Anatomy and Physiology II Syllabus for 2026-2027
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Instructor Information

Course Information

AI Statement

Collusion is defined as “the unauthorized collaboration with another person or by any other means, including artificial intelligence (AI) and computer translators, in preparing work for fulfillment of course requirements.” Using AI like (ChatGPT or Google Gemini) to create a document is considered colluding. The use of Generative Artificial Intelligence on specific assignments is at the discretion of the instructor.

Title IX and Sexual Misconduct Reporting

Amarillo College prohibits discrimination and harassment based on sex, including sexual harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking, under Title IX and Texas Education Code §51.253–255. Faculty and staff are mandatory reporters and must share any related concerns with the Title IX Coordinator at titleix@actx.edu. Reports and additional information are available at https://www.actx.edu/hr/title-ixtitle-ix. Confidential counseling and advocacy services are available through the Counseling Center and Advocacy & Resource Center.

Recording Policy

Disability Statement

If you have a disability (learning, mental, physical) that affects your ability to participate effectively and have access to any program or service at Amarillo College please contact Disability Services at (806) 345-5639 . Our offices are located in the Enrollment Center, Suite 700. More information may be found at www.actx.edu/disability.
Disability Services facilitates access to all programs and services according to the ADA, Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, as well as other federal and state laws.

Amarillo College Web Accessibility Policy Statement

Amarillo College is committed to providing equal access to all programs and services, including all working, learning, and service environments that affect equal access for persons with disabilities. This commitment to provide equal access and opportunity for persons with disabilities is in compliance with federal and state law. Amarillo College also strives to provide Electronic and Information Resources (EIR) that are accessible to all authorized users.

If you find you are unable to access material in an accessible format please contact the Disability Services Office at (806) 345-5639 . This office will work in conjunction with other campus resources to address and accommodate your issue in a timely manner.

Statement for Mental Health and Advocacy & Resource Center:

As a student you may experience a range of issues that can cause barriers to learning, such as strained relationships, increased anxiety, alcohol/drug problems, feeling down, difficulty concentrating and/or lack of motivation. These mental health concerns or stressful events may lead to diminished academic performance or reduce a student's ability to participate in daily activities. Amarillo College offers services to assist you with addressing these and other concerns you may be experiencing. If you or someone you know are suffering from any of the aforementioned conditions, you can learn more about the broad range of confidential mental health services available on campus by calling the AC Counseling Center at 806-371-5900. The AC Counseling Center website is https://www.actx.edu/counseling/ . Also, if you are in need of social services (affordable housing, utilities, transportation, food, clothing, childcare, medical/dental/vision, legal), please call the AC Advocacy & Resource Center at 806-371-5439. The AC Advocacy & Resource Center website is https://www.actx.edu/arc

Amarillo College Tutoring for Success Policy:

Tutoring for Success applies to any student whose overall performance in the course falls below 75%. The instructor will create the task in the Student Engagement Portal (Watermark) to direct the student to the appropriate tutoring service, which may be faculty- or SI-led, discipline-specific, and/or general. The tutoring service assigned, the due date for when the tutoring must be completed, and the amount of tutoring required are at the discretion of the instructor. Additionally, the task will alert the student’s success team. Students who do not fulfill the assigned tutoring task may be subject to program- and course-specific penalties that could result in a grade reduction and/or in not being allowed to progress in the course until the tutoring requirement has been satisfied.

Administrative Drop Policy

Students who do not attend class on or prior to the census date will be administratively dropped. Effective Fall, 2016

Student Withdrawal Procedures

Students who wish to withdraw from a course must complete all steps indicated on the Academic Withdrawal Request form by the course withdrawal deadline.

NOTE: Students who are attending Texas institutions of higher education, for the first time fall 2007 and later, may not withdraw from more than six courses during their academic career. This withdrawal limitation does not include dual credit or developmental classes (Senate Bill 1231 Rule 4.10.) For more information on Drop and Withdrawal Policies, please visit the Registrar's Office Web site.

Privacy Statement

The Amarillo College Privacy Policy is found at https://www.actx.edu/-amarillo-college-privacy-notice , and applies to all Amarillo College students.  If you have questions about this privacy statement or you believe that your personal information has been released without your consent, send email to humanresources@actx.edu .

Statement on State-Authorized Courses at Amarillo College

For-credit academic and workforce education courses offered at Amarillo College are limited to the course options available in the statewide inventory for two-year public institutions. Courses in the state-authorized lower-division Academic Course Guide Manual and Workforce Education Course Manual have specific descriptions that prescribe course content and may include specific student learning outcomes. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) maintains and regularly updates these manuals. Amarillo College faculty and leaders ensure that these courses are aligned with THECB guidelines and evaluated based on student performance outcomes. Students enrolled in these courses are expected to engage with and learn course content. According to the AC Board of Regents Policy Manual, "faculty members are entitled to academic freedom in the conduct of research and teaching and are tasked with the associated responsibilities" (DGC). Students are entitled to academic freedom in the classroom, as well, and faculty "must not attempt to force on students a personal viewpoint and must at all times allow diversity of opinion" (Amarillo College Academic Affairs Manual).

Course

BIOL-2402-001 Anatomy and Physiology II

Prerequisites

Prerequisite: BIOL 2401

Course Description

Anatomy and Physiology II is the second part of a two-course sequence. It is a study of the structure and function of the human body including the following systems: endocrine, cardiovascular, immune, lymphatic, respiratory, digestive (including nutrition), urinary (including fluid and electrolyte balance) and reproductive (including human development and genetics). Emphasis is on interrelationships among systems and regulation of physiological functions involved in maintaining homeostasis. The lab provides a hands-on learning experience for exploration of human system components and basic physiology.

Student Resources Student Resources Website

Department Expectations

Occupational License Disclaimer

Notice to Students enrolled in an educational program for preparation of issuance of certain occupational licenses:

Students enrolled in an educational program in preparation for obtaining certain occupational licenses are potentially ineligible for such license if the student has been convicted of an offense. For further information, please contact:

Melodie Graves
Justice Involved Advocate
Student Service Center 117
mgraves24@actx.edu
806-371-5995
Make appointment at https://melodiegraves.youcanbook.me

Hours

(4 sem hrs 3 lec 3 lab)

Class Type

On Campus Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

Bundle: Anatomy & Physiology: An Integrative Approach 2025: Loose-leaf Textbook + Loose-Leaf Lab Manual
- ISBN: 9781264615841

Supplies

• Textbook and lab manual

• Writing utensils and a notebook or other note-taking materials

• Safety is an important part of every laboratory experience. Each time we meet in person for lab, you are required to wear: closed-toe shoes and long pants. These requirements apply unless you receive different instructions from your instructor for a specific activity. Students who are not dressed appropriately may be unable to participate in the laboratory activity and may be asked to leave. Please plan ahead so that you can participate fully and safely.

Student Performance

Learning outcomes:

1. Describe each endocrine gland and its hormones including actions, regulation, and disorders.
2. Define the principal physical characteristics of blood and its functions in the body.
3. Identify and describe the structure of the heart and the functions of each part to include the flow of blood through the heart and the body.
4. Describe the principal events of the cardiac cycle and cardiac output.
5. Contrast the structure and function of arteries, arterioles, capillaries, venules, and veins.
6. Identify and describe the functions and components of the lymphatic system.
7. Identify and describe the structure and functions of the organs of the respiratory system, including the events involved in inspiration and expiration.
8. Identify and describe the structure and function of the digestive system and distinguish between the chemical and mechanical phases.
9. Identify and describe the structure and functions of the organs of the urinary system.
10. Describe the process of urine formation, its physical characteristics, and normal chemical components.
11. Identify and describe the structure, histology, and functions of the organs of the reproductive system.
12. Explain and describe the events associate with pregnancy.
13. Identify and describe the basic anatomy and physiology involved in the special senses

Students Rights and Responsibilities

Log in using the AC Connect Portal

In order to receive your AC Connect Email, you must log in through AC Connect at https://acconnect.actx.edu .

If you are an active staff or faculty member according to Human Resources, use "Exchange". All other students, use "AC Connect (Google) Email".

Expected Student Behavior

• Electronic devices: I would ask you to show common courtesy for your fellow students and your instructor and either turn off phones, or place on “silent” mode during class unless there is a cell phone assignment. If you have a pressing need, please excuse yourself quietly and take care of it. No cells phones out in sight or on at all, when exams/quizzes are present in class. Being caught with a phone out during an exam/quiz will result in an automatic ZERO.
• Lecture exam protocol (Warren Hall 112): All tests will be taken in the Science Testing Center during days scheduled by the instructor during normal Science Testing Center hours. Tests will be taken outside of class lecture time. Please note: No test may be started less than one and a half hours before the Science Testing Center closes. You must present an Amarillo College student ID every time you take a test. The Science Testing Center staff will retain your ID while you take your test and will return it to you when you turn in your test. When using the Science Testing Center students will scan in and out with their Amarillo College student I.D.
• In-class quiz & lab practical protocol: All student’s personal belongings (i.e. books, back packs, purses, etc.) should be put away while taking in class exams, quizzes or lab practicals. Desktops should be clear except for the materials needed and authorized for testing. Do not take any exam with notecards in your pockets or on your person. All cell phones are to be turned off and put away in your purse or back pack. Do not write notes or study material, or anything that could be construed as these, on your body. Check for such notations and remove them before the exam time. A violation of any of these policies is considered a breach of the Student Code of Conduct. Students should feel free to ask for clarification about any question during quizzes or the lab practical.
• Cheating: Honesty and ethical behaviors are imperatives in any career. Therefore, cheating will not be tolerated. Amarillo College’s “Student Code of Conduct” will apply to all work in this course. On the first day of class, you will be required to sign and date a Course Contract. Included in the contract is the following statement: "I fully understand that if I cheat, or attempt to cheat, on any test I will receive an automatic ‘F’ in the course. This grade will go on my permanent transcript and cannot be removed.” You will not be allowed to take your tests until this contract is signed and on file in the Science Testing Center. Cheating on a test includes all of the following:
  • Copying from another student’s paper.
  • Using test materials not authorized by the person administering the test.
  • Collaborating with or seeking aid from another student during a test without permission from the test administrator.
  • Knowingly using, buying, selling, stealing, or soliciting, in whole or in part, the contents of an unadministered test.
  • The unauthorized transporting or removal, in whole or in part, of the contents of the unadministered test.
  • Substituting for another student, or permitting another student to substitute for one’s self, to take a test.
  • Bribing another person to obtain an unadministered test or information about an unadministered test.
  • The use of any testing materials that are prohibited.
  • If you have any questions about what constitutes your own work, Please ask!
• Mandatory tutoring (Warren Hall 110): In an effort to increase retention in Biology courses, any student who scores below a 70 on any exam (excluding the Final Exam week) must complete a mandatory 60-minute tutoring session in the Student Tutoring and Success Center (STSC). Before getting mandatory tutoring, students must first schedule a tutoring time with the STSC by either calling (806 345-5536) or visiting (Warren Hall 110). The STSC will do its best to accommodate a student’s schedule within the STSC hours of operation. This may require plenty of advanced notice by the student as time slots fill quickly. Upon arrival in the STSC, students must inform STSC staff that they are there for mandatory tutoring. Mandatory tutoring will not require remediation over a failed test.
• Make-up policy: According to Biology department policy, if you miss a lecture exam you will not be able to make up or retake the exam because you are allowed a dropped grade. I suggest that you use this dropped exam grade wisely. There will be no MAKE UPS on assignments, quizzes, or exams past the posted deadline, so please do not ask. Missed assignments, quizzes or exams will result in a zero for that particular assignment. The final exam cannot be made up and will not be dropped. A missed final exam will result in a zero on that exam. 
• Grievance procedure: If a student is having a problem with the course policies or the instructor, he or she should first try to resolve any such problems with the instructor.  If the problem is not resolved, the student may proceed to the Biology Department Chairperson (Dr. RichardHobbs), the Dean of STEM (Carol Buse), the Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs (Frank Sobey), the Vice-President of Academic Affairs (Dr. Tamara Clunis), and then the College President, (Dr. Lowery-Hart), in that order.
• State law on dropping courses:  Effective with the Fall 2007 semester a new Texas law mandates that students may only drop or withdraw six (6) times in their entire college career. If you transfer to another Texas school, you do not start over; so, if you drop four classes at AC, then you only have two drops left. If you drop before the census date, then that does not count in the six drop status. As I understand the law, if you use you six drops and decided to try to drop a seventh class, you cannot do so.

Grading Criteria

Grading Schema:

• A = 89.5% to 100%

• B = 79.5% to 89%

• C = 69.5% to 79%

• D = 59.5% to 69%

• F = Less than 59.5%

Final course grades are calculated using the following weighted categories:

Attendance

There is much information to be covered during the semester; therefore, the student should be prepared to attend class regularly and keep up with the assignments in order to pass this course successfully. If you stop attending class and do not officially drop the course, you will receive an “F” for the course. A grade of “W” will be given for student-initiated drops or withdrawals on or before April 30, 2024. There will be NO MAKE UPS on assignments, quizzes, or exams past the posted deadline, so please do not ask.

Calendar

Additional Information

Tips for Success:  Anatomy & Physiology I is an intensive course that requires time and commitment. To perform well in this course, you must manage your time appropriately and have a proper study plan, beginning from the first day of class. The following are some tips that will help you succeed:

• Make a study schedule. To pass this course, most students need to study around 12 hours per week. The best overall study strategy is to work consistently, in small doses. “Cramming” for an exam is rarely successful. I suggest that you plan out your study time at the beginning of each week. Begin by marking down the times for each day that you have family or work commitments, as well as other non-negotiable time commitments. Then plan out the specific days, hours, and places that you will study throughout the week. Be sure to pick a study location that is as free from distractions as possible. Be sure to stick to your plan as much as possible and then reward yourself at the end of the week for a job well-done.
• Skim before class and read after class.  It’s helpful to skim through the readings from your textbook and lab manual before coming to class, jotting down questions or areas of confusion. Use the exam reviews as you read and study to help you determine which portions are most important to understand. Then, bring your books to class and mark on the text and the figures as needed. Finally, read after class, using a highlighter to mark the topics that were just covered in class. Be sure to note any topics that still confuse you, because all material covered in class is fair game for quiz and exam questions. This second reading is critical because it will help you to connect class discussions to the textbook assignments.
• Take good notes. During class, we will discuss the most significant concepts from your readings. At times, I will present examples that may not be given in your textbook. You are responsible for all of this information. Good note-taking will help you to remember which concepts were most important and why. Additionally, the act of note-taking is itself a learning exercise that helps you to stay actively engaged in the topic and better remember class discussions.
• Ask questions. Anatomy & Physiology I is a collaborative course. Therefore, if you don’t understand something discussed in class, ask questions in class, ask questions of your peers, form productive study groups, or arrange to meet with me. I welcome your questions, and if you’re struggling, it’s important to get help early. Additionally, by asking questions, you take charge of your own learning.
• Build a foundation of knowledge, but aim high in your thinking (adapted from www.cas.lsu.edu). While studying, keep in mind that you will need to do more than simply learn facts; you will need to think. We will use a learning pyramid posted in the syllabus given in-class as a guide for our thinking this semester:
  • Level 1 = Remember, Understand & Explain: Memorize and understand information. Recognize a correct answer. Restate in your own words.  Explain a step-by-step process (even a complicated one). Identify an anatomical structure.
  • Level 2 = Analyze & Apply: Identify patterns in new information or anatomical structures. Discover similarities and differences, or arrange anatomical structures or physiological processes in a logical order or in categories. Use information to solve new problems; transfer abstract ideas from the textbook to a practical, new situation.
  • Level 3 = Evaluate & Create:  Predict the consequences of abnormal anatomical structures. Deduce the causes of abnormal physiological functions. Evaluate the potential effectiveness or worth of a solution or idea. Take a position on an issue and using evidence to support that position. Combine information from a number of different sources to form a unique product that requires creativity and originality.

Notice how each level of the pyramid builds on the foundation that precedes it. You must learn the lower level knowledge before you can effectively think at higher levels. In general, students who earn lower grades have not gone past the ‘Remember, understand & explain’ level. Students who earn higher grades generally know the course material well enough to perform higher level thinking tasks.

• Study effectively. Any biology course these days will have a lot of information, so making the most of your study time is key. To master the course material at the lowest level you should begin by making your own study aids. For example, make outlines and flash cards of course material as you read and review your notes.  Doing this will help you to not only remember course concepts, but also better understand how they relate to each other. I also suggest that you study the diagrams from your readings, practice writing out and linking concepts by memory, prepare your own tables and diagrams as a study aid, create lists of questions that help you remember the material, and then practice answering those questions by memory. Remember, all quizzes and exams are timed, so it’s important to know the material well before beginning an exam. Additionally, good preparation before an exam can reduce the testing anxiety that many students experience. To practice higher level thinking, complete all worksheets and problems given during class and assigned outside of class. You should do at least one or two of these activities (in addition to your reading) each day.
• Tutoring resources:  24-hour online tutoring is available for all students of this course. Simply, log on to the AC Online homepage and go to Institutional Resources. Then click on the Smart Thinking Online Tutoring icon.  In-person, free, peer tutoring is also available from the Science Enrichment Center, located on the first floor of Warren Hall, Room 110 at Amarillo College’s Washington Street campus. Hours are posted throughout Warren Hall and in the Science Lab Building. You are welcome to drop in at any time.  Please take advantage of these great opportunities. 
• Other resources:  Disability Services (SSC 199, 806.371.5436) will help any student who, because of a disabling condition, may require some special arrangements in order to meet course requirements. Please contact them as soon as possible if you think you might need their services.