| CODE | MDS2036 | ||||||||
| TITLE | Higher Brain Function and the Spinal Cord | ||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 02 - Years 2, 3 in Modular Undergraduate Course | ||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 5 | ||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 7 | ||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Faculty of Medicine and Surgery | ||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | This study-unit is intended for preclinical students to grasp the basics in the neuroanatomical and neurophysiological concepts of the nervous system. This will provide a solid foundation for understanding the pathophysiology of common clinical neurological, psychiatric and neurosurgical conditions. Study-Unit Aims: - To provide an in-depth knowledge of the central nervous system anatomy and physiology; - To provide the clinical consequences which ensue following a malfunction of the central nervous system. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Describe the anatomy of spinal cord and spinal nerves; - Describe the circuitry present in the three functional divisions of the cerebellum; - Identify the anatomical structures that constitute the basal ganglia and the role of each component of the basal ganglia in motor activities; - Explain in general terms how changes in the basal ganglia circuitry relates to motor abnormalities in Parkinson's Disease and Huntington's Disease; - Explain how the motor cortex is involved in skilled movement; - Integration of the motor system during voluntary movement; - Describe the role of spinal reflexes in the maintenance of posture; - Describe the role of cerebellum in balance and motor learning. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Describe the main ascending and descending tracts of the spinal cord and brainstem; - Describe the grey matter collections present in the brainstem; - Outline the physiology of the basal ganglia and its cortical control in movement; - Describe the spinal cord and cerebellar circuitry involved in postural control; - Explain the descending and ascending pathways that are able to modify pain signaling in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord; - Understand the basis for the importance in controlling the neuronal environment for normal brain function and the homeostatic mechanisms related to this tight control; - A basic understanding of the intrinsic and extrinsic factors that control and regulate blood flow at the global and local level; - Understand the basis of autoregulation of blood flow and how this is coupled to the brains metabolism; - Understand the central role of glutamate toxicity in disorders of the nervous system; - Demonstrate understanding of the calcium hypothesis in neurodegeneration; - Describe the biomechanics and basic pathophysiology involved in traumatic brain injury; - Identify the ionic and cellular pathways, associated with injury to the white matter elements in various pathophysiological statesDescribe the mechanisms involved in learning and memory and the functional attributes of the cortex in cognition; - Demonstrate an understanding of the neurophysiological basis of emotions; - Explain the physiological basis of sleep and EEG. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: Main Texts: Physiology: - "Neuroscience" (Ed. Purves; Sinauer). 6th edition - "Textbook of Medical Physiology" (Ed. Guyton & Hall; Saunders). 13th edition Main Texts: Anatomy: - Neuroanatomy: an Illustrated Coloured Text by Alan R. Crossman and David Neary 6th edition |
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| ADDITIONAL NOTES | Pre-requisite Qualifications: Entry requirements: MD Course Pre-requisite Study-units: All MD study-units are compulsory |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture, Independent Study, Project and Tutorial | ||||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
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| LECTURER/S | John Rendle Claude Julien Bajada Ruben Cauchi Richard Muscat (Co-ord.) Mario Valentino Neville Vassallo Christian Zammit |
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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. |
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