| CODE | MDS2038 | ||||||||
| TITLE | Gastrointestinal System | ||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 02 - Years 2, 3 in Modular Undergraduate Course | ||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 5 | ||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 5 | ||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Faculty of Medicine and Surgery | ||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | This study-unit focuses on the anatomy and physiology of the gastrointestinal and hepato-biliary systems, and the anatomical and physiological basis of common gastrointestinal and hepatic disorders. It will also introduce principles of drug bioavailability, metabolism, and elimination by the liver. Additionally, it will introduce the different radiological modalities used to clinically assess for gastrointestinal and hepatic disorders. Students will be required to participate in regular group discussions followed by in-depth analysis of the underlying scientific basis of common clinical conditions through facilitated Critical Thinking Sessions. These are based on carefully selected clinical cases that are intended to stimulate the student to think and discuss critically the presented problems and to formulate basic scientific and clinical concepts as well as ethical, behavioural and professional principles. The common features of these learning sessions are that they involve active participation, are student centered and conducive to independent learning as a prelude to continuing life-long education. The students will have practical sessions through the use of dissected human prosections from donated bodies and histological slides. The students are also expected to undertake independent study across the whole module including through hands-on dissection sessions. Study-Unit Aims: This study-unit provides a foundation for the clinical evaluation and management of patients with gastrointestinal disease. It provides students in the biomedical sciences with an integrated approach to the study of the gastrointestinal system including the gross and microscopic anatomy, how the gastrointestinal system functions in health and disease, and an introduction to laboratory tests, imaging, dissection and therapeutics relevant to the gastrointestinal system. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Correlate the structure and function of the gastrointestinal system. - Describe the anatomical and physiological basis of common clinical conditions affected the gastrointestinal system. - Describe the clinical laboratory assessment of liver function and hepatic failure. - Describe the hepatic portal circulation. - Explain the causes and consequences of portal venous obstruction and the effects of anaesthesia on the hepatic circulation. - Explain the pathways for the metabolism of haemoglobin and bilirubin and identify possible causes and types of jaundice and the physiological consequences of hepatic disease. - Describe the storage and synthetic functions of the liver and gall bladder. - Describe the gross and microscopic aspect of the human body in health and disease focusing on the gastro-intestinal system. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Name the gross and microscopic features, blood supply and innervation of the components of the gastro-intestinal, hepato-biliary and pancreatic duct systems and their clinical correlates. - Outline the surface projections and methods of clinical examination of the gastro-intestinal tract. - Identify on radiological, CT and MRI images the components of the gastro-intestinal, hepato-biliary and pancreatic duct systems. - Outline the development of the GI tract, pancreas and hepato-biliary system. - Explain the composition, volumes and functions of secretions from the alimentary tract including saliva, gastric fluid, bile and intestinal fluid. - Outline the mechanisms of digestion and absorption of lipid, protein, and carbohydrate, and the absorption of vitamins, water and electrolytes. - Outline the autonomic and hormonal control of gastric and intestinal secretion, motility and emptying, the physiology of swallowing and vomiting, and the factors preventing gastro-oesophageal reflux. - Identify the mechanisms of drug metabolism and excretion by the liver. - Interpret simple clinical cases involving the gastrointestinal system (including diarrhoea, vomiting, cholecystitis, gall bladder disease, panceatitis, carcinoma of the pancreas, malabsorption) in terms of disordered anatomy and physiology and the basic drugs used to treat these conditions. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: Main Texts: Main Text for Physiology Textbook of Medical Physiology Ed. Guyton & Hall; Saunders 13th Edition, 2022 ISBN: 978-1455770052 Main Texts for Anatomy Clinical Anatomy by Regions, Richard. S. Snell, 9th Edition January 2011, Lipincott ISBN-10: 1451110324 ISBN-13: 978-1451110326 Clinical Anatomy by Regions, Richard. S. Snell, 8th Edition. January 2007, Lipincott. ISBN-10: 0-7817-6404-1. ISBN-13: 978-0-7817-6404-9 Grays Dissection guide for Human Anatomy, Morton, Peterson and Albertine. ISBN-13: 978-0443069512. ISBN-10: 0443069514 - Grant's dissector 16th Edition by Alan Detton. ISBN-13:978-1496313805. ISBN-10: 1496313801 Main Text for Pathology General and Systematic Pathology, JCE Underwood, 7th Edition, March 2018, Elsevier ISBN 9780702072123 2. Robbins Basic Pathology, V Kumar, A K Abbas, N Fausto, R Mitchell, 8th Edition ISBN1416029737, Saunders Main Text for Pharmacology P. N. Bennett, Morris J. Brown Clinical Pharmacology: With STUDENTCONSULT Access (Paperback) 11th Edition. Churchill Livingston (2012) ISBN-10: 0702040843 ISBN-13: 978-0702040849 Humphrey P. Rang, Maureen M. Dale, James M. Ritter BM, Rod Flower Pharmacology: With STUDENT CONSULT Online Access (Paperback) 7th Edition Churchill Livingstone ISBN-10: 0702034711 ISBN-13: 978-0702034718 Supplementary Readings Imaging Atlas of Human Anatomy, Weir, Jamie and Abrahams, Peter, 6th Edition, 2020. ISBN- 9780702079269 Young Lowe, Stevens, Heath and Deakin Wheater's functional Histology. A text and colour atlas. 5th Edition, 2006. ISBN-13: 978-0-443-06850-8 ISBN-10: 0-443-06850-X. Imprint: CHURCHILL LIVINGSTONE T.W. Sadler Langman's Medical Embryology Edition: 14th Paperback, 2022 ISBN-10: 1496383907 ISBN-13: 978-1496383907 |
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| ADDITIONAL NOTES | Pre-requisite Qualifications: Entry requirements of the 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 | Ernest Azzopardi Sarah Cuschieri Dylan Debono Sean Francalanza Kristian Micallef Janet Mifsud Nikolai Pace Mauro Pessia Joel Pollacco Edith Said Pierre Schembri Wismayer Eliezer Zahra |
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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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