Aspects of physiology - Purkinje Cell & Recordings of a Complex Spike (*) and Simple SpikesPhysiology is the study of animal (including human) function and can be investigated at the level of cells, tissues, organ systems and the whole body. The underlying goal is to explain, in chemical, physical and mathematical terms, the fundamental mechanisms that operate in a living organism and how they interact.
Besides satisfying a natural curiosity about how animals in general and we in particular function, the study of physiology is of central importance in medicine and related health sciences, as it underpins advances in our understanding of disease and our ability to treat it more effectively. It is also important from psychological and philosophical viewpoints, in helping us to understand the nervous system, through which subjective experience is gained and behaviour and learning are controlled.
What is Pharmacology? Pharmacology is described by the British Pharmacological Society as the science that underlies "advancing molecules into medicines". It plays a key role in human health and society. Pharmacology is the study of the action of "drugs" in the widest possible sense, encompassing many types of chemicals which affect the functioning of the body, rather than just medicines. Pharmacologists study how drugs work in the body and use this information to tell us more about how the body itself functions. They are also responsible for the discovery of hundreds of chemicals used in the treatment of disease and the relief of human and animal suffering. Pharmacology is closely allied to related disciplines, including biochemistry, chemistry, physiology and medicine. Recent advances in molecular biology and genomics have greatly aided the understanding of how drugs work and will undoubtedly continue to have a major impact on pharmacology and drug discovery.
Teaching facilities
The School of Physiology & Pharmacology has a prestigious record in teaching and research. We scored a maximum of 24/24 in our latest subject review in 2000, which assessed the quality of the teaching and learning experience in university departments throughout the UK. In January 2005 we were successful in receiving funding from HEFCE to create the AIMS Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL) in medical sciences. We have a strong emphasis on practical teaching and our practical teaching laboratories have been recently refurbished and are exceptionally well stocked with equipment. We just introduced (2010) eBioLabs which is a set of integrated tools that help students prepare for laboratory classes and help staff track student achievement. It is an on-line system and so accessible from any computer with an internet connection.online. Adjacent to our laboratories and used in our teaching are the Human Simulation suites of the AIMS centre. Our histology laboratory is the centre for the AIMS 'Virtual Microscope'. The School of Physiology and Pharmacology therefore provides a world class facility for the teaching of our undergraduates. A popular option after studying Physiology is to apply for a fast-track 4 year medical course. A number of our graduates have chosen to do this on completion of their degree.
The Human Patient Simulator: for more information on STAN please visit the Human Patient Simulator pages
Images representing research in cardiovascular & respiratory physiology, pharmacology, cell biology & cell signalling, and neuroscience- our three main research themesMost of our members of staff and their achievements are internationally recognised. The School currently has research grants totalling around £4.2 million. There are 50 members of academic staff and research fellows as well as a large number of research workers and support staff. This active research environment ensures that students have the opportunity to get first hand experience of research in the forefront of Physiology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience.
Some of the buildings of the University of BristolThe University of Bristol occupies a central position in the historic heart of Bristol. The university is located in the centre of Bristol on the edges of Clifton, Cotham and Redland- three of the most pleasant areas of Bristol in which to live and work. We are fortunate that the university precinct combines a range of historic and modern buildings with state-of the art facilities for teaching, sports and research.
At the heart of the precinct there is a new sports centre. Based in the nearby students union building there are around 100 clubs and societies for just about every activity you can imagine.
The university is in the heart of the major attractions of Bristol and close to a wide range of shops, restaurants and bars, and other activities. Bristol has a proud history in the arts, including the oldest continuously working theatre in England (the Bristol Old Vic), concert halls and sport, each week hosting events and matches including football, rugby union and cricket. The university itself has a very active sports scene.
Aspects of the city of BristolBristol is a thriving city with a proud maritime heritage and a long history, underpinned by centuries of commercial success. It is an exceptionally cosmopolitan place to live and is very attractive to visitors and students. It is a relatively small city and is close to some of the most beautiful countryside in south west England as well as the world heritage city of Bath. However, there are also excellent communications with other parts of the United Kingdom, with its own international airport and excellent road and rail links. The attractions of London and its major airports are only approximately two hours away by road or train.
Read some views from home students
