Institute of Medical Physics

School of Physics

PHYS 5002 Anatomy and Biology Essentials for

Physicists
Unit Description

This unit, normally undertaken as part of the Masters of Medical Physics degree or
the Graduate Diploma in Medical Physics, introduces the concepts and nomenclature
of the structure of the human cell, tissues, anatomical structure and physiology. The
organisation and function of major organ systems that constitute the human body are
covered. Examples of pathology of diseases commonly encountered in the practice
of medical physics, such as cancer, will be included. Basic principles of cell and
molecular biology and molecular imaging will also be introduced. The course has
been designed specifically for physics students with no prior knowledge of the field.

Teaching and Learning Strategy

The unit is a 6 credit point unit and will be taught with a nominal contact of 3 hours
per week over 13 weeks throughout Semester 1.

Lectures and Labs

Thursdays 14.00-17.00 hrs and at other times as required. For updates, please
check your Unikey email account and consult the University’s online eLearning
website, which can be accessed from MyUni.

Venues

Lecture Theatre 4 (LT4), School of Physics – 10, 17, 22 March.

Muscle Research Unit (MRU), Stuart Anderson Building (F13) – 24 March – 2 June.

Lecturers

Dr Damian Holsinger (damian.holsinger@sydney.edu.au)

3 weeks: 10, 17, 22 March

Prof. Cris dos Remedios (crisdos@anatomy.usyd.edu.au)

10 weeks: 24 March – 2 June

Unit of Study Coordinator

A/Prof. Zdenka Kuncic zdenka.kuncic@sydney.edu.au

 PHYS5002 Anatomy and Biology Essentials for Physicists

Student Support Office

Ground Floor, School of Physics physics.studentservices@sydney.edu.au

Assessment

Assignment (Cell Biology) 5%

Mid semester exam (Anatomy & Physiology only) 25 %
End of semester examination 70 %

Note: The final mark for this unit is calculated by adding all the individual assessment
marks with the appropriate weightings to form a total mark which may then be scaled
to match University guidelines. This final scaling is not normally significant, but it
does mean that the final mark is not necessarily a direct sum of all individual marks.

Academic Dishonesty/Plagiarism

We will NOT accept assessments that are simply copied. Copying the work of
another person without acknowledgment is plagiarism and contrary to University
policies on Academic Dishonesty and Plagiarism:
http://sydney.edu.au/ab/policies/Academic_Honesty_Cwk.pdf

Special Consideration

If your studies are affected by illness, accident or circumstances beyond your control,
you should immediately:
1. notify the Unit of Study Coordinator, A/Prof Kuncic, and the relevant lecturer or
lab supervisor;
2. obtain a special consideration application form from the School of Physics
Student Services Office
If, for example, you miss an assignment, an application for appropriate Consideration
is required to allow late submission. Sometimes catching up may be impossible, in
which case we will consider a pro-rata adjustment of your marks on the basis of an
application for Consideration.

Application for special consideration must be submitted within 7 days after the period
for which consideration is sought. This is especially important if you miss an exam.

It is important to realise that the policies on Special Consideration apply throughout

the University. Further details on University policy regarding Considerations can be
found in policy documents entitled Assessment and Examination at the University
Policy web site: http://sydney.edu.au/policy/

Providing us with feedback

We welcome comments on all aspects of this unit. You should feel free to contact
your lecturers, lab supervisors or the Unit Coordinator A/Prof. Zdenka Kuncic, at any
time. There is also a formal opportunity for feedback at the Staff-Student Liaison
meeting, held towards the end of semester with staff and student representatives
from the various units of study, including this one.

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 PHYS5002 Anatomy and Biology Essentials for Physicists

Textbooks and Web Resources

The following recommended texts have been placed on closed reserve in the
SciTech library:

• Essential Clinical Anatomy, by Moor and Agur. 2011 (4th ed.), or earlier.
• Molecular Biology of the Cell, by Anders et al. 2008 (5th ed.), or earlier.

Sydney eLearning:
All course material and additional useful resources will be posted to the University’s
eLearning website, which requires a Unikey username and password that is issued
with your confirmation of enrolment.
• http://elearning.sydney.edu.au

Syllabus

Weeks 2-4 (10, 17, 22 March) Weeks 4-13 (24 March – 2 June)

• The Cell • General structure and organisation of the

o Membrane body
o Cytoplasm • Anatomical position and nomenclature
o Cytoskeleton o Surface Anatomy
o Lysosomes • Human development
o Mitochondria o Cellular structure, function and growth
o The nucleus o Tissue differentiation
o DNA and genes • Pregnancy, growth and ageing
• Protein synthesis • Locomotor system
o DNA transcription o Skeleton, Head, Trunk
o RNA polymerase o Limbs, Joints
o Transcriptional regulators o Muscles
o Spliceosome • Cardiovascular system
o Translation o Haematopoesis
o Protein folding o Blood, Blood flow
o Mutations o Respiration
• Molecular imaging • Body fluids
o Transcription factor regulation o Renal, Urinary
o Oxidative stress o Gastro intestinal
o P53 signalling pathway o Reproductive
o TCR signalling o Endocrine
o Molecular probes • Neurological system
o FDG o Pathways
o Imaging systems o Nerve conduction
o Neurology o Bio-signals
o Cardiology • Physiological Modelling
o Imaging agents o Compartmental analysis
o Rate constants, Transit times
o Flow through single and multiple channels

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 PHYS5002 Anatomy and Biology Essentials for Physicists

Week-by-Week Schedule 2011

The following timetable is indicative only and may be subject to change. Updated
timetables will be posted on the eLearning website for this unit and may also be
emailed to your Sydney Unikey account.

Note: In 2011, there is no lecture in Wk 1 due to lecturer unavailability. An additional

lecture has been scheduled in Wk 4 on Tuesday morning (i.e. swapped with
PHYS5012).

All sessions are on Thursdays, 1400-1700, unless otherwise indicated.

Week 1 3 March No lecture

Week 2 10 March MolCelBiol – DH (LT4)
Week 3 17 March MolCelBiol – DH (LT4)
Week 4 22 March MolCelBiol – DH (LT4)
Note: 2 sessions 24 March AnatPhys – CdR (MRU)
Week 5 31 March AnatPhys – CdR (MRU)
Week 6 7 April AnatPhys – CdR (MRU)
Week 7 14 April AnatPhys – CdR (MRU)
Week 8 21 April AnatPhys – CdR (MRU)
MID-SEMESTER BREAK 22-29 April No teaching
Week 9 5 May AnatPhys – CdR (MRU)
Week 10 12 May AnatPhys – CdR (MRU)
Week 11 19 May AnatPhys – CdR (MRU)
Week 12 26 May AnatPhys – CdR (MRU)
Week 13 2 June AnatPhys – CdR (MRU)
STUDY WEEK 6-10 June
EXAMS 13-24 June

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