Introductory Anatomy and Physiology

Rationale and Purpose of the Module: To provide the foundation for understanding the anatomy and physiological functioning of the human system so as to assist in the study of the effects of illness and disease on the individual. To acquaint students without a biological background with the basic concepts of general Anatomy and Physiology while providing a detailed introduction into cellular and tissue biology.

Syllabus: Introduction to the body as a whole, tissues, organs, system, and cavities of the body, filtration, and simple diffusion. Cells: Cellular structure, the cell surface, cytoplasm, Eukaryotic cell structure and function: Principal components, organelle structure and function, genome organization, cytoskeleton and membrane systems. Cellular differentiation and development: Cell cycle & cell division, specialised cell types, stem cells, morphogenesis and multicellularity. Tissues: epithelial, connective, muscle and nervous. The Integumentary System: Histological structure and function of the skin and subcutaneous tissue. The Skeletal System: Structure and function of the skeleton, the healing of fractures. Joints: Classification, structure, function. Muscles: Structure and function. The Central Nervous System: Meninges, ventricles and cerebrospinal fluid, blood supply and the brain barrier system, structure and function of the spinal cord, the midbrain, the pons varolii and cerebellum, the cerebrum, med lla oblongata, the limbic system. The Peripheral Nervous System and Reflexes: Classification and anatomy of nerves and nerve fibres, the cranial nerves, the spinal nerves, nerve plexuses, the nature of reflexes, components of a reflex arc. The Autonomic Nervous System: Anatomy of the sympathetic and parasympathetic division, functions of the autonomic nervous system, the adrenal glands, neurotransmitters and receptors.