Integrated Physiology and Pathophysiology

This capstone unit synthesizes molecular, cellular, and organ-level physiology with clinical pathophysiology across major body systems, emphasizing mechanisms that maintain or disrupt homeostasis. Students apply principles such as fluid balance, polarity, redox chemistry, and immune function to analyze clinical scenarios (e.g., neonatal transition, respiratory failure, sepsis, renal dysfunction, pregnancy) and prepare for advanced study or healthcare career pathways.

Learning Objectives

• Analyze pathophysiological mechanisms across respiratory, cardiovascular, nervous, urinary, reproductive, skeletal, and immune systems to predict clinical signs, symptoms, and impacts on homeostasis
• Apply principles of molecular and physical physiology (water polarity, redox reactions, ion gradients, fluid dynamics, and pressure) to explain processes such as gas exchange, renal filtration, circulation, and neural transmission
• Demonstrate understanding of immune system mechanisms, distinguishing innate and adaptive responses, and evaluate their roles in infection, inflammation, vaccination, and autoimmune conditions
• Evaluate integrated clinical scenarios (e.g., pregnancy and neonatal first breath, breath control, oxygenation and blood color misconceptions, appendicitis, microbial infections) and propose evidence-based diagnostic or intervention strategies grounded in structure–function relationships