Unit of Study VBIO1002 Anatomy and Physiology 2 (2027)

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Unit Snapshot

Unit type

UG Coursework Unit
Credit points

12
Faculty & College

Faculty of Science and Engineering
Placement

No

Pre-requisites

ANIM1002 - Animal Production, Husbandry and Handling AND VBIO1001 - Anatomy and Physiology 1

Enrolment information

1. To pass the unit, students must submit all assessment tasks 2. Attendance: It is important to recognise the relationship between attendance, participation, student success and retention. Please take advantage of all classes and engagement activities as it will increase your opportunity for learning, progression in the course, and success as a veterinarian. For units with practicals and other learning activities that directly relate to developing AVBC day one competencies that are required for veterinary accreditation, attendance is required. These will be identified within each unit and attendance requirements clearly communicated to students.

Unit description

This unit provides veterinary students with a foundational understanding of digestive, hepatic, and renal anatomy, physiology, and metabolism across key species, including ruminants, monogastrics, hindgut fermenters, and obligate carnivores. Through self-learning, tutorials, and practical sessions, students will explore the structure and function of the gastrointestinal tract, liver, and urinary system, examining their roles in digestion, nutrient absorption, detoxification, and waste elimination. Students will engage in comparative dissections, microscopy, and laboratory investigations to analyse species-specific adaptations in digestion, metabolism, hepatic function, and renal physiology. By the end of this unit, students will be able to describe and compare digestive, hepatic, and renal anatomy and physiology across species, apply their knowledge to veterinary practice, and critically assess how animals should be fed and managed to respect their gastro-intestinal, hepatic and renal anatomy and physiological needs.

Unit content

Foundations of digestion
Fermentative digestive systems - ruminant and hindgut fermenters
Monogastric digestive system
Structure and function of the hepatic system
Renal system - anatomy and histology
Renal physiology

Availabilities

Location	Domestic	International
Lismore	Term4	N/A

Learning outcomes

Unit Learning Outcomes express learning achievement in terms of what a student should know, understand and be able to do on completion of a unit. These outcomes are aligned with the graduate attributes. The unit learning outcomes and graduate attributes are also the basis of evaluating prior learning.

On completion of this unit, students should be able to:

explain the organisation and histological features of the digestive, hepatic, and renal systems, and interpret their physiological function across a range of animal species

compare the anatomical and physiological features of the digestive, hepatic, and renal systems across selected animal species and interpret how structural differences reflect functional adaptations to different dietary and metabolic demands

evaluate the interactions between the digestive, hepatic, and renal systems in the context of maintaining homeostasis and supporting normal health in animals

apply knowledge of the digestive, hepatic, and renal systems to interpret normal structure and function using clinically relevant resources such as diagnostic imaging, anatomical specimens, and laboratory investigations.

Teaching and assessment

Teaching method

Tutorial 3 hours (Weekly)

Practical 3 hours (Weekly)

Assessment
Practical	40%
Practical	60%

Prescribed learning resources

Prescribed Texts

Prescribed text information is not currently available.

Prescribed Resources/Equipment

Prescribed resources/equipment information is not currently available.

Prescribed Learning Resources may change in future Teaching Periods.

Fee information

Domestic

Commonwealth Supported courses
For information regarding Student Contribution Amounts please visit the Student Contribution Amounts.

Fee paying courses
For postgraduate or undergraduate full-fee paying courses please check Domestic Postgraduate Fees OR Domestic Undergraduate Fees.

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