Human Physiology

By Prof. Sudip Mukherjee | IIT (BHU) Varanasi

Learners enrolled: 233

ABOUT THE COURSE:

Human physiology is the study of the functions and processes of the human body. It focuses on how various systems work together to maintain homeostasis and support life. Cells form tissues, which build organs, and these organs coordinate as systems to perform specialized tasks. Key processes include energy metabolism, oxygen transport, waste elimination, and neural signaling. The body constantly adapts to internal and external changes to maintain optimal function. It is foundational for careers in medicine, biology, and health sciences.

INTENDED AUDIENCE: UG, PG, Ph.D. students from Pharmaceutics, Biotechnology, Biomedical Engineering, Biochemical and Medical can take the course

PREREQUISITES: For UG and PG: 10 Biology is needed. For Ph.D.: 10+2 Biology is needed.

INDUSTRY SUPPORT:

Healthcare and Medical Industry (Hospitals and Clinics, Medical Device Companies) Dr Reddy’s, Sun Pharma, Cipla, Eli Lily, etc.
Biotechnology and Research (Research Institutions)
Pharmaceutical and Drug Development
Fitness and Sports Science (Sports and Fitness Companies, Rehabilitation Centers, Sports Organizations)
Academic and Educational Institution
Government and Regulatory Agencies (CDC, FDA, NIH)
Military and Defense

Summary

Course Status :	Upcoming
Course Type :	Core
Language for course content :	English
Duration :	12 weeks
Category :	Biological Sciences & Bioengineering Bioengineering
Credit Points :	3
Level :	Undergraduate/Postgraduate
Start Date :	21 Jul 2025
End Date :	10 Oct 2025
Enrollment Ends :	28 Jul 2025
Exam Registration Ends :	15 Aug 2025
Exam Date :	02 Nov 2025 IST
NCrF Level	4.5 — 8.0

Note: This exam date is subject to change based on seat availability. You can check final exam date on your hall ticket.

Page Visits

Course layout

Week 1:

Lecture 1: Role of basic Human Physiology
Lecture 2: Human anatomy
Lecture 3: Introduction to cells, functions, various disorders
Lecture 4: Ion and molecular transport-I
Lecture 5: Ion and molecular transport-II

Week 2:

Lecture 1: Homeostasis and Diseases caused due to malfunction of cell organelles
Lecture 2: Hematology introduction, Blood components, function
Lecture 3: Hemostasis
Lecture 4: Anticoagulation and Blood-related Diseases
Lecture 5: Blood-grouping and Transfusion

Week 3:

Lecture 1: Lymph and Lymphatic circulation
Lecture 2: Immune Mechanism of Blood and Lymph
Lecture 3: Anatomy of Heart, Heart diseases, and Electrical activities
Lecture 4: Cardiac and Peripheral circulation
Lecture 5: Blood vessel and Capillary

Week 4:

Lecture 1: Anatomical parts of Lungs and function
Lecture 2: Mechanism of Respiration
Lecture 3: Gas transport and Lung volume capacities
Lecture 4: pulse oximeter, carbon monoxide poisoning, lung diseases
Lecture 5: Structure and functions of endocrine glands

Week 5:

Lecture 1: Type1 and type-2 diabetes, glucose homeostasis
Lecture 2: Artificial pancreas and cell-based therapy
Lecture 3: Blood glucose measurement, insulin therapy
Lecture 4: Thyroid synthesis and function
Lecture 5: Disease of Endocrine gland

Week 6:

Lecture 1: Digestive System: Anatomy and Function
Lecture 2: Digestion of Protein
Lecture 3: Digestion of Carbohydrates
Lecture 4: Digestion of Fat
Lecture 5: Digestive disorders

Week 7:

Lecture 1: Bones
Lecture 2: Joints and other Connective tissues
Lecture 3: Different types of muscle
Lecture 4: Neuromuscular Transmission
Lecture 5: Disease related to Skeletal System

Week 8:

Lecture 1: Kidney and functions
Lecture 2: Glomerulus, its structure and function
Lecture 3: Proximal convoluted tubule and its function
Lecture 4: Loop of Henle and their function
Lecture 5: Renal control of blood pressure, renal diseases and hemodialysis

Week 9:

Lecture 1: Male reproductive organs.
Lecture 2: Spermatogenesis
Lecture 3: Female Reproductive organs
Lecture 4: Ovarian cycle 1
Lecture 5: Ovarian cycle 2

Week 10:

Lecture 1: Menstruation cycle and hormonal regulation
Lecture 2: Fertilization and Pregnancy
Lecture 3: Contraception and IVF
Lecture 4: Male reproductive health and disease
Lecture 5: Female Reproductive health and disease

Week 11:

Lecture 1: Introduction of Nervous system and its types
Lecture 2: Structure and functions of brain
Lecture 3: Structure and functions of spinal Cords, cranial and spinal nerves
Lecture 4: Nerve and Neuron Structure and function
Lecture 5: Neuronal injury and repair

Week 12:

Lecture 1: Neurotransmission – I
Lecture 2: Neurotransmission – II
Lecture 3: Glial Cells and Blood Brain Barrier
Lecture 4: Introduction to Various Sensory organs and their function
Lecture 5: Neurodegenerative and Nervous system diseases

Books and references

1. Textbook of Medical Physiology, Guyton & Hall, W.B. Saunders company.
2. Ganongs Review of Medical Physiology. K E Barrett, S M Barman, S Boitano, H L Brooks, Tata McGraw Hill Education Private Limited.
3. Human Physiology, C C Chatterji
4. Vander’s Human Physiology: The Mechanisms of Body Function. Eric P. Widmaier, Hershel Raff, Kevin T. Strang. McGraw Hill
5. Ross and Wilson Anatomy and Physiology in Health and Illness by Anne Waugh, Elsevier

Instructor bio

Prof. Sudip Mukherjee

IIT (BHU) Varanasi

Prof.Sudip Mukherjee, Ph.D., MRSC, is an Assistant Professor of School of Biomedical Engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology, BHU (IIT BHU). Dr. Mukherjee completed his Ph.D. from CSIR-IICT, Hyderabad in 2017, following which he worked at Rice University, Houston till 2022 as a postdoctoral research associate. His research interests include the development of advanced biomaterials for cell therapy and drug/gene delivery in various rare genetic disorders (Type-1 diabetes, Gaucher's disease, Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Hemophilia, Duchene muscular dystrophy, etc), fibrosis, tissue regeneration, cancer theranostics, and other inflammatory diseases. He has published over 75 research (Nature Biomedical Engineering, Advanced Materials, Science Advances, Theranostics, Chemical Science etc) and review articles and has 22 US/INDIAN patents filed/granted with total citations over 6700 with 'h' index of '41' and 'i' index of '61'. Multiple technologies (LOCOcyte) are licensed and have been part of cell engineering-based therapies that are currently under clinical trials (Phase I/II) for advanced peritoneal cancers. Dr. Mukherjee received several awards including Houston Methodist-Rice University travel grant, Sakura Exchange Visiting grant, KVRAO young scientist award, multiple best poster awards etc. Dr. Mukherjee serves as an Associate Editor for BMC Cancer and Frontiers in Chemistry and a member of Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC), UK; American Chemical Society (ACS), USA and Society for Biomaterials and Artificial Organs, India. From 2020-2024, Dr. Mukherjee has been included in the prestigious list of World's Top 2% scientists jointly published by the Stanford University and Elsevier for five consecutive times.

Course certificate

The course is free to enroll and learn from. But if you want a certificate, you have to register and write the proctored exam conducted by us in person at any of the designated exam centres.

The exam is optional for a fee of Rs 1000/- (Rupees one thousand only).

Date and Time of Exams: November 02, 2025 Morning session 9am to 12 noon; Afternoon Session 2pm to 5pm.

Registration url: Announcements will be made when the registration form is open for registrations.

The online registration form has to be filled and the certification exam fee needs to be paid. More details will be made available when the exam registration form is published. If there are any changes, it will be mentioned then.

Please check the form for more details on the cities where the exams will be held, the conditions you agree to when you fill the form etc.

CRITERIA TO GET A CERTIFICATE

Average assignment score = 25% of average of best 8 assignments out of the total 12 assignments given in the course.
Exam score = 75% of the proctored certification exam score out of 100

Final score = Average assignment score + Exam score

Please note that assignments encompass all types (including quizzes, programming tasks, and essay submissions) available in the specific week.

YOU WILL BE ELIGIBLE FOR A CERTIFICATE ONLY IF AVERAGE ASSIGNMENT SCORE >=10/25 AND EXAM SCORE >= 30/75. If one of the 2 criteria is not met, you will not get the certificate even if the Final score >= 40/100.

Certificate will have your name, photograph and the score in the final exam with the breakup.It will have the logos of NPTEL and IIT Madras .It will be e-verifiable at nptel.ac.in/noc.

Only the e-certificate will be made available. Hard copies will not be dispatched.

Once again, thanks for your interest in our online courses and certification. Happy learning.

- NPTEL team

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