Physiology and Health: overview of SQA Higher Human Biology Area 2
An overview of Area 2 of SQA Higher Human Biology, Physiology and Health, covering gamete production and fertilisation, hormonal control of reproduction, controlling fertility, antenatal and postnatal screening, the cardiovascular system, cardiovascular disease, and blood glucose and obesity, with study tips and links to each key area.
Reviewed by: AI editorial process; not yet individually human-reviewed
Physiology and Health is the second of the three areas of SQA Higher Human Biology. It covers human reproduction (how gametes are made, how hormones control fertility, and how pregnancies and newborns are screened) and the maintenance of health (the cardiovascular system, the disease that affects it, and the control of blood glucose). This page maps the seven key areas and shows how they connect.
The seven key areas
- Gamete production and fertilisation
- Sperm form in the seminiferous tubules and ova in the ovaries; supporting glands form semen; fertilisation fuses two haploid gametes to restore the diploid number.
- Hormonal control of reproduction
- FSH, LH and testosterone control sperm production by negative feedback; FSH, LH, oestrogen and progesterone drive the menstrual cycle, with positive feedback triggering ovulation.
- The biology of controlling fertility
- Cyclical and continuous fertility, infertility treatments (stimulating ovulation, IVF, ICSI, PGD) and physical, chemical and surgical contraception.
- Antenatal and postnatal screening
- Ultrasound and biochemical marker screening, diagnostic amniocentesis and CVS, postnatal screening for disorders such as PKU, and pedigree analysis of inheritance.
- The structure and function of the cardiovascular system
- The heart and cardiac cycle, control of heart rate by the SAN and autonomic nervous system, blood pressure, and the structure of arteries, capillaries and veins.
- The pathology of cardiovascular disease
- Atherosclerosis, atheromas, thrombosis and embolism, heart attack and stroke, cholesterol and the LDL to HDL ratio, and genetic and lifestyle risk factors.
- Blood glucose levels and obesity
- Control of glucose by insulin and glucagon through negative feedback, type 1 and type 2 diabetes, and the measurement and risks of obesity.
How to study Area 2
- Master the feedback loops. Know exactly which hormones rise and fall, and whether the feedback is negative or positive, in the menstrual cycle and in glucose control.
- Distinguish similar terms. Screening versus diagnostic tests, IVF versus ICSI, type 1 versus type 2 diabetes, and LDL versus HDL are common exam discriminators.
- Practise data and calculations. Hormone graphs, pedigree probabilities, cardiac output and BMI all appear as application questions.
- Link structure to function. Relate the wall of each blood vessel and the chambers of the heart to the job they do.
For the official course specification
The SQA publishes the full Higher Human Biology course specification, specimen and past papers, and marking instructions at sqa.org.uk. Always revise from the current specification and SQA past papers.