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Unit of study_
NURS5042: The Body, Its Function and Pharmacology
2026 unit information
This course provides an in-depth exploration of the risk factors and health consequences associated with various medical conditions, with a special focus on the critical aspects of Airway, Breathing, Circulation, Disability, Exposure, Fluid and Electrolytes, and Gastrointestinal-Physiology (A, B, C, D, E, F). Key Topics Include: Airway and Breathing: Examining how different health conditions impact respiratory function and the strategies for effective management. Circulation: Understanding the risk factors affecting circulatory health, including high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke, and the importance of timely intervention. Disability: Investigating the long-term effects of health conditions on physical and cognitive abilities, and strategies for rehabilitation. Exposure: Identifying environmental and lifestyle factors that contribute to health risks and how to mitigate them. Fluid and Electrolytes: Exploring the role of fluid balance and electrolyte management in maintaining overall health. Gastrointestinal-Physiology: Understanding the relationship between gastrointestinal health and overall physiological well-being. Additionally, the course will cover the latest treatment options and management strategies for patients. This unit is designed for all students and does not require a background in biology.
Unit details and rules
Managing faculty or University school:
Medicine and Health
| Study level | Postgraduate |
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| Academic unit | Department of Medical Sciences |
| Credit points | 6 |
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Prerequisites:
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None |
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Corequisites:
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None |
| Prohibitions:
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None |
| Assumed knowledge:
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None |
At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:
- LO1. Describe basic human anatomy and physiological function within the body.
- LO2. Describe the pathophysiology of selected health priority areas to explain their respective clinical manifestations, prevention, and pharmacological management.
- LO3. Synthesise, integrate and apply foundational human bioscience knowledge to specific contexts and situations in health
- LO4. Describe how the structure of cells and tissues are related to their roles within selected organs and organ systems.
- LO5. Explain pathogenic processes within the human body and their expression as observable alterations to normal anatomy/physiological function across the lifespan.
- LO6. Describe how specific organ systems contribute to the maintenance of homeostasis and thereby support overall health.
- LO7. Explain the fundamental principles of pharmacology and describe how commonly used drugs interact with major organ systems.
Unit availability
This section lists the session, attendance modes and locations the unit is available in. There is a unit outline for each of the unit availabilities, which gives you information about the unit including assessment details and a schedule of weekly activities.
The outline is published 2 weeks before the first day of teaching. You can look at previous outlines for a guide to the details of a unit.
| Session | MoA ? | Location | Outline ? |
|---|---|---|---|
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Semester 1 2026
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Normal day | Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney | |
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Semester 1 2026
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Normal day | Westmead, Sydney |
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Modes of attendance (MoA)
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Disclaimer
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