Study-Unit Description

Study-Unit Description


CODE MDS2035

 
TITLE Nervous System: Head and Neck and Special Senses

 
UM LEVEL 02 - Years 2, 3 in Modular Undergraduate Course

 
MQF LEVEL 5

 
ECTS CREDITS 7

 
DEPARTMENT Faculty of Medicine and Surgery

 
DESCRIPTION Important aspects and fundamental concepts of the anatomy and physiology of the Head and Neck, and the Special Senses, provide the core material of the unit. Emphasis is placed on the clinical relevance of important physiologic and anatomical principles. Moreover, clinical cases (including radiological material) are included to assist the student in integrating the topic.

Study-Unit Aims:

This study-unit aims at:
- Providing pre-clinical medical students with an integrated approach to the study of the anatomy of the Head and Neck;
- Providing the anatomical and physiological concepts which are involved in the special senses;
- Providing common clinical conditions which can affect the head and neck.

Learning Outcomes:

1. Knowledge & Understanding:

By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:

- Define and describe the anatomy and the main structures present in the head and neck, including the special senses (tactile sensation, taste, olfaction, vision and hearing);
- Identify core anatomical structures on prosected specimens, whole cadavers and on radiological images;
- Illustrate how the various structures work in unison together, and discuss the link between the anatomy and physiology of the special senses;
- Evaluate the link between specific lesions in the head and neck, with the clinical presentation of common pathological conditions.

2. Skills:

By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:

student will be able to:

- Identify anatomical structures related to the head and neck on dissected specimens and on radiological images;
- Describe the functional anatomy and physiology of the special senses: tactile sensation, taste, olfaction, vision and hearing);
- Outline methods of clinical examination of the head and neck;
- Understand common clinical scenarios related to the structures of the head and neck and special senses.

Main Text/s and any supplementary readings:

Main Texts:

Main texts - Anatomy:
- Gray's Anatomy for Students by Richard Drake, A. Wayne Vogl, Adam W. M. Mitchell 4th Edition - 2019
- Clinical Anatomy by Richard S Snell 10th edition
- Neuroanatomy: an Illustrated Coloured Text by Alan R. Crossman and David Neary 6th edition
- Imaging Atlas of Human Anatomy, Weir, Jamie and Abrahams, Peter. 6th edition

Main texts - Physiology:

- "Neuroscience" (Ed. Purves; Sinauer). 6th edition
- "Textbook of Medical Physiology" (Ed. Guyton & Hall; Saunders). 13th edition

 
ADDITIONAL NOTES Pre-requisite Qualification: Entry requirements: MD Course
Pre-requisite Study-units: All MD study-units are compulsory

 
STUDY-UNIT TYPE Lecture, Independent Study, Practicum & Tutorial

 
METHOD OF ASSESSMENT
Assessment Component/s Assessment Due Sept. Asst Session Weighting
Examination (3 Hours) SEM1 Yes 100%

 
LECTURER/S John Rendle
Sean Francalanza
Richard Muscat
Edith Vassallo
Neville Vassallo
Christian Zammit

 

 
The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints.
Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice.
It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2024/5. It may be subject to change in subsequent years.

https://www.um.edu.mt/course/studyunit