JoinAll Case Studies
Cases (only) are freely accessible; subscription is required for access to teaching notes and answer keys.
Suggested Keywords, to help with your search (besides selecting subjects): clicker cases, directed cases, interrupted cases, discussion cases, intimate debate cases. As a reminder, all cases may be adjusted to meet the needs of your student level. See our case use guidelines.
Grade level filtering: enter desired grade levels in the Keywords box and click Apply.
By Rebecca T. Garlinger, Patrick K. Mitrano-Towers, Kevin S. Innella, Philip J. Stephens
“Henry” is not the best of patients. He has been admitted into the hospital with bacterial pneumonia, but he soon becomes bored and frustrated by his rate of progress; are the prescribed intravenous antibiotics really doing anything? His solution...
A Tradesman’s Journey Back from a Cerebral Incident
By Diana Colgan, Wajid Mirza, Laura Y. Lorentzen, Kristie Reilly
This directed case study tells the story of a middle-aged man with hypertension and hyperlipidemia who experiences an ischemic cerebrovascular accident. The case provides an opportunity for students to integrate the brain's functional anatomy related...
Diabetes and Acid/Base Chemistry
By Eric J. Herrera, Linda M. Roberts
This case study focuses on a teenage patient with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) who presents with severe acidosis, becomes combative and loses consciousness, and is subsequently treated and released. The scenario is used to teach the topics of meta...
By Anneke M. Metz
This interrupted case study utilizes real patient data and provides students an opportunity to apply knowledge of human metabolism and hormonal control to a complex real-world scenario. The story begins with the discovery of an unconscious patient wh...
By Carolyn L. Danna
This interrupted case study is based on the real symptoms and laboratory results of a 65-year-old female stroke victim who is obese and on medication for hypertension but has no other significant health issues. The case begins with a description of t...
By Thomas E. Hynd, Elizabeth V. Berkeley, Janet C. Daniel, Justin W. Brown, Bisi T. Velayudhan
This interrupted case study tells the story of Katie, an active college sophomore who experiences flu-like symptoms. She initially thinks that her illness is a result of the stress associated with the rigors of college; however, after visiting ...
By Rachel A. Jackson, Kimberly S.C. Vogt
Reading and understanding scientific literature can be a daunting task for students in introductory science courses. This decision/dilemma case study helps ease them into the process by using a short scientific article with a simple experimental desi...
By Annie Prud’homme-Genereux
This flipped case study examines the selective pressures that have affected the evolution of diverse human skin pigmentations. To prepare for the case, students begin by watching videos and doing research on their own. In class, students use the info...
By Laura A. Schoenle, Cynthia J. Downs
This interrupted case study introduces two distinct, but not mutually exclusive, strategies for defending against parasites: resistance and tolerance. Students analyze and interpret research conducted on resistance and tolerance to gastrointestinal p...
By Kaitlin A. Pate, Paul M. Acosta, Melinda A. Payne, Breanna N. Harris
In this interrupted case study, students meet a pair of fictional newlyweds on their way to Australia for their honeymoon. Initially eager to enjoy the sun, sand, and sights, Tanya and Julien Brahim end up more intimately acquainted with the local wi...
By Ashley E. Rhodes, Timothy G. Rozell, Abigail R. Wilson
This interrupted worksheet case study, developed for introductory or intermediate undergraduate physiology courses, aims to eliminate misconceptions that many students have about lactate, lactic acid, and changes in the body during exercise. The case...
By Matthew J. Van Sant
This directed case study on thyroid dysfunction was written to help students understand how negative feedback pathways work. The title character suffers from hypothyroidism, and although a specific cause cannot be determined from the information prov...
Know Your Enemy, Know Yourself
By Kelsie M. Bernot, Telah A. Wingate, Kiara D. Whitaker
This case study relates the actual experiences of a woman with breast cancer as she shares her experiences through a series of blog posts at various stages of treatment (diagnosis, mastectomy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and maintenance)....
By Nathaniel R. Beres
The function and regulation of hemoglobin is often difficult for students to understand. This directed case study is an attempt to make the topic more approachable by relating the story of “Joanna” and “Alex,” two students who visit their loc...
No Longer Living the Sweet Life
By Noura Farih, Lauren T. Lund, Sara E. Morgan, Johnny M. Turner, Breanna N. Harris
In this interrupted case study, students will help “Dr. Gupta” investigate and assess complications arising in one of her long-term patients, “Jorge Alvarez.” Jorge was diagnosed with Type II diabetes mellitus ten years ago as documented in �...
By Justin F. Shaffer
This flipped clicker case study explores the fascinating relationship between the Arizona Bark Scorpion (the most venomous scorpion in North America) and the Southern Grasshopper Mouse. Initially it would seem that the grasshopper mouse is no match f...
By Breanna N. Harris, Wendy Saltzman
This case study introduces students to the true story of Caster Semenya, an outstanding female mid-distance runner from South Africa. Caster won the 800 m race at the 2009 Track and Field World Championships when she was just 18. Since then, sh...
By Hollie L. Leavitt
This directed case study follows a young woman, Samantha, on a routine visit to her eye doctor. While at her appointment, Samantha receives preventative care and a visual acuity exam while learning more about the anatomy and physiology of her e...
By Brianna S. Nelson, Kelsey N. Aguirre, Alee L. Adams, Emily E. Brodbeck, Breanna N. Harris
This interrupted case study tells the story of “Callie,” a 26-year-old baker from San Francisco who runs a successful new cupcake business with her fiancé, Jeremey. For some time Callie has not felt well, experiencing fatigue, difficulty breathi...
By John G. Cogan, Emily Hill
There are many adaptive and evolutionary behaviors displayed in an organism's use of water. Although students generally have a superficial understanding of the importance of water to life (i.e., without water life cannot persist), this directed case ...
By Jason W. Ho, Scott M. Leighow, Sylvie Lee, Philip J. Stephens
This interrupted case study follows the progress of Julius, a singer in a rock band who suffers from severe headaches and pressure in his ears. While visiting his doctor he loses his balance and hits his head as he collapses to the floor. Julius reco...
By Mackenzie A. Hahn, Hannah C. Schake, Ryan T. Schalles, Sarah R. Shioji, Breanna N. Harris
Was the "Brooklyn Butcher" of 1926 a cold-blooded killer or was something less sinister at play? This interrupted case study introduces students to hemoglobin binding and carbon monoxide poisoning by working through the details of a fictionalized acc...
By Monica L. Tischler
This case study for the flipped classroom introduces the discovery process used to elucidate how cells make ATP. Data from three seminal primary literature papers and novel (for their time) methods are used to illustrate how scientists determined the...
By Hollie L. Leavitt
This interrupted case study follows the progress of a pediatric patient who experiences an acute asthma exacerbation brought on by an environmental trigger. Students completing the case will synthesize their understanding of respiratory system ...
Why Homeostasis Is Important to Everyday Activities
By Brian J. Dingmann
In this case study, a college student named "Blake" winds up in the emergency room after he experiences a panic attack brought on by drinking a mixture of beverages containing caffeine and alcohol. His panic attack results in a severe episode of hype...
By Michèle I. Shuster
This case study synthesizes students' knowledge of the central dogma and cell structure by examining a rare health disorder in order to understand protein targeting and its medical consequences. Students first identify the molecular alteration in aff...
By Jane P. Sheldon, Diane R. Graves
This directed case study begins with an intentionally ambiguous story: Q suddenly realizes that it is time to relay a message to Z (another inhabitant of their home) to let Z know that it's time to produce some items and send them on to accomplices i...
The Case of the Malfunctioning Neuron
By Kirsten L. Hokeness
This flipped case study tells the story of Joyce, a biology student who notices the development of some unusual symptoms (foot slapping and slurred speech) in her mother. In an effort to understand the cause, Joyce views a documentary-style trigger v...
A Botched Botox Party in the Hamptons
By Adam J. Kleinschmit
This flipped case study explores how the topics of membrane structure, transport, and signaling via membrane-bound receptors are intimately associated with the paralysis of muscle targeted by botulinum neurotoxin. The case scenario revolves around a ...
By Abigail R. Wilson, Ashley E. Rhodes, Timothy G. Rozell
This case study explores the topics of diffusion, osmosis, membrane transport, and the physiological significance of glucose and insulin in the human body. The story begins with a high school athlete, Timmy, who is incredibly efficient at metabolizin...
Antibiotic Resistance in a Russian Prison
By Christian Angeles, Isabella Villano, Andrea C. Nicholas
In this case study, students will have the opportunity to model the spread of tuberculosis and development of antibiotic resistance in a hypothetical prison environment. After reading a brief handout and viewing a short video, students play a simulat...
By Giovanni Casotti
This case study describes the daily osmotic struggle for survival faced by hummingbirds. The narrative is written from the viewpoint of a human observer who sees an Anna's hummingbird feeding on flowers outside of her window. She notices that t...
By Joan-Beth Gow
This interrupted case study for the flipped classroom introduces the human microbiome from the perspective of one of its occupants, Heidi Helicobacter (Helicobacter pylori). Heidi lives in the gut of Kristen, a college student, and discusses he...
By Charlie W. Zhao, Kevin Xo, Tom L. Haffie (rr)
This case study follows a young cystic fibrosis (CF) patient named Lucas. Through Lucas's story and interactions between his parents and pediatrician, students learn about the scientific background and basis of CF. By reviewing email correspondence b...
An Unusual Case of Hypertension
By Robert Ortiz, Sunil Nityanand
This case study examines the interaction between the endocrine, cardiovascular and renal systems. The case narrative details Mr. Smith's high blood pressure that does not seem to respond to treatment. Although he takes good care of himself and follow...
Bringing Home More than a Medal
By Tracie M. Addy, Kathryn A. Phillips, Maura O. Stevenson
This case study was inspired by the Zika virus outbreak that occurred around the time of the 2016 Olympic Games. Many athletes were fearful of attending because of the link between Zika virus infection and microcephaly in infants. This concern, howev...
By Tracie M. Addy, Catherine E. LePrevost, Courtney L. McGinnis
This case study was inspired by a real-life scenario, and follows the story of Roberto, a migrant farmworker whose health is impacted by the usage of pesticides on a farm. With the help of a health care provider, Roberto becomes aware of the ef...
By Megan M. Emge, Zenobia N. Okwunwanne, Raphinos Uragu, Johnna L. Yowell, Breanna N. Harris
This interrupted case study tells the story of Michael, a Harvard law graduate with a stressful job and a seemingly heavy drinking problem. Students are provided with background information, medical history, and lab results in order to guide them tow...
By Maria-Elena Conin, Lea C. George, Joshua D. Kumin, Philip J. Stephens
This interrupted case study follows the course of Cara, a high school athlete training for the state championships in cross country. She suffers from polycystic ovarian syndrome and her prescribed medication (spironolactone) greatly diminishes the ac...
By Michèle I. Shuster
This case study was developed for an introductory biology course with the goal of integrating content (specifically, structure/function, signaling pathways, and homeostasis) while reinforcing general critical thinking skills and the scientific method...