Subject Resources: Biological processes

Listed below are Reusable Learning Objects (RLOs) developed by the School of Nursing, Midwifery & Physiotherapy in the subject area of Biological processes. Click on a title link to view the RLO. To keep up to date on released RLOs, keep checking our news section, or link to our RSS news feed (what's RSS?). Use of these RLOs is governed by our Terms of Use.

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Biological processes RLOs
Title	Description	Detail
Action of drugs that target carriers	This learning resource introduces carriers as a target for drug action and describes how carriers function and how drugs utilise these carriers.
Bacteria and viruses compared	Introduces and compares the structural components associated with bacteria and viruses by allowing users to "build" their own.
Cell Division	To identify the importance of cell division and briefly describe mitosis and meiosis.
Clinical impact of changes in drug clearance	Examines some of the factors which affect total body clearance of a drug and how this, in turn, influences a drug's clinical impact.
Collagen formation	Describes how collagen fibres are assembled in the formation of connective tissue.
Concentration gradients	This RLO describes the concept of concentration gradients in biological systems through analogy with gradients found in everyday life, and outlines passive and active transport across cell membranes.
Different types of Epithelia	Relates the microscopic appearance and structure of epithelia to their function.
Elements that make up the human body	Introducing the periodic table of elements, and identifying the major elements involved in the human body and their roles
Events of the Menstrual Cycle	This RLO describes the timing and main events for each of the phases of the menstrual cycle. It concentrates on the main events occurring in the ovary and uterine wall during these phases
Exploring the synapse	Describe the events during the transmission of an impulse across a synapse
Glomerular Filtration Pressure	The RLO deals with the opposing forces within the glomerulus and the Bowmans capsule which together create the glomerular filtration pressure. The RLO builds on the Starlings Forces RLO by the same author and is intended to form the basis for a future RLO on glomerular filtration rate. This RLO was developed jointly with De Montfort University.
Heart Failure	This RLO deals with the pathophysiology of heart failure, drug treatments, and nursing management.
Homeostasis	Introduction to the principles of homeostasis.
How ligand-gated ion channel receptors communicate messages	This learning object explains how ligand-gated channel receptors signal messages.
Inflammatory response	Describes the inflammatory response - a series of local cellular and vascular responses which are triggered when the body is injured or invaded by micro-organisms or antigen.
Introducing Metabolism	This learning resource looks at anabolic and catabolic metabolism. It describes the metabolic fate of energy substrates within the body and the relationships between subunits, storage and breakdown.
Introduction to drug clearance	Provides a definition of clearance and a basic explanation of the processes
Introduction to Nociception	This learning object helps the learner to describe the main components of the nociceptive pathways.
Kidney Anatomy	Introduction to the external and internal anatomy of the kidney.
Kidney Physiology	Introduction to the physiology of the kidney, examining the processes by which the kidneys filter blood, control body pH and eliminate the waste products of metabolism from the body.
Liver Anatomy	Introduction to the external and internal anatomy of the liver.
Liver Physiology	Introduction to the physiology of the liver, examining its role in filtering blood, metabolism, nutrient extraction and homeostasis.
Meiosis: an interactive demonstration	This is an interactive demonstration of the stages of cell mitosis. You can view the whole process in one continuous animation, or view the invidual stages one by one. This learning object is part of the Cell Division RLO, where it appears as a popup on the Meiosis page. There's also an interactive demonstration of Mitosis available.
Mitosis: an interactive demonstration	This is an interactive demonstration of the stages of cell mitosis. You can view the whole process in one continuous animation, or view the invidual stages one by one. This learning object is part of the Cell Division RLO, where it appears as a popup on the Mitosis page. There's also a demonstration of Meiosis available.
Organisation of Organs	Describes how a hollow organ such as the intestine, and a compact organ such as a salivary gland, are formed from the four basic tissue types.
Osmosis and Diffusion	Explaining the difference between the processes of diffusion and osmosis, and introducing the concepts of concentration gradients and tonicity.
Pain Pathways ULO	This learning object describes the main components of the nociceptive pathways.
Perception of pain	The Perception of pain learning resource is one of a series of objects which have been developed for the Pain pathways project.
Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic influences of aminoglycoside dosing	Examines how the absorbtion and distribution of aminoglycosides within the body affects the dosing regimens used.
Plasma Proteins and Drug Distribution	Examing the role of plasma proteins in the blood in the distribution and elimination of drugs in the body.
Receptor location and the speed of drug action	To explain how cellular receptor location influences the speed of drug action.
Respiratory ventilation: anatomy and mechanics	Presents the purpose of ventilation, the anatomical parts involved, and the muscular activity that enables ventilation to take place at rest.
Safer Urinary Catheter Care	This resource is designed to help healthcare professionals understand the dangers associated with urinary catheters and the correct ways in which to care for them to help prevent infection. The resource uses video clips and interactive elements as well as text.
Starling's Forces	An examination of the roles of hydrostatic and oncotic pressure in movement of fluid and gases across the capillary wall.
The Kidneys and Drug Excretion	The role of the kidneys in the excretion of drugs.
The Liver and drug metabolism	The role of the liver in the metabolism of drugs.
Tissue Fluid Formation	This RLO describes the distribution of fluids within the body and describes the forces involved in the circulation of fluids between the capillary and tissue compartments.
Transduction of pain	The Transduction of pain learning resource is part of a series of objects being developed for the nociceptive pathways project.
Transmission of pain	The Transmission of pain learning resource is part of a series of objects being developed for the nociceptive pathways project.
Volume of distribution	Explains the pharmacological concept of Volume of Distribution, and how it is calculated.