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Hospital

Departments

Physiology

Physiology is the branch of medicine that aims to understand the mechanism of function of human body, from the basis of cell function at the ionic and molecular level to the integrated behaviour of the whole body. Our first year MBBS students are guided by a team of dedicated faculty members with excellent teaching resources. We impart quality education to our students in the field of physiology as we believe in the need of a strong foundation in basic science in shaping up our future doctors. We motivate students to take up research projects to inculcate the habit of reviewing literature among them. We promote Faculty development through knowledge updates by attending CME’s, Conferences and training in Medical Education Technologies. The department has well-equipped Haematology lab, Amphibian lab, Clinical skills lab and Research lab for undergraduate students.

I. Teaching Learning Activities

The Department of Physiology at SMMCH&RI, as per the NMC guidelines follow a competency based medical education (CBME) so as to enable every single student to equally experience and benefit the most out of different teaching-learning activities as mentioned below.

Lecture Classes:

Scheduled hours of lecture are being delivered to the students in the lecture hall as per the integrated CBME time table

Practical Classes:

Weekly two hours of practical instruction, demonstration and small group training are being done in batches of 37/38 in demonstration hall 1 and practical labs- Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday & Friday 2.00PM – 4.00PM.

Tutorial Sessions:

Weekly two hours of tutorial instruction and small group discussion are being done in batches of 37/38 in demonstration hall 2 Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday & Friday 2.00 PM – 4.00 PM.

Self Directed Learning:

Weekly two hours on Saturday (11.00 am – 1.00 pm) students are assigned topics and mentored to refer to library and literature and document findings and submit the next day.

Early Clinical Exposure:

ECE is being conducted in the lecture hall for 3 hours where in students are exposed to various clinical case scenarios, followed by small group discussions with mentors and then recording of their reflections. Hospital visits are also undertaken in small batches and discussion of clinical signs and symptoms and demonstration of appropriate skills by clinical side faculty are done for better understanding of the basic science with relevance to the clinical case by the students and also to promote empathy, attitude, ethics and communication skills among them.

Assignments:

Weekly assignment topics are given and students are encouraged to complete it in weekends and submit on Monday.

II. Assessment Activities

Classroom Assessment:

Periodic assessments after each lecture session is conducted in an objective type and results and feedback reported to each student by their mentors.

INTERNAL ASSESSMENT THEORY EXAMS:

Monthly 2nd Monday, IA exam is being conducted in the lecture hall for 3 hours consisting of 20 MCQs, 1 Long essay, 2 Reasoning out Questions and 10 short notes and papers evaluated and marks displayed.

Internal Assessment Viva Exams:

Viva is being conducted for 20 marks from Monday to Thursday during tutorial hour in the following week of the IA exam.

Internal Assessment Practical Exams:

Practical exam is being conducted twice during Hematology experiments and twice during Clinical Physiology experiments from Tuesday to Friday during practical hour.

Feedback Sessions:

Regular feedback sessions are held with individual students after each theory, practical and viva exam and the performance is appraised and the students problems are addressed.

Model Exam:

Full portion theory exam and practical examination are being scheduled after completion of all portions as per the university exam pattern to sensitize students.

Medal Exam:

Prize exam is being conducted every year in the month of June/July and papers evaluated by external subject experts and the best student is being awarded a gold medal, certificate.

Record Note Books:

Practical observation record, Students academic record and Students assessment records are being evaluated regularly and marks alloted

Other Learning Activities

Regular student learning activities like Roleplays, Seminars, Symposia, Quiz, Project works are being organized to enhance every student’s learning activity.

Publication of the Department

S.No Name of the Faculty Publications
1. Dr. Suzanne Maria D' cruz

1. D' cruz SM, Sadhasivam M, Rajaratnam N, Anandarajan B.
Perceptions of medical students inIndia about the use of role-play as a teaching- learning method in Physiology.
InternationalJournal of Biomedical and Advance Research, 2013; 04 (04): 227-232.

2. Sadhasivam M, D' cruz SM, Anandarajan B.
Introduction of Pre-Test and Post-Test enhances attentiveness to Physiology lectures – Students’ perceptions in an Indian medical college International Journal of Biomedical and Advance Research 2013;4(5):341-344

3. D' cruz SM, Rajaratnam N, Chandrasekhar M.
Learning styles of first year medical students studying Physiology in Tamil Nadu.
International Journal of Medical Research and Health Sciences 2013;2(3):321-327.

4. D' cruz SM, Rajaratnam N, Pravin 4.Kumar M. The effect of aging on verbal fluency of South Indians. IOSR
Journal of Dental and Medical Sciences 2013;6(3):40-42

5. D' cruz SM, Rajaratnam N.
The effect of Aging on cognitive function in a South Indian population. International Journal of Scientific and Research Publication 2013;3(5):1-5.

6. Jagannathan S, D' cruz SM, Selvakumar V, AanandhaSubramaniam K, Rao V.
Autonomic function in adults with Obstructive Sleep Apnea. International Journal of Medical Science and Public Health 2013;2(4):1031-1035.

7. Jagannathan S, D' cruz SM, Selvakumar V, Rao V.
Heart Rate variability in Obstructive Sleep Apnea.
International Journal of Biomedical and Advance Research 2013;4(6):420-424.

8. Rajaratnam N, Suganthi V, D' cruz SM.
Learning preferences of students studying Physiology in South India.
IOSR Journal of Dental and Medical Sciences 2013;7(1):15-19.

9. Rajaratnam N, Suganthi V, D'cruz SM.
Correlation between the learning approaches and perceived stress of first year medical students. Southeast Asian Journal of Case Report and Review 2013;2(5):289-299.

10. Kavitha U, Rajaratnam N, D' cruz SM, Chandrasekhar M.
The effect of different bouts of exercise on weight loss in overweight Indian female undergraduates. International Journal of Medical Research and Health Sciences 2013;2(4):949-954.

11. D' cruz SM, Rajaratnam N, Pravin Kumar M.
The effect of Aging on Memory in South Indians. National Journal of Physiology, Pharmacy and Pharmacology 2013;3(2):180-185. Yes in 2013

12. Rajaratnam N, D' cruz SM, Chandrasekhar M.
Correlation between the learning approaches of first year medical students and their performance in Multiple Choice Questions in Physiology. National Journal of Integrated Research in Medicine 2013;4(5):43-48.

13. Suganthi V, Rajaratnam N, D' cruz SM.
Differences in blood pressure measurements in the forearm and upper arm of obese otherwise healthy first year medical students. International Journal of Medical Research and Health Sciences 2014;3(3)669-674.

14. D' cruz SM, Rajaratnam N.
Maintenance of skeletal muscle tone: venturing beyond the conventional. National journal of physiology 2014; 22 – 26.

15. Rajaratnam N, D' cruz SM, Jayraman L, Narmatha S. Leptin- Its physiological role in the Metabolic regulation of the Reproductive axis.
National journal of physiology 2015;3(1):26-3

16. Rajaratnam N, D' cruz SM.
Competency based medical education in India- Preparing physiologists for this imminent shift. National journal of physiology 2015, 3(1):10-20.

17. Rajaratnam N, D' cruz SM.
Curricular change and the learning approaches of medical students.
Education in Medicine Journal 2015; 7(3):e79-e80. Yes

18. Rajaratnam N, D' cruz SM.
Is the Time Right to Start Using Flipped Classrooms in Indian Medical Colleges?
Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research 2015; 9(9): JL01-JL02 Yes in 2015 Yes

19. PrasannaKarthik S, Sindhuja K, D' cruz SM, Arumugam P.
Electrocardiographic abnormalities and Cardiac Autonomic Neuropathy in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus patients.
National Journal of Integrated Research in Medicine 2015;6(5):38-45

20. Rajaratnam N, Sowmiya K, Babusekar S, D' cruz SM.
Awareness about indoor air pollution in young undergraduate medical students. Biomedicine 2016.
The Tamil Nadu Dr. MGR Medical University.

21. Rajaratnam N, Supraja R, Abiramy NR, D'cruz SM.
Awareness about environmental risks to children in women of the reproductive age group in Pulipakkam village, Tamil Nadu.
Biomedicine 2016. The Tamil Nadu Dr. MGR Medical University.

22. Rajaratnam N, Nishanth VS, Priyanka S, D' cruz SM. Assessment of the environmental worldview of young undergraduate medical students using the New Ecological Paradigm Scale.
Biomedicine 2016; 36(4). The Tamil Nadu Dr. MGR Medical University Yes

23. Rajaratnam N, D' cruz SM. Learning styles and learning approaches - Are they different?
Education for Health 2016;29(1):59-60

24. D' cruz SM, Rajaratnam N, Renuka Devi MR.
A call for more research in medical education.
National Journal of Physiology 2017. The Tamil Nadu Dr. MGR Medical University

25. Rajaratnam N, D' cruz SM, Paul P.
Professional identity formation of undergraduate medical students – The proposed fifth level of Miller’s pyramid.
National Journal of Physiology 2017;5(1). The Tamil Nadu Dr. MGR Medical University

26. Prasad H, D' cruz SM.
Total pulmonary fibrosis with compensatory emphysema. National Journal of Physiology 2018;6(1):47-49.

27. D' cruz SM, Rajaratnam N.
A study of the learning approaches of medical students before and after clinical posting in a medical college in South India. International Journal of Scientific Study 2018;6(3):95-98.

2 Dr. Muthukumar. S

1. Johnson P, Balakrishnan K, Ramaswamy P, Ghosh S, Sadhasivam M, Abirami O, Sathiasekaran BW, Smith KR, Thanasekaraan V, Subhashini AS.
Prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in rural women of Tamilnadu: implications for refining disease burden assessments attributable to household biomass combustion. Global health action.
2011 Dec 1;4(1):7226. Yes

2. D' cruz SM, Sadhasivam M, Rajaratnam N, Anandarajan B.
Perceptions of medical students in India about the use of role-play as a teaching- learning method in Physiology.
International Journal of Biomedical and Advance Research 2013; 04 (04): 227-232.

3. Sadhasivam M, D' cruz SM, Anandarajan B.
Introduction of Pre-Test and Post-Test enhances attentiveness to Physiology lectures – Students’ perceptions in an Indian medical college -
International Journal of Biomedical and Advance Research 2013;4(5):341-344.

4. Anandarajan B, Banu KK, Muthukumar S, Atram GG.
Professional examination stress induced hemodynamic changes in first year MBBS students.
Int J Biomed Adv Res. 2013;4(11):796-99.

5. TeenaLal, Anand Moses, Dorairaj et.al
High sensitivity C-reactive Protein in Type-2 Diabetes Mellitus.
International Journal of Current Research. April 2015,Vol, 7 (04) : 14583 -14586.

6. Anandarajan B, Prathiba A, Dorairaj VS, Banu KK, Muthukumar S.
Correlation of academic scores with blood group among first MBBS medical students.
Int J Biomed Adv Res. 2015;6:328-30.

7. Anandarajan, B., KouserBanu, K., Prathipa,A., Muthukumar, S., et. al A Correlational relationship among sleep and behavioral pattern with University examination performance in first year MBBS students: A Cross-sectional Study.
International Journal of Information, Research and Review October 2015, Vol2, Issue10, pp1255 -1258

8. Kanagasabapathy S, Sadhasivam M.
Pre lacteal feeding practice among rural mothers in Tamil Nadu-a questionnaire based study.
Int J Biomed Adv Res. 2015;6(6):484-7

9. Muthukumar S, Anandarajan B, et. al.
Prevalence of overweight and Obesity – A study among first year Engineering students in Tamilnadu. International Journal of Health sciences and research, Oct 2015 vol.5; issue:10.

10. Shankar K, Muthukumar S.
Association between physical activity levels & central obesity students in Tamilnadu,
International Journal of Recent Trends in Science and Technology Vol (17), 85-88.

11. Jayakumar N, Muthukumar S, Kandasamy M.
Perception of medical students on usefulness of interactive lectures: Can it be a welcome change.
Int J Biomed Adv Res. 2016;7:270-3.

12. Prabhu N, Muthukumar S, Anandarajan B. Effect of moderate exercise on auditory and visual reaction time in middle aged men, The Antiseptic 113 (9) 2016.

13. Muthukumar S, Prabhu N, Anandarajan B.
Multimedia teaching helps in better recall of physiological concepts– Perception of the first year medical students in a South Indian medical college.
National Journal of Physiology, Pharmacy and Pharmacology. 2019;9(11):1085-7

14. Jayanthiswari, K.; Manoharan, G.V. Murali Gopika1; Muthukumar,S.2. Serum Lipid Profile and C-Reactive Protein as Prognostic Markers in Oral Submucous Fibrosis. Journal of Indian Academy of Oral Medicine and Radiology 34(2):p 166-170, Apr–Jun 2022. | DOI: 10.4103/jiaomr.jiaomr_160_21.

3 Dr. J. Selvakumar

1. Selvakumar Jagannathan, SuzanneD'cruz, Ananadasubramaniam,Viswanatha Badanidiyur.
Autonomic function in adults with Obstructive Sleep Apnea. International Journal of Medical Science and Public Health 2013;2(4):1031-1035 .

2. Selvakumar Jagannathan,SuzanneD'cruz,Valarmathy selvakumar,Viswanatha Badanidiyu Heart Rate variability in Obstructive Sleep Apnea.
International Journal of Biomedical and Advance Research 2013;4(6):420-424.

3. Anadhasubramaniam,Padma,Sathyanarayanan,Selvakumar.
A comparative study of Auditory Evoked potential in young obese and Normal subjects
International Research Journal of Medical Science 2013; 1 (8): 11-14.

4. Valarmathy selvakumar, SrahManickaraj,Selvakumar Jagannathan.
Effect Of Counselling To Improve Diabetes Induced Stress In Women Of Low Socio Economic Status : A Cross –Sectional Study In Urban Slum
International journal of psychological research,dec,2014,vol.3(2) 60- 62.

5. Selvakumar jagannathan,Anandarajan,,Prathipa,Viswanatha Badanidiyur,Duraiaraj.
Effect of Fenugreek with biopsychosocial interventions decreases HbA1c in type2 diabetes mellitus patients- A Cross-sectional study.
International Journal of Information, Research and Re.view. OCT 2015 Vol 2 issue 10, pp1285 -1287.

6. KannanRamiah,SelvakumarJagannathan,Vishwanath Badanidiyur.
Heart rate variability in nonalcoholic portal hypertension patients.
International Journal of Information, Research and Review,may,2016,vol0,pp2324-2327.

7. S.Muthukumar,B.Anandarajan, J.Selvakumar,
Prevalence of overweight and Obesity – A study among first year Engineering students in Tamilnadu. International Journal of Health sciences and research, Oct 2015 vol.5; issue:10.

8. Dr K.Aananda Subramaniam , Dr.Selvakumar Jagannathan, Dr R Kannan*
Indian Journal of Basic and Applied Medical Research; September 2020: Vol.-9, Issue- 4, P. 472 - 476 DOI: 10.36848/IJBAMR/2020/26215.55565

9. Dr R Kannan, Dr K.Aananda Subramaniam , Dr.Selvakumar Jagannathan
Indian Journal of Basic and Applied Medical Research; December 2020: Vol.-10, Issue- 1, P.426 - 431 DOI: 10.36848/IJBAMR/2020/96215.55838

10. Dr R Kannan, Dr S Palani , Dr.Selvakumar Jagannathan
Indian Journal of Basic and Applied Medical Research; December 2020: Vol.-10, Issue- 1, P.421-425 DOI: 10.36848/IJBAMR/2020/36215.55835

11. Selvakumar Jagannathan, KannanRamiah, Dr.
ValarmathySelvakumar, Relationship between qualify of life and mental health of people with type II diabetes in rural areas.
International Journal of Scientific Research July 2021; 10:7: 35-3

12. Selvakumar Jagannathan, KannanRamiah, Dr. Valarmathy Selvakumar.
Effect of training programme on quality of life of people with type II diabetes.
International Journal of Scientific Research July 2021; 10:7: 38 - 40.

13. Selvakumar Jagannathan, Kannan Ramiah, R. Valarmathy Selvakumar.
An Experimental Study of Hypochondriac Patients During Pandemic Situation, Asian Journal of Medical Research Volume 10 Issue 4 October- December 2021

14. Selvakumar Jagannathan1, KannanRamiah, R. Valarmathy Selvakumar.
Predominancy of Coping Styles in Patients with Type II Diabetes in Low Socio Economic Status Groups Annals of International Medical and Dental Research E- Vol-8, Issue-1 | January-February 2022

Programs conducted by the department

CME on Sedentary Lifestyle – Its Physiological Implications conducted on 14.12.2024.

Awards and achievements in academic excellence by students

Ms. Annlin Steffy A (2017-2018 MBBS batch) was awarded the T.N. Dr. M.G.R Medical University Medal for securing the highest marks in physiology in the First MBBS Examination among students from all Medical Colleges in the University at the XXXVI (36th) Convocation of the Tamil Nadu Dr. M.G.R Medical University.

Head of the Department

Prof. Dr. Suzanne Maria D'cruz, MBBS, MD

List of faculties