026-06-07
Last day for withdrawal (no fees returned): 2026-07-01
Additional important academic dates: https://www.uvic.ca/calendar/dates.
Pre- & Co-Requisites
Prerequisites
Course Objectives
Physiology is the science of life concerned with the normal functioning of living organisms. This course explores key concepts in human physiology, with a focus on the nervous, cardiovascular, respiratory, renal, and endocrine systems. It also examines physiological mechanisms from both medical and engineering perspectives.
Course Syllabus
Nervous System
- General organization of the nervous system
- Somatic nervous system
- Autonomic nervous system
- Special senses: vision and hearing
Cardiovascular System
- Overview of the cardiovascular system and blood
- Cardiac action potential and electrocardiogram (ECG)
- Cardiac and vascular function
- Regulation of perfusion and arterial pressure
Respiratory System
- Mechanics of breathing
- Gas exchange in the lungs
- Oxygen and carbon dioxide transport
- Acid-base physiology I
- Control of ventilation
Renal (Urinary) System
- Body fluid compartments
- Functional anatomy of the kidneys
- Glomerular filtration
- Tubular reabsorption and secretion
- Acid-base physiology II
Endocrine System
- Hypothalamus
- Pituitary gland
- Thyroid gland
- Parathyroid gland
- Adrenal glands
- Gonads
- Pancreas
Textbooks & Course Material
| REQUIRED TEXT |
|---|
| Title: | Quantitative Human Physiology: An Introduction (3rd Ed) |
| Author: | Joseph J. Feher |
| Publisher / Year: | Academic Press / 2025 |
| REFERENCE MATERIAL |
|---|
| Title: | Textbook of Medical Physiology (14th Ed) |
| Author: | Guyton, AC and Hall, JE |
| Publisher / Year: | Elsevier Canada / 2025 |
| OPTIONAL TEXT |
|---|
| Title: | Principles of Anatomy & Physiology (15th Ed) |
| Author: | Tortora, GJ and Derrickson, B |
| Publisher / Year: | Wiley / 2017 |
Course Delivery
- This course will be delivered face-to-face.
- Lecture slides and course notes will be posted on Brightspace.
- Tutorials, labs, and office hours will also be conducted face-to-face.
- Classes will not be recorded.
Learning & Teaching Technologies
- Printer (useful but not mandatory)
- Web browser to be able to access/run Brightspace, Zoom, etc.
- PDF viewer
- Excel, Word, PowerPoint, etc. might be useful as well
Important: All deadlines and schedules for this course will reference Pacific Daylight Time.
Assessment
| Assessment Tool | Weight | Date |
|---|
| Mid-terms (four mid-terms – 12% each) | 48% | Tuesday, May 26, 2026 Tuesday, June 16, 2026 Tuesday, July 7, 2026 Tuesday, July 28, 2026 |
| Assignment (Review Paper) | 20% | Monday, June 29, 2026 (11:59 pm) |
| Labs | 20% | TBD |
| Student Presentation | 6% | Thursday, July 23, 2026 Thursday, July 30, 2026 |
| Group Work | 6% | Thursday, July 23, 2026 Thursday, July 30, 2026 |
Notes
- Failure to complete and submit all Laboratories will result in a grade of N.
- The final grade obtained from the above marking scheme for the purpose of GPA calculation will be based on the percentage-to-grade point conversion table as listed in the current Undergraduate Calendar.
- A supplemental exam will not be offered in this course.
- Coursework Mark Appeals: All marks must be appealed within 7 days of the mark being posted
Providing Feedback
Students are encouraged to provide in-term feedback to the instructor via email or in-person during office hours.
Toward the end of the term, students will have the opportunity to complete a confidential course experience survey regarding their learning experience.
Additional Information
- The instructor will make every effort to respond to students' emails in a timely manner.
- Students are expected to attend all classes in which they are enrolled.
Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI)
Please be advised that in this course you are not authorized to use any form of generative AI. In order to successfully complete course activities, generative AI is not required nor welcomed. Students should not make any use of generative AI tools such as ChatGPT, Grammarly, among others that use AI for content generation and editing. As the University of Victoria states on its Academic Integrity Policy “Academic integrity requires commitment to the values of honesty, trust, fairness, respect, and responsibility.” Therefore, I expect you to comply with the course syllabus and I encourage you to enhance your academic experience in this course by refraining from use generative AI.
General Information
Note to students: Students who have issues with the conduct of the course should discuss them with the instructor first. If these discussions do not resolve the issue, then students should feel free to contact the Chair of the Department by email, or the Chair's Assistant to set up an appointment.
Course Lecture Notes
Unless otherwise noted, all course materials supplied to students in this course have been prepared by the instructor and are intended for use in this course only. These materials are NOT to be re-circulated digitally, whether by email or by uploading or copying to websites, or to others not enrolled in this course. Violation of this policy may in some cases constitute a breach of academic integrity as defined in the UVic Calendar.
Academic Integrity
Academic Integrity requires commitment to the values of honesty, trust, fairness, respect, and responsibility. It is expected that students, faculty members and staff at the University of Victoria, as members of an intellectual community, will adhere to these ethical values in all activities related to learning, teaching, research and service. Any action that contravenes this standard, including misrepresentation, falsification or deception, undermines the intention and worth of scholarly work and violates the fundamental academic rights of members of our community. This policy is designed to ensure that the university’s standards are upheld in a fair and transparent fashion. See the Policy on Academic Integrity in the Undergraduate Academic Calendar for further information.
Attendance
Students are expected to attend all classes in which they are enrolled. An academic unit may require a student to withdraw from a course if the student is registered in another course that occurs at the same time.
- An instructor may refuse a student admission to a lecture, laboratory, online course discussion or learning activity, tutorial or other learning activity set out in the course outline because of lateness, misconduct, inattention or failure to meet the responsibilities of the course set out in the course outline. Students who neglect their academic work may be assigned a final grade of N or debarred from final examinations.
- Students who do not attend classes must not assume that they have been dropped from the course by an academic unit or an instructor. Courses that are not formally dropped will be given a failing grade; students may be required to withdraw and will be required to pay the tuition fee for the course.
See further information on attendance in the Undergraduate Academic Calendar.
Centre for Accessible Learning (CAL)
The University of Victoria is committed to creating a learning experience that is as accessible as possible. If you are registered with the Centre for Accessible Learning and anticipate or experience any barriers to learning in this course, please feel welcome to discuss your concerns with me. If you are a student with a disability or chronic health condition, you can meet with a CAL advisor to discuss access and accommodations.
Academic Concession
The University recognizes its responsibility to offer academic concessions to students whose ability to complete course requirements is interrupted by unexpected and unavoidable circumstances or conflicting responsibilities.
Grading System
The University of Victoria follows a percentage grading system in which the instructor will submit grades in percentages. The University will use the following Senate approved standardized grading scale to assign letter grades. Both the percentage mark and the letter grade will be recorded on the academic record and transcripts.
| F | D | C | C+ | B- | B | B+ | A- | A | A+ |
|---|
| 0-49 | 50-59 | 60-64 | 65-69 | 70-72 | 73-76 | 77-79 | 80-84 | 85-89 | 90-100 |
| Grades | Description |
|---|
| A+, A, A- | Exceptional, outstanding or excellent performance. Normally achieved by a minority of students. These grades indicate a student who is self-initiating, exceeds expectation and has an insightful grasp of the subject matter. |
| B+, B, B- | Very good, good or solid performance. Normally achieved by the largest number of students. These grades indicate a good grasp of the subject matter or excellent grasp in one area balanced with satisfactory grasp in the other areas. |
| C+, C | Satisfactory, or minimally satisfactory. These grades indicate a satisfactory performance and knowledge of the subject matter. |
| D | Marginal Performance. A student receiving this grade demonstrated a superficial grasp of the subject matter. |
| F | Unsatisfactory performance. Wrote final examination and completed course requirements; no supplemental. |
Student Experience of Learning (SEL)
I value your feedback on this course. Towards the end of term you will have the opportunity to complete a confidential Student Experience of Learning (SEL) survey regarding your learning experience. The survey is vital to providing feedback to me regarding the course and my teaching, as well as to help the department improve the overall program for students in the future. When it is time for you to complete the survey, you will receive an email inviting you to do so. If you do not receive an email invitation, you can go directly to the SEL site
You will need to use your UVic NetLink ID to access the survey, which can be done on your laptop, tablet or mobile device. I will remind you closer to the time, but please be thinking about this important activity, especially the following three questions, during the course.
- What strengths did your instructor demonstrate that helped you learn in this course?
- Please provide specific suggestions as to how the instructor could have helped you learn more effectively.
- Please provide specific suggestions as to how this course could be improved.
Equality
This course aims to provide equal opportunities and access for all students to enjoy the benefits and privileges of the class and its curriculum and to meet the syllabus requirements. Reasonable and appropriate accommodation will be made available to students with documented disabilities (physical, mental, learning) in order to give them the opportunity to successfully meet the essential requirements of the course. The accommodation will not alter academic standards or learning outcomes, although the student may be allowed to demonstrate knowledge and skills in a different way. It is not necessary for you to reveal your disability and/or confidential medical information to the course instructor. If you believe that you may require accommodation, the course instructor can provide you with information about confidential resources on campus that can assist you in arranging for appropriate accommodation. Alternatively, you may want to contact the Centre for Accessible Learning located in the Campus Services Building.
The University of Victoria is committed to promoting, providing, and protecting a positive, and supportive and safe learning and working environment for all its members.
Copyright Statement
All course content and materials are made available by instructors for educational purposes and for the exclusive use of students registered in their class. The material is protected under copyright law, even if not marked with a ©. Any further use or distribution of materials to others requires the written permission of the instructor, except under fair dealing or another exception in the Copyright Act. Violations may result in disciplinary action under the Resolution of Non-Academic Misconduct Allegations policy (AC1300).