D312 Anatomy and Physiology I is the Western Governors University course on how the body is organized and how five systems work: integumentary, skeletal, muscular, nervous and endocrine.
WGU's program guide for the B.S. Nursing (RN to BSN) describes it as a six-section, four-competency-unit course using lab activities, simulated dissections, textbook material, models and diagrams. It is self-paced, and WGU estimates 40 to 60 hours for students with no prior knowledge.
The volume of new vocabulary is the first hurdle. The second is moving beyond naming parts to explaining how a structure's shape suits its function and how systems influence each other.
Course at a Glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| University | Western Governors University (WGU) |
| Course code | D312 |
| Level | Undergraduate |
| Competency units | 4 |
| Format | Self-paced, six sections, lab activities and simulated dissections |
| Next course | Anatomy and Physiology II with Lab |
What D312 Covers
| Area (from WGU's competencies) | Key ideas to master |
|---|---|
| Body organization and terminology | Levels of organization, directional terms, planes, body regions and cavities |
| Integumentary system | Skin layers, glands, thermoregulation, protection and healing |
| Skeletal system | Bone tissue, remodelling, calcium balance, joints |
| Muscular system | Muscle types, sliding filament mechanism, neuromuscular junction |
| Nervous system and senses | Neurons, action potentials, synapses, brain and spinal cord, special senses |
| Endocrine system | Hormones, feedback loops, glands and their targets |
Key Concepts Explained
Directional Terms and Planes
Anatomy uses a fixed reference, the anatomical position, so descriptions are unambiguous. Superior and inferior, anterior and posterior, medial and lateral, proximal and distal appear throughout every later topic.
Example: "The wrist is proximal to the fingers and distal to the elbow" makes sense only if you picture the limb's attachment point. Practice by describing the position of structures on your own body until the terms become automatic.
Negative Feedback
Most body systems keep variables stable through negative feedback: a change triggers a response that reverses it. The endocrine system relies on this constantly.
Example: When blood calcium falls, the parathyroid glands release parathyroid hormone, which raises calcium by releasing it from bone and increasing reabsorption by the kidneys. As calcium returns to normal, hormone release falls. This one loop links the endocrine, skeletal and urinary systems.
Action Potentials
Nerve signals are rapid changes in membrane voltage: sodium rushes in (depolarisation), potassium flows out (repolarisation), and pumps restore the resting state. Muscle contraction starts with the same kind of signal at the neuromuscular junction.
Coursework and Assessment
WGU describes the course as built around lab activities, simulated dissections, models and diagrams, with the aim of demonstrating proficiency in the competencies covered in the final assessment. Check your course page for the assessment format and any lab submissions.
| Activity | What it builds | How to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Simulated dissections | Spatial understanding | Name each structure and say what it does |
| Diagrams and models | Recognition | Redraw from memory, then check |
| Lab activities | Applying concepts | Predict the result before you see it |
| Practice questions | Exam readiness | Analyze why wrong options are wrong |
How the Five Systems Work Together
WGU's competencies repeatedly mention connections to complex systems in the body, so expect questions that cross system boundaries. The five systems in D312 are tightly linked.
Example: On a hot day, temperature sensors signal the hypothalamus (nervous system), which triggers sweating and widening of skin blood vessels (integumentary system). Resting muscles produce less heat (muscular system), and hormones help regulate metabolism over longer periods (endocrine system). One scenario touches four systems.
When revising, take each system and write two sentences on how it depends on another. Movement needs bones, muscles and nerves; bone health depends on hormones; skin helps produce vitamin D, which supports calcium absorption for bone.
Where Students Get Stuck
- Memorizing without understanding. Ask "why is it shaped like that?" for each structure.
- Action potentials and synapses. Sequence diagrams with numbered steps make these manageable.
- Hormone overload. Learn each hormone as gland, trigger, target and effect.
- Muscle contraction. Calcium, ATP, actin and myosin interact in a fixed order; learn it as a story.
Study Tips for D312
- Study one section at a time and test yourself before moving on.
- Use flashcards with spaced repetition for terminology.
- Link each system to clinical situations from your nursing practice.
- Teach a topic aloud to someone else; gaps show up quickly.
How We Help with D312
Tell us which sections, systems or practice questions are difficult. A tutor with a health science background can explain concepts step by step, produce revision summaries and talk you through lab and dissection activities.
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Frequently Asked Questions
WGU estimates 40 to 60 hours of course content for students with no prior knowledge. The course is self-paced, so your time will vary.
The integumentary, skeletal, muscular, nervous and endocrine systems, plus body organization and terminology.
WGU describes laboratory activities, simulated dissections, models and diagrams as part of the course.
Anatomy and Physiology II with Lab (D313), which covers the cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, urinary, reproductive and lymphatic systems.
Many students find the nervous and endocrine systems hardest because they involve sequences and feedback loops rather than simple structures.
No. We offer tutoring and study notes only; assessments must be completed by you.