Course Review

MEDSCI205 is an engaging, fun, yet challenging stage 2 MEDSCI paper required for Physiology and Part 2 Medical Imaging students. MEDSCI205 offers a deeper glimpse into the human body's organ systems and how changes in our internal and external environments trigger our body's homeostatic mechanisms. This course review provides an overview of the content, labs, and challenges you are likely to encounter as you deep dive into the physiology of our human organ systems. 

 

The content of this paper builds on foundational knowledge from MEDSCI142, where students learned about the cardiovascular, renal, and respiratory systems. In MEDSCI205, you can expect to learn in depth about these systems and understand how they interact with one another in response to changes in physiological parameters (heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature). Since this is a physiology course, ensure you understand the concepts highlighted in lectures, as exam questions will likely test your understanding of how these systems respond to changes and how their structural features contribute to the dynamic nature of their function in maintaining homeostasis. In addition to these organ systems, the course gives you a glimpse into fetal physiology and also covers a few lectures on fluid balance. For the majority of the lectures, the lecturers/professors for the first and last modules were terrific. However, the more challenging lectures were from the respiratory and cardiovascular modules, as these had complex concepts that required much more effort to understand and apply to exam questions. Thus, I recommend doing some extra reading within the course book and recommended texts, alongside utilising past exams, to better grasp the concepts. 

 

The practical labs in this course were something to look forward to, as the experiments were engaging and fun. Paired with enthusiastic teaching staff and lab coordinators, these labs were a highlight of the course. In 2025, due to feedback from past MEDSCI205 students, the number of lab reports required decreased to 1 full lab report. In the past, the course required 4 complete lab reports, which students found extremely difficult and stressful. Thus, for 2025, the lab assignments were structured so that each focused on one section of the lab report (e.g., methods, data analysis), allowing students to practice before the final assignment, which was a full scientific lab report covering the content of the final practical lab.  

 

Overall, MEDSCI205 was one of my favourite papers as a 2nd year physiology student. It was one of the most challenging yet rewarding papers I have completed. If you want to do well in this course, make sure to stay on top of the content and assignments. You must spare enough time to study any unfamiliar concepts that you don't understand. Ensure you utilise an active method of learning rather than re-writing notes; create flowcharts that link concepts and systems, alongside flashcards, to challenge your memory. MEDSCI205 heavily tests your ability to understand the physiological concepts presented. It thus expects you to apply the content across different clinical scenarios/ situations, which is both fascinating and can be challenging if you do not adequately prepare.

 

 

 

Content

 

Module A Topics: 

• Homeostasis and Fluid Balance 

• Cardiovascular Physiology 

 

Module A - spans across 5 weeks and will be the content found within the first midsemester test. 

 

Homeostasis and Fluid Balance 

 

The first lecture is an introductory lecture and thus  it is not examinable. Dr Rohit Ramchandra gives the second lecture where you learn how the body physiologically adapts when diving. An essential concept within this lecture is the dive reflex. Ensure that you understand this concept well, as it will prepare you for the second laboratory, which focuses on this concept. After this lecture, you will have three additional lectures related to the overarching topic of fluid balance and regulation, presented by Dr Anuj Bhargava. Within these lectures, you will have an in-depth review of the concept of homeostasis and how it relates to cell volume regulation and the maintenance of both the volume and composition of body fluids. The content will heavily focus on water and solute movement, highlighting concepts such as osmosis and the effects on cell volume when the body is introduced to hypo- or hypertonic solutions.

 

Furthermore, Dr Bhargava will discuss the importance of water absorption and secretion mechanisms, as well as their application to clinical scenarios of nutrient malabsorption. Finally, the last lecture will cover acid-base physiology, where you will gain a deeper insight into acid-base disturbances in the body and how the various pH systems will regulate and prevent the body from reaching alkalosis or acidosis. Additionally, it is essential to understand the definitions of osmolarity and tonicity, as well as how isotonic, hypotonic, and hypertonic solutions affect cell volume and the underlying reasons.
 

Important concepts to look out for: 

• Dive reflex 

• Homeostasis 

• Movement of solutes and solvents 

• Electrolyte absorption and secretion (Particularly Na+ and Cl- absorption)

• Mechanisms of pH regulation 

• Acid base balance 

• Types of Diarrhoea 

 

 

 

Renal Physiology  

 

This section of lectures begins with Dr Rohit Ramchandra, who guides us through renal physiology, delving into the nephron and its significance, while also highlighting important areas and processes that occur in the kidney. In the first two lectures, Dr Ramchandra focuses on GFR (glomerular filtration rate) and how the anatomy of the nephron and the surrounding structures within the kidney interact to modulate GFR. Alongside GFR, Dr Ramchandra covers the renal response to salt and water absorption and teaches an essential concept called the counter-current mechanism. You must understand this concept and how both intrinsic and extrinsic mechanisms can disrupt it. 

 

Additionally, in the final lecture, Dr Ramchandra suggests further learning about the hormonal components of the renal system. To be specific, through learning more about aldosterone, ANP, and ADH, you will gain further knowledge to facilitate the successful integration of how these hormones respond and affect urine concentration, diabetes, and dehydration, which will be highly advantageous.

 

Important concepts to look out for: 

• Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR)  

• Regulation of GFR 

• Counter Current System 

• ADH Section and Action 

• Mechanisms of control of fluid and sodium balance 

• Physiological response to change in plasma osmolarity and plasma volume. 

• Mechanism of the Dive Reflex 

 

 

 

Cardiovascular Physiology 

 

In this section of lectures by Dr Fiona McBryde and Dr Carolyn Barrett, you will gain a deeper understanding of the cardiovascular system and cardiac physiology. Whilst some concepts seem familiar from MEDSCI142, this section has concepts that are notoriously difficult for students. The first half of the lectures covers the electrical activity of the heart and ventricular function, whilst the second half focuses on the vascular system and its involvement in various physiological mechanisms, which Dr Carolyn Barrett teaches. The second half of the lectures is slightly more challenging to understand due to the number of different physics-related concepts you have to understand. However, Dr Carolyn Barrett has a good pace throughout her lectures and presents the content clearly. If you get stuck on any concept, Ed discussion is a must! As the TAs and teachers are very active on it, it is a good tool to utilise. By the second half of the lectures, you should be able to understand that many factors control vessel diameter and how this is involved in the arterial baroreflex pathway and chemoreceptor reflexes. The final lecture in this series is also concluded with an integration lecture, typically given by Dr Julian Paton, where you can apply the concepts you learn to real-life scenarios, such as what is occurring physiologically in an individual with heart failure. In addition, an essential concept from this integrative lecture is understanding what hypertension is and how it relates to the vascular and autonomic systems. 

 

This section is long and reasonably packed with content; it is essential that you keep up to date with the lectures and actively revise these concepts using summary sheets or flashcards. Although it is arguably one of the most strenuous series of lectures, I found it to be exciting and rewarding after understanding the concepts and applying them through practice questions. 

 

Important concepts to look out for: 

• Cardiac Excitability, Conductivity and Automaticity 

• Einthoven's Triangle and QRS Axis 

• Length - Tension Relationship 

• Calcium and Excitation Contraction Coupling 

• Ventricular Pressure- Volume Relationship 

• Blood Pressure 

• Bernoulli's Principle 

• Hypertension and its subsequent effects. 

 

Module B Topics:

• Respiratory System

• Energetics 

 

This module is split into two main topics. The first series of lectures is given by Dr Marie Ward, which focuses on learning the jargon and symbols used in respiratory physiology formulas. In this part of the lecture series, Dr Ward will highlight the most essential formulas to help you understand. Additionally, she will cover ventilation, the oxygen cascade, and the differences between hypobaric and hyperbaric oxygen delivery. Personally, these lectures were the most difficult to understand in this module. The formula jargon, alongside the complex respiratory concepts, necessitated extra revision outside of class. High-altitude physiology was covered in one lecture by Dr Mickey Fan, who delivered the content exceptionally well. Although it was quick-paced, he was enthusiastic and engaging, and thus I found the lecture's content highly fascinating and less complicated than Dr Ward's. 

 

The second series of lectures was given by Dr David Crossman and covered the basic concepts of energetics. In contrast to respiratory physiology, I found this series of lectures to be relatively straightforward to understand. The primary topics given covered concepts such as aerobic/anaerobic respiration, thermodynamics and metabolic pathways. A general tip for this series of lectures is to pay attention to the graphs and diagrams given, as you may be required to replicate and draw on the different components of the graph. 

 

Important concepts to look out for: 

• Compliance and functional residual capacity

• Maximal Inspiratory and Expiratory pressures 

• Flow Volume Curves + The work of breathing

• Difference between obstructive and restrictive disease

• Stages of the oxygen cascade

• Altitude respiratory physiology - Hyperbaric and Hypobaric exposure. 

 

Module C Topics: (Examined in final exam) 

• Fetal Physiology

 

This module was only 4 lectures long and given by Dr Laura Bennet, who takes you on a short journey to understanding fetal physiology. Dr Bennet is highly knowledgeable and a fantastic lecturer; her series focuses on the fetal environment and builds on the knowledge from the cardiovascular and respiratory lectures. Despite being a short module, these lectures are heavy on content, fascinating, and worth attending in person. The concepts and content are not too complex to understand, especially after completing modules A and B. Much like the rest of the modules, the content should not be rote-learned but understood, as the tests and final exam will ask you to integrate your knowledge into different scenarios. 

 

Important concepts to look out for: 

• Placenta (structure and function) 

• Role of Amniotic fluid

• Basics of fetal behaviour 

• Oxygen dissociation curve 

• Fetal oxygenation + Why is the fetus is not naturally hypoxic

• Double Bohr and Haldane effects

• Fetal circulation 

• Fetal Hypoxia and the Cardiovascular response

 

 

 

Laboratories

 

Due to budget cuts, there were only three practical labs and three tutorials for MEDSCI205 in 2025 (could be subject to change), where only one required you to write a full lab report. All of the lab experiments were extremely fun, and the teaching staff during these labs were personable and extremely helpful if you had questions or needed help with lab content. The assignments are structured to ease you into the whole lab report, which is the 3rd and final assignment. Before this, you have a data analysis assignment in which you analyse the results from the dive reflex lab. In contrast, the second lab assignment asks you to create a results section with the data gathered from your ECG lab alongside a full discussion of your results. This lab proved to be the most difficult lab for me. However, as long as you achieve good results and ask questions about anything you are unsure of during the practical lab or tutorial, you will be fine. The third and final assignment requires you to complete a full lab report on pulmonary gas exchange, worth 14%. Completing this lab report can be daunting at first; however, based on your past two assignments, you should have the experience and ability to write a full lab report.

 

Furthermore, they make it easier for you by giving you a lab template to draw on when writing your lab report. To do well on these lab assignments, ensure you make the most of your time during the practical labs and tutorials (Come prepared!!). If you have any questions regarding the assignment or lab content, the TAs are extremely helpful and will assist alongside the lab coordinator. Take advantage of this!! 

 

Labs or tutorials will occur every fortnight on a specific day which will be dictated by which stream you are in.  

 

Note:  Your attendance at each session is compulsory. Absence at a laboratory or tutorial will result in a 0% grade for the related assessment and will impact your ability to pass the course. 

 

Lab Assignments

Laboratory assignments and participation will count for a total of 30% of your final mark.

There are 3 prelab quizzes for Medsci 205, each worth 1% that must be completed prior to

attending the laboratory sessions for Dive Reflex (week 3), ECG (week 5) and Pulmonary

Gas exchange (week 8).

 

There are assignments associated with each of the three practical Labs

1. Dive reflex Data analysis assignment (4%)

2. ECG results and Discussion section (9%)

3. Pulmonary Gas exchange and energy expenditure Lab report (14%)

 

You must submit all assignments.

Reports are due 9 am on the due date. Late submission of assessments will incur a penalty of 10% of the possible marks per 24 hours late. Any report submitted more than 5 days late will not be marked and will receive a 0 grade.