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Engineering, Mathematics and Science
157
Physiology
Students who wish to study Physiology apply to the
Science degree (TR071) and may select Physiology
as their specialist area for the 3rd and 4th years.
Junior Freshman (first) year prerequisite: Mathematics
or Mathematical methods. Recommended: Biology 1101
and 1102.
Senior Freshman (second year) prerequisites: Biology
BY2201, BY2202, BY2203 and BY2208.
For details of the first two years of the Science course,
including entry requirements, see page 139.
What is Physiology?
Physiology is the study of how cells work, how they co-operate
in organs like the heart or brain and how these organs function
together in the body as a whole. Because knowing how the
body works is essential for understanding how it goes wrong in
sickness and disease, physiology is the scientific basis of human
and animal medicine.
What will you study?
In the Physiology Department at Trinity College, which is part
of the School of Medicine, we focus on human physiology
and how it is affected by disease, although a comprehensive
understanding of physiology will also involve studying
comparisons in other mammalian species. There is a particular
emphasis on themes which reflect major research interests
in our department, including brain function and responses
to physical exercise. As a student of physiology you will be
provided with a detailed understanding of a range of cell
and organ systems, and will receive training in scientific
methodology, experimental design, data analysis and
research skills.
During the second half of the Senior Sophister (fourth) year you
will undertake an
individual research project
. This project will
be based in Trinity College or in one of its associated hospital
departments and will include a literature survey and production
of a written dissertation. Some typical recent research projects
have looked at the toxic effects of cannabis on brain cells,
gastric motility in patients with pancreatitis, respiratory function
in lung disease, the cellular mechanisms of memory formation,
cardiovascular adaptations in athletes and muscle performance
after different warm-up protocols.
Career opportunities
When you graduate you will be able to use your general
scientific training and specialised knowledge of physiology
to find employment in a wide variety of jobs. You may pursue
further training in physiology and become a research scientist in
a hospital, the pharmaceutical industry, a government agency or
a university. Some graduates undertake further study in health-
related fields such as medicine or physiotherapy.
Further information
www.medicine.tcd.ie/physiology
Tel: +353 1 896 2723