DEPARTMENT OF PHYSIOLOGY

1. History of the department
Physiology, from Ancient Greek physio meaning 'nature, origin', and (-logia), meaning 'study of”, is the scientific study of the functions and mechanisms which work within a living system.
The study of human physiology as a medical field originates in classical Greece, at the time of Hippocrates (late 5th century BC). Jean Fernel (1497–1558), a French physician, introduced the term "physiology”. In the 20th century, biologists became interested in how organisms other than human beings function, eventually spawning the fields of comparative physiology and ecophysiology. In 1920, August Krogh won the Nobel Prize for discovering how, in capillaries, blood flow is regulated.
In 1954, Andrew Huxley and Hugh Huxley, alongside their research team, discovered the sliding filaments in skeletal muscle, known today as the sliding filament theory.
It is in large part because the field has given birth to some of the most active domains of today's biological sciences, such as neuroscience, endocrinology and immunology. Furthermore, physiology is still often seen as an integrative discipline, which can put together into a coherent framework data coming from various different domains. In 2019 we successfully faced the PG assessment and now it is a Post Graduate department, opening the gates for further milestones.

Goal
The broad goal of teaching the undergraduate students in Physiology aims at providing the student, comprehensive knowledge of the normal functions of the organ systems of the body, to facilitate an understanding of the physiological basis of health and disease.

Vision
To be a center of excellence in physiology education & integrate basic physiological concepts with clinical practice to develop competent, ethical & research oriented medical graduates.

Mission
1. To provide high quality education that builds strong foundation in physiology with clinical relevance
2. To promote active and self – directed learning using innovative and evidence based teaching learning methods.
3. To develop critical thinking & research skills among students.
4. To develop competent, ethical and compassionate healthcare professionals.

Objectives
A. Knowledge :
At the end of the course the student will be able to:
1. Explain the normal functioning of all the organ systems and their interactions for well-coordinated total body function;
2. Assess the relative contribution of each organ system to the maintenance of the milieu interior;
3. Elucidate the physiological aspects of normal growth and development;
4. Describe the physiological response and adaptations to environmental stresses;
5. List the physiological principles underlying pathogenesis and treatment of disease
B. Skills
At the end of the course the student shall be able to:
1. conduct experiments designed for study of physiological phenomena;
2. interpret experimental/investigative data;
3. distinguish between normal abnormal data derived as a result of tests, which he/she has performed and observed in the laboratory.
C. Attitude and communication skills:
At the end of the course the student will be able to:
1. show due respect to persons who volunteer to be examined for the purpose of learning clinical examination.
2. Communicate effectively with peers and teachers
3. Demonstrate the ability of teamwork

D. Integration:
At the end of the integrated teaching the student should acquire an integrated knowledge of organ structure and function and the regulatory mechanisms.

5. Details of heads of the department

SL.NO	NAME OF HOD	FROM	TO
1	Dr. RAM DEV	2013	2018
2	Dr. SENDIL KUMARAN D	10/10/2018	2021
3	Dr. TEJASHWINI V.B	01/12/2021	2022
4	Dr. UMADEVI B	20/05/2023	2026

6. Contact Information (Department Mail ID& Extension contact No.)
Mail id – physiologyhod@theoxfordmedical.org
Extension contact no- 080- 61854187 Extension No: 187

7. DEPARTMENT FACULTY LIST Click Here

E – Learning resources
E-learning, Digital Library and Computer Assisted learning for Simulation in Experimental Physiology

Infrastructure
The Department of Physiology being one of the pioneer Departments of The Oxford Medical College, Hospital and Research centre, has the responsibility of imparting medical education to the first year medical students. Physiology seeks to understand biological function spanning the range from molecular mechanisms to medical problems. No other field has such an important task or is as cross- disciplinary in nature.
The department is well equipped with six practical halls, Hematology & Amphibian lab measuring 225 Sqmt, clinical and mammalian are 115 Sqmt and the research lab and yoga lab measuring 90 Sqmt.
The practical halls are provided with all the necessary hi-tech equipments to cater the needs of UG curriculum. HI-tech Equipment’s like polygraph from Adlabs facilitates the research activity like HRV analysis for autonomic function, Nerve conduction studies and evoked potentials and computerized spirometer for PFT.

Academic Activities
The academic programme at the Department of physiology is tuned to encourage maximum participation by medical students. Besides conventional teaching, Emphasis is laid on active learning and problem based learning approach.
The Department will impart education and training to 200 students of 1st professional M.B.B.S, in the form of lectures, Practical classes, integrated learning, self directed learning seminars, small group teaching (SGT), symposium and tutorials.
Emphasis will be laid on small interactive group teaching as it is more beneficial to the students because individual care is possible in such classes.
Faculty in the Department are actively involved in the student mentorship programme.
The Department of physiology has a simulated lab too in which computer assisted learning, which replaces animal experiments for UG students.

Integration
Horizontal integration is planned for UG Students with the pre-clinical departments.
For vertical Integration -Students will Visit the Department of Transfusion Medicine for learning safe blood transfusion procedures and live demonstration, Department of pulmonary Medicine for getting introduced to the latest techniques and sophisticated equipments available for assessment of pulmonary function and the Department of Medicine for getting acquainted with echocardiography and stress ECG., EMG, EEG and Nerve Stimulators etc.6 This is in conformity with the MCI Recommendations of 2005.
Foundation course, Integration, Early clinical exposure, Skills Lab, Electives based on competency based medical education (CBME) will be implemented by 2019 as per MCI.

Laboratory Details

Nomenclature	Amphibian Lab	Mammalian Lab	Hematology Lab	Clinical Physiology Lab	Demo Room	Seminar Room	Research Lab	Any Other Lab
Size (Area) Sq.Mt	206 Sq.Mt	115 Sq.Mt	206 Sq.Mt	115 Sq.Mt	78 Sq.Mt	54 Sq.Mt	66 Sq.Mt	Yoga (64)
Capacity	90 students	90 students	90 students	90 students	80 students	30 members
Water Supply	Available	Available	Available	Available	Available	Available	Available	No
Sinks	Adequate	Adequate	Adequate	Adequate	Adequate	Adequate	Adequate	No
Electric Points	Adequate	Adequate	Adequate	Adequate	Adequate	Adequate	Adequate	3
Cupboards for Storage & Microscopes	Adequate	Adequate	Adequate	Adequate	Adequate	Adequate	Adequate	No
List of Equipment’s	Adequate	Adequate	Adequate	Adequate	Adequate	Adequate	Adequate

10. CME Programmes and Activities
Department Of Physiology Conducted Yoga Work Shop In The Month Of 28th March 2019 by Dhyana school of Yoga.

11. Awards, Achievements and Publications

Name	Category	Details
Dr. TEJASHWINI V.B	Publications	1. A comparative study of change in platelet count in pregnancy and puerperium 2. Changes in blood leucocyte count in different trimesters of pregnancy 3. Correlation between body mass index waist hip ratio, blood sugar and blood pressure in young adults 4. Correlation between hematological profile and body mass index in adults 5. Change in erythrocyte sedimentation rate in pregnancy and puerperium in the same woman 6. Evaluation of risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus in medical students using Indian diabetes risk score
	Authorship	Author of the book “Practical Manual of Histology For Medical Students”, “Doc Tortoise: Diabetes Information Guide” & “Doc Tortoise: Speaking Kannada Made Easy”
DR. SHYMA.P	Publications	1. Decreased total power of HRV with increased LF power in early part of pregnancy predicts development of PIH in Indian population 2. Spectral Analysis of Heart Rate Variability for Early Prediction of Pregnancy-Induced Hypertension 3. Vagal withdrawal and sympathetic over activity contribute to early-onset PIH 4. Association of Albumin–Globulin ratio with sympathovagal imbalance in PIH 5. Mind mapping applied as a pedagogical tool for MBBS students 6. Effect of Angamardhana (Yoga) on autonomic nervous system through HRV 7. Impact of childhood musical experiences on academic performance 8. Students’ Feedback on Foundation Course MBBS 2019 batch 9. Effect of yogic breath regulation in practitioners 10. Need for Mentorship in Medical Schools 11. Effectiveness of blended learning among medical students 12. Role of motivation in learning behavior 13. Sympathovagal balance comparative study 14. Cardiovascular responses among working women and housewives
Dr. NEELKANTH KOTE	Publications	1. Correlation of pupil to limbus diameter ratio with BP and pulse rate 2. Vestibular exercises on depression, anxiety, stress 3. Vestibular exercise impact on sleep and autonomic parameters 4. Psychological parameters in pre-hypertensive women 5. ABO & Rhesus blood types with Type 2 Diabetes 6. Vestibular exercises in gastric ulcer patients 7. Heartfulness meditation effects 8. Mental well-being in medical students 9. PLD ratio association in pre-hypertension 10. Psychomotor speed and quality of life study
Dr. VINITHA K R	Publications	1. Ocular pressure changes in yoga practitioners 2. Ocular pressures and ABO blood groups 3. BMI effects on intraocular pressure 4. Ocular pressure and myopia study 5. Effects of earphone usage on reaction time 6. Yoga on insomnia and quality of life 7. Comparative ocular pressure study
Dr. MANINDER KOUR	Activities / CME	1. Symposium on Integrated Teaching in Physiology (2025) 2. Training on use of fire extinguishers 3. Webinar on intestinal absorption (2025) 4. Webinar on HRD Scheme (MoHFW) 5. CME on Sleep and Solutions 6. Yoga and antenatal depression webinar 7. Workshop on vestibular nerve stimulation 8. Conference on OMICS in Health & Diseases 9. Alzheimer’s Day Webinar