DistanceLearningCentre.com
LEARNING MATERIALS
Subject: Human Physiology / Biology / Medicine
Unit: Aspects of Human Physiology / Human Physiology
Topic 1: The Endocrine System, Homeostasis and the
Nervous System
Level: 3
Essential reading:
The essential textbook for this topic is Tortora, G.J., and Grabowski,
S.R., 2002. Principles of Anatomy and Physiology. 10th ed. London:
John Wiley & Sons. ISBN no: 9780471224723
Recommended reading:
Recommended reading for this topic is listed in the back pages of
these learning materials.
Further resources:
Further resources to deepen your learning on specific aspects of this
topic are listed throughout these learning materials.
Read and make notes:
Making notes turns reading into studying. Notes should be brief, clear and
helpful.
To help your understanding:
• rewrite or summarise what you have learned (avoid copying what
you have read);
• note down any questions your studying has raised, either to ask
your tutor, or to develop into further research.
To help you to remember:
• sum things up to improve long term memory;
• write things down to aid motor memory;
• use colour, images or patterns to help visual memory.
To help you in your assessments:
© DistanceLearningCentre.com, 2022
, • record where you will find information (e.g. page numbers);
• keep your notes organised and easy to navigate;
• highlight where further reading and research are needed,
including any recommended or further reading;
• use your notes to help you get started on your TAQs.
Read the Specification:
So that you will know the criteria you will be assessed on please
read the unit specification in my courses on the Materials page.
© DistanceLearningCentre.com, 2022
, Subject: Human Physiology / Biology / Medicine
Unit: Aspects of Human Physiology / Human Physiology
Topic 1: The Endocrine System, Homeostasis and the Nervous System
Level: 3
LEARNING MATERIALS
Contents
Press CTRL + Click in the contents list to go to the relevant page
Introduction .............................................................................................1
1. Levels of Organisation in Living Cells..............................................2
Organism...............................................................................................................2
Organ System .......................................................................................................3
Organ ....................................................................................................................4
Tissue....................................................................................................................4
Cells ......................................................................................................................6
Organelle...............................................................................................................7
Molecule ................................................................................................................7
2. The endocrine system ......................................................................9
2.1 The hypothalamus and pituitary gland ......................................................10
2.1.1 The anterior pituitary ...................................................................11
2.1.2 The posterior pituitary .................................................................11
3. Homeostasis .................................................................................. 13
3.1 Feedback loops .........................................................................................14
3.1.1 Negative feedback loops.............................................................15
3.1.2 Temperature control ....................................................................16
3.2 Thirst ..........................................................................................................18
3.2.1 Intracellular ..................................................................................18
3.2.2 Extracellular.................................................................................19
3.3 Metabolism ................................................................................................20
4. The nervous system ....................................................................... 24
4.1 The nerve cells (neurons) .........................................................................26
4.2 Components and functions of neurons .....................................................27
4.3 Synapses and Neurotransmitters..............................................................28
4.4 Different parts of the nervous system .......................................................30
4.4.1 Central nervous system (CNS) ...................................................30
4.4.2 Peripheral nervous system (PNS) ..............................................30
4.4.3 Somatic nervous system (SNS) ..................................................31
4.4.4 Autonomic nervous system (ANS) ..............................................31
4.5 Reflex and voluntary actions .....................................................................32
4.5.1 Reflex actions ..............................................................................32
4.5.2 Voluntary actions.........................................................................32
© DistanceLearningCentre.com, 2022
, Subject: Human Physiology / Biology / Medicine
Unit: Aspects of Human Physiology / Human Physiology
Topic 1: The Endocrine System, Homeostasis and the Nervous System
Level: 3
LEARNING MATERIALS
4.6 Action potential ..........................................................................................33
4.7 Nerve impulse conduction .........................................................................34
4.8 The Brain ...................................................................................................36
4.9 The spinal cord ..........................................................................................39
Recommended reading .......................................................................... 41
Resources .............................................................................................. 41
References and Bibliography ................................................................. 41
Websites ................................................................................................ 41
Sources and credits ............................................................................... 42
Image credits ......................................................................................................42
© DistanceLearningCentre.com, 2022
LEARNING MATERIALS
Subject: Human Physiology / Biology / Medicine
Unit: Aspects of Human Physiology / Human Physiology
Topic 1: The Endocrine System, Homeostasis and the
Nervous System
Level: 3
Essential reading:
The essential textbook for this topic is Tortora, G.J., and Grabowski,
S.R., 2002. Principles of Anatomy and Physiology. 10th ed. London:
John Wiley & Sons. ISBN no: 9780471224723
Recommended reading:
Recommended reading for this topic is listed in the back pages of
these learning materials.
Further resources:
Further resources to deepen your learning on specific aspects of this
topic are listed throughout these learning materials.
Read and make notes:
Making notes turns reading into studying. Notes should be brief, clear and
helpful.
To help your understanding:
• rewrite or summarise what you have learned (avoid copying what
you have read);
• note down any questions your studying has raised, either to ask
your tutor, or to develop into further research.
To help you to remember:
• sum things up to improve long term memory;
• write things down to aid motor memory;
• use colour, images or patterns to help visual memory.
To help you in your assessments:
© DistanceLearningCentre.com, 2022
, • record where you will find information (e.g. page numbers);
• keep your notes organised and easy to navigate;
• highlight where further reading and research are needed,
including any recommended or further reading;
• use your notes to help you get started on your TAQs.
Read the Specification:
So that you will know the criteria you will be assessed on please
read the unit specification in my courses on the Materials page.
© DistanceLearningCentre.com, 2022
, Subject: Human Physiology / Biology / Medicine
Unit: Aspects of Human Physiology / Human Physiology
Topic 1: The Endocrine System, Homeostasis and the Nervous System
Level: 3
LEARNING MATERIALS
Contents
Press CTRL + Click in the contents list to go to the relevant page
Introduction .............................................................................................1
1. Levels of Organisation in Living Cells..............................................2
Organism...............................................................................................................2
Organ System .......................................................................................................3
Organ ....................................................................................................................4
Tissue....................................................................................................................4
Cells ......................................................................................................................6
Organelle...............................................................................................................7
Molecule ................................................................................................................7
2. The endocrine system ......................................................................9
2.1 The hypothalamus and pituitary gland ......................................................10
2.1.1 The anterior pituitary ...................................................................11
2.1.2 The posterior pituitary .................................................................11
3. Homeostasis .................................................................................. 13
3.1 Feedback loops .........................................................................................14
3.1.1 Negative feedback loops.............................................................15
3.1.2 Temperature control ....................................................................16
3.2 Thirst ..........................................................................................................18
3.2.1 Intracellular ..................................................................................18
3.2.2 Extracellular.................................................................................19
3.3 Metabolism ................................................................................................20
4. The nervous system ....................................................................... 24
4.1 The nerve cells (neurons) .........................................................................26
4.2 Components and functions of neurons .....................................................27
4.3 Synapses and Neurotransmitters..............................................................28
4.4 Different parts of the nervous system .......................................................30
4.4.1 Central nervous system (CNS) ...................................................30
4.4.2 Peripheral nervous system (PNS) ..............................................30
4.4.3 Somatic nervous system (SNS) ..................................................31
4.4.4 Autonomic nervous system (ANS) ..............................................31
4.5 Reflex and voluntary actions .....................................................................32
4.5.1 Reflex actions ..............................................................................32
4.5.2 Voluntary actions.........................................................................32
© DistanceLearningCentre.com, 2022
, Subject: Human Physiology / Biology / Medicine
Unit: Aspects of Human Physiology / Human Physiology
Topic 1: The Endocrine System, Homeostasis and the Nervous System
Level: 3
LEARNING MATERIALS
4.6 Action potential ..........................................................................................33
4.7 Nerve impulse conduction .........................................................................34
4.8 The Brain ...................................................................................................36
4.9 The spinal cord ..........................................................................................39
Recommended reading .......................................................................... 41
Resources .............................................................................................. 41
References and Bibliography ................................................................. 41
Websites ................................................................................................ 41
Sources and credits ............................................................................... 42
Image credits ......................................................................................................42
© DistanceLearningCentre.com, 2022
