HUMAN BIOLOGY IB (BIOENERGETICS) BSC201

Distance Learning Course - Bioenergetics

" ...it is very informative and worthwhile. I am glad I started the course. Of the many available from different schools, this offers the best value for money. "
- Sonia, studying Human Biology

• learn more about biochemistry
• learn about energy flow through the body
• gained knowledge can be used in biological research
• essential knowledge for the fitness trainer

"Develops an understanding of energy and environmental considerations within the human body."

• Anaerobic energy supply
• Phosphate energy
• Lactic acid energy
• Adenosine triphosphate
• Aerobic energy supply
• Energy requirements fordifferent types of activity
• Breathing during exercise
• ATP movement
• ATP sources
• ATP-PC system
• Lactic acid system
• Oxygen system
• Aerobic systems
• Krebs cycle

2. Energy Pathways

• What is energy
• The nature of energy
• Units of measurement
• Production and storage of energy
• Carbohydrates in an animal or human body
• Gycogenesis
• Glycogenolysis
• Gluconeogenesis
• Hyperglycaemia
• Carbohydrate oxidation
• Glycolysis
• Hydrolysis
• Hydrolysis of metal salts
• Hydrolysis of an ester link
• Energy production pathways from different foods: fats, carbohydrates, proteins
• Respiratory quotient
• Resting quotientAerobic capacity
• What happens during exercise
• Recovery from exercise: Alactacid and lantacid oxygen debt, Replenishing muscular glycogen
• Lactic acid
• Calculations

3. The Acid-Base Balance

• pH
• What is acidity
• The urinary system: Kidneys, ureters, bladder
• Physiology of the Urinary system
• The urea cycle

• Diffusion explained and examples given
• Nature and types of diffusion
• Movement of molecules through cell membranes
• Endocytosis
• Membranes and their structure
• Osmosis
• Osmosis and filtration
• Membrane transport: simple passive, active and facilitated transport
• Chemical potential
• Osmotic pressure
• Reverse osmosis

5. Atmospheric Pressure

• Altitudes
• Introduction to atmospheric pressure
• Partial pressure gradients
• Effects of change in pressure
• Equalising when diving
• Gas solubility
• Breathing at different atmospheric pressures
• Calculations

6. Temperature Regulation

• Introduction
• Affect of temperature changes on the human body
• Conduction and convection
• Lowering temperature: sweating, vasodilation, metabolic reduction, hair, behaviour
• Raising temperature
• Vasoconstriction
• Increased metabolism
• Behaviour
• Effect of temperature on enzymes
• Ecrine glands
• Apocrine glands
• Energy production
• Factors affecting individual BMR: growth, body size, food, thyroid gland
• Fever: mechanism of fever, shivering, other temperature disorders
• Grades of fever
• Signs of fever

7. Ergogenic Aids to Performance

• Introduction
• Drugs: steroids, amphetamines
• Oxygen   
• Vitamins
• Water   
• Other foods: carbohydrates, protein
• Creatine
• Caffeine
• Antioxidants

Each lesson culminates in an assignment which is submitted to the school, marked by the school's tutors and returned to you with any relevant suggestions, comments, and if necessary, extra reading.

SUMMARY OF COMPETENCIES DEVELOPED
On successful completion of the course you should be able to do the following:

• Explain how energy is used in the human body to create work and power.
• Explain energy pathways during resting, work and recovery.
• Explain the significance of the acid-base balance in the body.
• Explain movement of materials in and out of living cells.
• Explain the affect of changing atmospheric pressure on the body.
• Explain temperature regulation in the body.
• Explain ergogenic aids to body performance during activity/exercise.

AIMS FOR LEARNING
Here are just some of the things you may be doing:

• Explain biological energy cycles, using illustrations where appropriate.
• Explain two examples of energy pathways in the body, including an anaerobic and an aerobic pathway.
• Explain the function of ATP in body energy pathways.
• Explain the significance of the following terms to understanding body energy pathways:
  • energy
  • work
  • power
  • efficiency during exercise
• Explain the consumption of oxygen during different stages of activity, including:
  • at rest
  • warming up
  • peak activity
  • cooling down
• Calculate the net cost of exercise in litres per minute, for a set situation.
• Explain the measurement of efficiency during the exercise carried out in a set task.
• Explain problems which may occur in physiological processes during running a marathon.
• Explain in one paragraph for each, the following acid-base terms with relevance to exercise:
  • Buffer
  • Alkali reserve
  • Alkalosis
  • Acidosis
• Describe respiratory regulation of pH in the human body.
• Describe how regulation of pH occurs in the kidneys.
• Explain the affect of strenuous exercise on body pH.
• Explain osmosis in a specific biological situation (of your choice).
• Distinguish between diffusion and facilitated diffusion in the human body.
• Explain how electrochemical forces maintain cellular equilibrium.
• Explain how active transport mechanisms occur at a cellular level.
• Describe three situations where pressure changes can affect body function, including:
  • scuba diving
  • mountain climbing
• Explain the effects of pressure changes on different parts of the body, including examples of changes due to altitude and scuba diving.
• Explain the effect of a decompression treatment on a diver suffering from nitrogen narcosis.
• List mechanisms of heat loss in the human body.
• List mechanisms of heat gain in the human body.
• Explain the operation of thermal receptors and effectors in the human body.
• Describe the exercise session which you underwent in your set task, and explain the maintenance of body temperature during that exercise session.
• Explain how temperature regulation may be different during peak exercise, to what it may be during exercise at 60-70% effort.
• Explain the affects of steroids on the body, in relation to both performance, and other health factors, during two different types of activity.
• Explain the affect of amphetamines, and other performance enhancing drugs on the body, during an activity of your choice.
• Compare the advantages and disadvantages of amino acid use to enhance physical activity.
• Explain the use of blood doping to enhance physical performance in a specific activity.
• Explain ways oxygen can be used to enhance performance in a specific activity.
• Explain the effect of different vitamins on three different types of performance.

Explain the affect of aspartic acid salts on a specific performance.

This is an individual module course. The individual module courses are 100 hour long usually and can be taken on their own or as part of a larger program of study.

If you wish to take an individual module course as a stand alone course, you can elect to sit an optional exam at the end of it.

If you successfully pass the exam and all assignments, you will receive a Statement of Attainment. You can take examinations at a time and location to suit you. If you enrol, you will be sent further information on how to arrange examinations at the end of the course.

If you do not wish to take the exam, you will receive a Course Completion letter when you have passed all assignments.

There is an assignment at the end of each lesson. So for example, if an individual module course contains ten lessons, you will need to complete ten assignments. Assignments can be sent to us via email, post or fax.

Other qualifications, such as certificates, diplomas etc may require examinations to be taken as part of the overall assessment process.

You can find further information on the examinations process by clicking on the “Enrolment” link above.

You can find further information on other courses by clicking on the “Courses” link above.

More Information on ACS Distance Education and our courses

Who are our tutors?

Our tutors are all highly experienced and professional, knowledgeable in their field of study. We have staff from around the world, enabling us to gain a wide variety of perspectives. We have a school in the UK and in Australia. If you would like to have a look at our tutors, then click on the “The School” in the boxes above and choose “The Staff” option.

Sample Course Notes

Our courses are all written by highly qualified tutors and writers, who also teach on the courses, so know them well. We strive to update our courses and improve them with new information, methods and knowledge on an ongoing basis. If you would like to see examples of some of our courses, then choose the “Enrolment” option above, and then click on “Sample Course Notes”.

What learning method should I choose?

We offer three learning methods – e-learning, correspondence and online. If you are not sure which is the right choose for you, then click on the “Enrolment” box above, then “Learning Methods.”

How Long will it take to complete the course?

This obviously varies from student to student. Some students will have more time for study than others. Some students may work quicker than others, so it is an individual thing. We estimate that most students will take, for example, 4 – 6 months to complete a 100 hour individual module, but we allow up to 12 months for you to complete it.

Longer courses will obviously take longer. You can find more information on the length of time required and so on the “Enrolment” box, then selecting “Terms and Conditions of Enrolment.”

What Do Our Students think of us?

If you would like to read comments from our previous students, then choose the “Enrolment” option above, then “Student Testimonials”.

I don’t think this is the right course for me.

If you’re not sure about this course, then why not look at our wide range of other courses. Click on the “Courses” box above.

You may also wish to design your own course to fit in with exactly what YOU want. To do so, click on the “Enrolment” box, then “Design your Own Course”.

If you would like more advice on a course, then you can contact us and ask a tutor about the courses. You can contact us by calling 0800 328 4723 or +44(0) 384 442752 or emailing info@acsedu.co.uk

Recognition and Accreditation

For more information on our recognition and accreditation, click on “The School”, then “Recognition”.

Who is ACS Distance Education?

If you want to know more about ACS and our history, then please click on “The School”, then “About us.”

Bionergetics Home Study Course - Online and Correspondence Courses

Study Human Biology by Distance Learning

• learn about the internal environment of the human body
• have considerations into energy use within the human body
• essential knowledge for health science students
• study biochemistry in context
• essential for the fitness trainer, health science and health care professionals, nutritionists 

Prerequisites: A basic understanding of body systems (i.e. Human Biology IA).