Unit 3: Anatomy and Physiology for Health and Social Care
Level: 3
Unit type:
External
Guided learning hours: 120
Unit in brief
Learners cover the structure, organisation and function of the human body, and anatomical and physiological systems and medical research related to disorders affecting these systems.
Unit introduction
A clear understanding of anatomy and physiology is essential for most health care professions and this unit lays the groundwork for your studies in careers such as nursing, midwifery or the allied health professions. Equally, if you are looking to enter the workforce, knowledge of anatomy and physiology is beneficial to those working in supportive roles in the health and social care sector.
This unit focuses on the anatomy and physiology of the human body. You will learn the core knowledge of cellular structure and function and the organisation of the body as a whole. You will then build on this to develop a more detailed knowledge of the fine anatomy and physiology of the skeletal and muscular systems and those systems involved in energy metabolism. You will examine energy and the cardiovascular, respiratory and digestive systems and the functioning of body systems associated with energy metabolism. You will consider some common disorders and how homeostatic mechanisms operate in the maintenance of an internal environment. You will investigate the processes relating to natural conception and prenatal development from the point of fertilisation through to birth. You will examine factors that affect prenatal development, including genetic and chromosome disorders.
This unit is externally assessed, as it covers the structure, organisation and function of the human body, and anatomical and physiological systems. This content will serve as an introduction to most health care professions and so will sit at the heart of the qualification.
Summary of assessment
The unit will be assessed through one examination of 90 marks lasting 1 hour and 30 minutes.
Learners will be assessed through a number of short- and long-answer questions and multiple-choice questions. The questions will assess understanding of the structure of human anatomy and the function of different body systems.
