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Honors Anatomy and Physiology II

Course Description

This course is the second half of the Human Anatomy & Physiology curriculum. It is equivalent to the second semester of a 2-semester college level Human Anatomy & Physiology course. This course will provide students with an understanding of the structure and function of the human body from the cellular to the systems level. The course content of Human Anatomy & Physiology II  consists of the following units/body systems:

Unit 1: Nervous System
Unit 2: Special Senses
Unit 3: Blood
Unit 4: Cardiovascular System
Unit 5: Lymphatic and Immune Systems
Unit 6: Digestive System
Unit 7: Respiratory System
Unit 8: Excretory (Urinary) System
Unit 9: Reproductive System
Unit 10: Development

Students planning further studies in scientific and health-related careers or physical education will find this course beneficial. 
Successful completion of Honors Human Anatomy & Physiology 1 is a prerequisite for this course.

Course Big Ideas

  • The human body is composed of systems that contribute to life’s functions.
  • The human body has mechanisms to maintain homeostasis.
  • The human body contains structures to move and respond to stimuli.
  • The human body can be affected by disorders and diseases.
  • The human body has ways to respond, repair and rebuild when necessary.
     

Course Essential Questions

  • How does the nervous system fulfill its role as the communication system for the body?
  • What are the main parts of the nervous system?
  • How is structure related to function in the nervous system?
  • How does the body detect pain, touch, pressure, and temperatures?
  • How does the body detect and interpret smell, taste, sound and light (sight)?
  • What are the components of blood and the functions of each component?
  • How are blood cells produced? Where does this occur?
  • How does the body utilize blood for the transportation of nutrients and gasses?
  • How does the body utilize blood for the transportation of wastes?
  • What is coagulation and why is this important?
  • How does blood assist the immune system in fighting off diseases/invaders?
  • What is the blood typing system and why is this important?
  • How does the cardiovascular system, consisting of the heart and blood vessels, provide oxygen and nutrients to tissues and remove wastes and carbon dioxide?
  • How is the lymphatic system closely associated with the cardiovascular system?
  • How does the lymphatic system assist with immunity?
  •  How does the body take in and process food and nutrients?
  • Once food is eaten, what physical and chemical processes occur?
  • How does the body extract and utilize energy to power life’s processes?
  • How does the respiratory system move oxygen into the body and remove carbon dioxide?
  • How does oxygen enter the bloodstream and get distributed throughout the body?
  • How does carbon dioxide return to the lungs to be exhaled?
  •  How does the body remove nitrogenous wastes, while maintaining water and salt balance?
  • What substances are excreted from the body and which substances are reabsorbed?
  • Why does the body need to excrete urea, some salts and some water, while reabsorbing other substances?
  • What causes a male to go through puberty?
  • What enables a male to procreate?
  • What are the signs, symptoms and treatment for prostate cancer?
  • What causes a female to go through puberty?
  • What hormones control the female reproductive cycle?
  • What regulates the female menstrual cycle?
  • Why does a female go through menopause?
  • What hormones regulate labor and delivery?
  • What hormones regulate milk production?
  • What are the signs, symptoms, causes and treatment of breast cancer?
  • What is the process of meiosis in sperm cell formation?
  • What is the process of meiosis in oocyte formation, and how is this vastly different from sperm cell formation?
  • How does a child develop before birth?
     

Course Competencies

  • Students will be able to describe how the nervous system serves as the main source of communication within the human body.
  • Students will explain how the five special senses detect and respond to incoming signals.
  • Students will know the various components of blood and each of their functions. 
  • Students will be able to describe how the components of blood contribute to the exchange of gasses, and aid in immunity.
  • Students will know the structures and functions of the cardiovascular system.
  • Students will know how the body takes in air, extracts and transports oxygen throughout the body, and then gets rid of carbon dioxide.
  • Students will be able to explain how the lymphatic system works in tandem with the circulatory system to maintain fluid balance and defend against diseases caused by microorganisms and viruses.
  • Students will know the various parts of the digestive system and how each contributes to the extraction of nutrients from food and the removal of waste products.
  • Students will be able to explain the functions of the excretory system, including what substances need removed from the body, which need retained, and which substances need to be balanced.
  • Students will be able to describe the steps necessary for a human to progress through puberty, and gain the potential to reproduce.
  • Students will be able to explain the differences between the ovarian cycle and the menstrual cycle. 
  • Students will explain the purpose of meiosis and the formation of sperm cells and egg cells.
  • Students will know the various stages of fetal development, the steps involved in the birthing process and what triggers milk production.
     

Course Assessments

  • Unit exams, dissections, lab practicums, labs, projects and other activities
     

Course Units