D313 Anatomy and Physiology II is the Western Governors University course covering six systems: cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, urinary, reproductive and lymphatic, including the immune response.
WGU's program guide for the B.S. Nursing (RN to BSN) describes it as a six-section course with lab activities, simulated dissections, textbook material, models and diagrams, listed at four competency units after Anatomy and Physiology I. It is self-paced, with an estimated 40 to 60 hours for students new to the material.
A&P II is more about processes than parts. Pressure, flow, exchange and filtration drive most topics, and the systems constantly depend on each other.
Course at a Glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| University | Western Governors University (WGU) |
| Course code | D313 |
| Level | Undergraduate |
| Competency units | 4 |
| Comes after | Anatomy and Physiology I with Lab |
| Format | Self-paced, six sections, lab activities and simulated dissections |
What D313 Covers
| System | Key ideas to master |
|---|---|
| Cardiovascular | Heart anatomy, cardiac cycle, conduction, blood pressure, vessels |
| Respiratory | Ventilation, gas exchange, oxygen transport, control of breathing |
| Digestive | Digestion and absorption, accessory organs, links to metabolism |
| Urinary | Nephron function, filtration, fluid and electrolyte balance |
| Reproductive | Male and female anatomy, hormonal regulation, gametes |
| Lymphatic and immune | Lymph flow, lymphoid organs, innate and adaptive immunity |
Key Concepts Explained
Blood Flow Through the Heart
Following one drop of blood is the simplest way to learn cardiac anatomy. Deoxygenated blood enters the right atrium, passes to the right ventricle and the lungs, returns to the left atrium, and the left ventricle pumps it to the body.
Example: If the left ventricle pumps weakly, blood backs up into the pulmonary circulation, so fluid can accumulate in the lungs and the patient becomes short of breath. Knowing the flow sequence lets you predict that symptom rather than memorize it.
Gas Exchange by Diffusion
Oxygen and carbon dioxide move down partial-pressure gradients across the thin walls of the alveoli and capillaries. Anything that thickens that barrier or reduces surface area slows exchange.
Filtration in the Nephron
The kidney filters plasma at the glomerulus, then reabsorbs most water and useful solutes and secretes waste along the tubule. Hormones such as antidiuretic hormone and aldosterone adjust how much water and sodium are kept.
Example: A dehydrated person secretes more antidiuretic hormone, so the collecting ducts reabsorb more water and urine becomes concentrated and scanty. This links the urinary, endocrine and cardiovascular systems in one response.
Coursework and Assessment
As with A&P I, the course uses lab activities, simulated dissections, models and diagrams, and the competencies are covered in a final assessment. Check your course page for the format.
| Activity | What it builds | How to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Flow tracing | Process understanding | Trace blood, air, food and filtrate step by step |
| Simulated dissections | Spatial knowledge | Link each structure to its role in the process |
| Clinical scenarios | Applying physiology | Predict what fails and what symptoms follow |
| Practice questions | Exam readiness | Review every explanation, not just the score |
Systems Working Together
The competencies stress connections to complex systems, and D313's systems rarely act alone. Exercise is a useful case to trace.
Example: During a brisk walk, working muscles need more oxygen. Breathing deepens and quickens (respiratory), heart rate and output rise (cardiovascular), blood is redirected from the gut towards muscles (digestion slows), and the kidneys conserve water as sweating increases (urinary). Afterwards, the systems return to baseline through negative feedback.
Practice by choosing a common clinical picture, such as dehydration, heart failure or a respiratory infection, and listing what happens in each of the six systems. It turns isolated facts into reasoning you can apply.
Where Students Get Stuck
- The cardiac cycle and ECG. Link each electrical event to the mechanical event it triggers.
- Nephron segments. Learn what each segment reabsorbs or secretes as a labeled diagram.
- Immunity. Separate innate and adaptive defenses, then cell-mediated and antibody responses.
- Reproductive hormones. Plot the hormone changes across a cycle instead of memorizing lists.
Study Tips for D313
- Revisit A&P I endocrine and nervous system notes; many D313 processes depend on them.
- Draw flow diagrams for blood, air, food and urine formation.
- Use patients you have nursed (heart failure, COPD, kidney disease) as memory anchors.
- Finish each section's practice checks before moving on.
How We Help with D313
Tell us which systems, processes or practice questions you find hard. A tutor with a health science background can explain physiology step by step, build summary notes and link topics to clinical situations.
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Connect the Systems in a&P II
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Frequently Asked Questions
The cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, urinary, reproductive and lymphatic systems, including the immune response.
The program guide's standard path places Anatomy and Physiology I before II, and D313 builds on its nervous and endocrine content.
WGU estimates 40 to 60 hours for students with no prior knowledge; the course is self-paced.
The RN to BSN program guide's standard path lists it at four competency units.
Draw a nephron and label what happens in each segment, then trace how hormones change water and sodium handling.
No. We offer tutoring and study notes only; assessments must be completed by you.