Course description
Programme description
The programme is run by the Department of Physiology. The MSc provides a theoretical and practical basis for explaining the functioning of the muscular, respiratory and cardiovascular systems at rest and during exercise. This extends to the effects of extreme environmental conditions on whole body physiology. Programme topics are studied from both systemic and cellular/molecular perspectives in order that students have a good understanding of the breadth of investigative approaches employed in human physiology research.
Programme format and assessment
Taught moules comprising lectures, tutorials and seminars with a significant practical component. Research project.
Programme modules for MSc Human & Applied Physiology
Cardiovascular & Respiratory Physiology from Rest to Exhaustive Exercise (Core Module)
This course focuses on the function of the human cardiovascular and respiratory systems. To course aims to evaluate the mechanisms underlying the regulation of ventilation, cardiac output and blood pressure at rest and during exercise, and how these systems interact with the metabolic requirements of working muscles. The course aims to provide practical experience in experimentation in human respiratory and cardiovascular physiology with knowledge of appropriate instrumentation, calibration and data acquisition and analysis.
Human & Applied Physiology library project (Core Module)
This course will allow students to develop an in depth knowledge of the literature concerning an area of topical interest in Human and Applied Physiology. This literature review, which will focus on topic distinct from that of the research project, will enable students to develop analytical, critical, organizational as well as presentational skills.
Human & Applied Physiology research project (Core Module)
The research project makes up one third of the MSc programme. This provides students with an opportunity to undertake a research project either independently or in an active laboratory. The student will, in conjunction with their chosen research supervisor, plan and carry out experiments to test a hypothesis and to learn and develop laboratory and research skills.
Human physiology in extreme environments (Core Module)
In this course students will study human physiological function and performance under extreme conditions. This will include altitude and acceleration physiology and the other major stresses that occur in flight, as well as hyperbaric and marine physiology. Practical components of the course include experiments performed at the RAF Centre for Aviation Medicine, Henlow and the Institute of Naval Medicine, Alverstoke.
Key topics in human health and performance (Core Module)
This lecture and seminar based course will focus on the heterogeneity of human physiological function. This will be from the extremes of the elite athlete to the frail elderly person, from the spinal cord injured subject to the obese individual. Among other topics, this course will consider issues concerning doping in sport and examine the importance of physical activity in population health and disease.
Skeletal muscle function, fatigue and plasticity - from movement to molecules (Core Module)
The aim of this course is to provide detailed knowledge of the function of the human muscular system from the molecular to the whole muscle level. To give an understanding of the mechanisms underlying the contractile characteristics of muscle, the means by which it adapts to change in usage and how it fatigues. The course will provide practical experience in experimentation in human muscle physiology from mechanical measures at the single fibre and whole muscle levels to practical experience in a molecular biology laboratory for the analyses muscle gene and protein expression.
Duration
One year FT, September to September
