VCM 513: Science of Health Homeostasis

In this course, students will be introduced to the concept that life is difficult - that individual animals and populations are continually exposed to internal and external hardships and to specific health challenges. In order to live healthy and productive lives, animals must resist and/or adapt to a wide range of health ordeals and difficulties.  This ability or capacity of an individual to adapt to change and challenge is termed homeostasis, and is a key concept in the design and implementation of health management strategies.

Preview the syllabus here.

Course Goal

During this course, students will be introduced to the foundational concepts of pathology and pathophysiology and will discover how disruptions of organ system structure or function impact animal  health.  An understanding of these principles is foundational for developing skills in diagnostics and therapeutics and in animal health management and disease control strategies.  Course participants will be challenged to consider the role of homeostasis in animal health and to review factors that challenge and overcome health resilience in individuals and populations.  Students will also study the mechanisms of disease pathogenesis at the system, organ, cellular, and molecular level and in practical contexts by applying the concepts to real-life cases that relate pathophysiological mechanisms to health failure.

What You'll Learn

• Use a systems-based approach to describe host homeostatic responses to specific health challenges
• Compare and contrast the associations between normal physiology and pathophysiology in altered health states.
• Understand the pathophysiological basis for disease manifestation and progress in the body, and in primary and secondary organ systems.
• Characterize the basic concepts of homeostasis and pathophysiology at the cellular and molecular level related to fluid/electrolyte, respiratory, nutrient, mucosal, and reproductive health, and for behavior and movement.

Price

$2,178