The School of Life · biology, medicine & health
Anatomy & Physiology
The parts of the human body and the work each one does, from bone to bloodstream.
The organized map of the human body — its regions, systems, and the language used to describe them.
The living machinery of the body — how organs cooperate to keep conditions steady.
Syllabus · 4 units · ~34 hours
Unit I — Homeostasis
The internal environment · Feedback loops · Fluid compartments · Membrane potentials
Unit II — Nerve and Muscle
The action potential · The synapse · Muscle contraction · Reflex arcs
Unit III — Circulation and Breathing
The cardiac cycle · Blood pressure and its control · Gas exchange · Control of breathing
Unit IV — Balance and Exchange
Kidney function and filtration · Fluid and electrolyte balance · Digestion and absorption · Temperature regulation
Bones, joints, and muscles — the architecture that holds the body up and moves it.
Syllabus · 4 units · ~22 hours
Unit I — Bone
Bone as living tissue · The axial and appendicular skeleton · Bone growth and remodeling · Fractures and repair
Unit II — Joints
Classifying joints · The synovial joint · Ranges of motion · Common joint injuries
Unit III — Muscle
Naming the major muscles · Origins, insertions, and actions · Agonists and antagonists · Levers and leverage
Unit IV — Movement in Practice
Posture and the spine · Gait and the lower limb · Grip and the hand · Load, strain, and prevention
How the heart, vessels, and lungs move oxygen from the air to every cell and carry waste away.
Syllabus · 4 units · ~24 hours
Unit I — The Pump
Cardiac muscle and the conduction system · The cardiac cycle · Stroke volume and cardiac output · The electrocardiogram
Unit II — The Vessels
Arteries, capillaries, and veins · Blood pressure and resistance · Regulation of blood flow · Capillary exchange
Unit III — The Lungs
Ventilation and lung volumes · Gas exchange at the alveolus · Oxygen and carbon dioxide transport · Control of breathing
Unit IV — Working Together
Response to exercise · Altitude and adaptation · The oxygen cascade · When the system fails
A first tour of the body — what each system does and how the parts work as a team.
Syllabus · 3 units · ~12 hours
Unit I — Building Blocks
Cells, tissues, and organs · What an organ system is · Staying in balance · How to read a body diagram
Unit II — Fuel and Movement
The digestive system · The muscles and bones · The heart and blood · The lungs and breathing
Unit III — Control and Defense
The brain and nerves · The senses · Fighting germs · Keeping clean and healthy