Physiology Success Tips?

  • Thread starter Thread starter RTC19
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RTC19

Hello,

I am taking a Physiology class (300-level course offered by the Bio department) this spring. I am nervous; I heard through the rumor mill that it is arguably the most challenging of our undergraduate Bio classes but is helpful for the MCAT.

1. Coloring really helped me with Anatomy. Do you think a Physiology coloring book is worth the expense?

2. Any Physiology-related review advice to give?

Thanks!
 
I'm not sure a coloring book will be as useful in physiology. Physiology describes biological processes such as renal function, nerve conduction, muscle contraction , etc. I'm not sure about references, others on the forum would have better input.
 
Probably less value than an anatomy coloring book that helps with memorization and structure identification and recall (and spelling). There might be some value in a physio coloring book (since you enjoy coloring) if it keeps your mind thinking about the material, but probably less "yield"? I dunno.

I took the combined A&P at a traditional state school bio department so don't know how well that translates to a bio department's upper level physiology-only class. I also took a physiology/biophysics class from a biomedical engineering department, and it was very very math and physics heavy, but I don't know how well that translates to a bio department's physio course again.

What helped me was simply being able to draw a free body diagram (say, the heart, lungs, renal, hepatic, etc) and be able to look at different word problems and see how that applied to the organ system. Like GFR and BUN and all the things with sodium and other stuff for renal or being able to draw out a heart with all the inputs and outputs and understand how volume or voltage works. Conduction in the heart's electrical system and what happens with different kinds of blocks. Understand direction, positive vs. negative (so it doesn't ruin your math and give you the wrong answer). Effects of different drugs on, say different blood pressures in different locations. The whole alpha 1, 2, beta 1, 2 agonists, antagonists.

I believe there was a fair amount of memorization involved a la anatomy coupled with a more functional aspect as well as very basic pharmacological aspect of what different drugs do to affect a pathological process like what's normal vs. abnormal and how to fix basic examples.

Wait, you have a final Monday. Get off SDN! You're procrastinating! 😉 :luck:
 
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