Homeostasis

About the course

The Homeostasis course focuses on elucidating the complex biological communication and feedback between the heart, lungs, and kidneys. It integrates content from cardiology, pulmonology, and nephrology, with a focus on understanding how these organs work together to maintain body homeostasis.

Pedagogy

The course employs a mix of traditional pedagogy such as lectures, supplemented with more interactive methods like team-based learning sessions and workshops. Supplemental content includes EKG modules on TeachingMedicine.com and cardiac anatomy modules through the Stanford Heart virtual reality program.

Learning Objectives

• Explain how the heart and kidneys work together to maintain intravascular volume and blood pressure despite shifts in fluid status, and apply knowledge of pharmacology to select appropriate agents to correct volume status and optimize vascular resistance.
• Identify the variety of risk factors (both modifiable and nonmodifiable) that predispose to the development of atherosclerosis through lipid deposition and inflammation, discuss lifestyle and pharmacologic options to reduce atherosclerosis progression.
• Recognize the most common bradyarrhythmias and tachyarrhythmias, and review the different options of pharmacologic and electrical treatment.
• Discuss how the heart and lungs work together to ensure adequate tissue oxygenation and recognize different causes of hypoxia and how to diagnose and treat appropriately.
• Compare and contrast pulmonary and systemic circulations with respect to pressures, resistance, and response to hypoxia.
• Describe principles of blood oxygen content and explain their disturbances in different shock states, including an understanding of the alveolar gas equation and its role in determining causes of hypoxia.
• Understand the spectrum of disease states in which renal function is compromised, including glomerular, interstitial, and oncologic processes, as well as understanding the challenges in managing patients with compromised renal function.