Physiology Corner With Professor Howard

In this episode I give you a general overview of the nervous system, including its structural and functional divisions, and we discuss various topics like fighter flight responses how the brain is a wet computer (don't @ me on that) and a bunch of other fun thing. There's also a short motivational speech about how if you think you are dumb you probably aren't and how intelligence is teachable. Enjoy!

In this episode I explain why calcium in our blood plasma is such an important ion what kinds of things it does when we have adequate plasma calcium and what tends to happen when our plasma calcium is disregulated. I also discuss how calcium levels in the plasma are managed by the endocrine system and the cells that build and dissolve bone in our skeletal system.

In this episode I discuss the way cells and their membranes set up electrochemical gradients and how those gradients can be used to do work and depolarize the cell according to the laws and principles of thermodynamics. This describes the electrical activity of both neurons and skeletal muscle cells.

In this episode I describe the various kinds of joints and joints classifications, and discuss joint accessories and diseases affecting joints. This episode corresponds to chapter 9 in the martini textbook we use for Biol&241

In this episode suggested by a former student of mine, we discuss the role of the renin angiotensin aldosterone system in heart failure, which heart failure drugs target the RAAS, and basics of how some of them work. Digressions include why you should ask questions and how to submit topics you'd like me to cover on the podcast.

I talk through the coronary circulation and how coronary artery disease affects that and EKG traces in the event of myocardial infarction. Then, we pivot to factors affecting circulation and venous return, and finish with a bit of comparative physiology and a giraffe fact.

In this episode I describe the weird history of Blood Transfusion, talk about whole blood and its components, and discuss how to make sense of antigens, antibodies and transfusion reactions.

In this episode I describe how human sex determination works during embryonic development and give a detailed audio tour of the typical internal and external anatomy of xy individuals

In this episode we discuss xx reproductive anatomy, the gross anatomy and micro anatomy of various pelvic reproductive structures, and explain the timing and events of development and reproduction

I explain some things about enzymes and how they work

I tell you a story about how EXACTLY you accomplish the small task of pointing your finger. All the way from formation of the motor program in the frontal cortex through excitation of the sarcolemma of the skeletal muscle

In this episode I describe the etiology of the diseases that we call diabetes and I remind you of a bunch of stuff you probably forgot from biology 100

In this episode we review the central dogma of molecular biology, and discuss how that relates to the immune system, vaccines and viral biology. We then discuss the exciting new mRNA vaccines available to fight COVID19

In this episode I share some research about learning and metacognition and how to use those ideas to maximize your learning and get the results you want in A&P

I describe the nodal system of the heart, it's specific potentials, and other fun ❤️ things.

I tell you the story of how your heart was formed and how it changed at birth, followed by details of the linings, chambers, valves and other features of the heart.

We discuss endocrine axes and regulation and also talk about Marty Feldman, Rene Descartes, grave robbing, and old school autopsies... Among other things

We discuss the basics of the endocrine system while I make noodles from scratch. That's what the slapping sound in the background is.