Study-Unit Description

Study-Unit Description


CODE MDS2029

 
TITLE Integrated Biomedical Sciences

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

 
MQF LEVEL 5

 
ECTS CREDITS 10

 
DEPARTMENT Faculty of Medicine and Surgery

 
DESCRIPTION This study-unit is intended to integrate basic Anatomy, Clinical Radiology, Physiology, Biochemistry and Pharmacology using much of the knowledge base already assimilated by the students over the first two years. The topics extend across a number of systems requiring that these be integrated with one another. Each topic will be covered by at least one lecture followed by an interactive tutorial session. The aim of the study-unit is to make sure the student is well prepared for the clinical aspects of their course.

Study-Unit Aims:

- To develop students’ abilities to integrate basic biomedical knowledge and skills;
- To integrate the knowledge gained from all the other modules studies from the 2 pre-clinical years of the MD course, in order to be able to have a solid coherent foundation for the following clinical years of medical studies;
- To introduce the process of medical history taking, clinical examination, performance of basic clinical procedures and clinical assessment through the principles and application of clinical skills, clinical examination and communication skills;
- To provide the core knowledge in medical images techniques;
- To provide the basics of First Aid.

Learning Outcomes:

1. Knowledge & Understanding:

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

- Describe the inter-relationships between basic anatomy, physiology and biochemistry and between the different systems of the body - such as the cardiovascular and the respiratory systems;
- Explain the functions of importance including the cardio-respiratory, renal, reproductive, gastrointestinal, metabolic and neurological systems through typical medical disorders;
- Describe how these separate systems interact to yield integrated responses to important and common clinical conditions;
- Illustrate the importance and need for careful and accurate history taking;
- Describe the techniques for clinical examination of targeted body systems;
- Describe the role of medical imaging in the diagnosis and evaluation of such clinical conditions;
- Become familiar with the different radiological modalities (including radiographs, ultrasound, CT and MRI) and their role in achieving a clinical diagnosis;
- Describe one’s actions related to the administration of First Aid.

2. Skills:

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

- Demonstrate on models or human volunteers the basic clinical methods for examining each of the body regions;
- Identify common and life threatening abnormalities in radiographs, CT scans and MRIs of various parts of the body;
- Distinguish the common underlying causes of pain arising from different viscera in terms of anatomy and pathophysiology;
- Predict the motor and sensory consequences of damage or injury to the nerves of the upper and lower limb and their common sites of injury;
- Identify the basic functions of the somatic and autonomic nervous systems as exemplified by cranial nerve reflexes;
-Comment on clinical condition associated with the various physiological and anatomical systems;
- Demonstrate clinical skills related to basic First Aid.

Main Text/s and any supplementary readings:

Main Texts:

Main Text for Physiology
Human Physiology- An Integrated Approach by Dee Unglaub Silverthorn, 8th Edition
November 2018, Pearson
ISBN-13: 978-1-2922-5954-3

Main Texts for Anatomy
- Clinical Anatomy by Regions, Richard. S. Snell, 10th Edition.
November 2018, Lipincott.
ISBN-10: 1--496345649
ISBN-13: 978-1-4963-4564-6

- Clinical Anatomy by Systems, Richard. S. Snell, April 2006. ISBN-10: 0-7817-9164-2. ISBN-13: 978-0-7817-9164-9.

Main Text for Radiology & Imaging
• Gerald de Lacey, Simon Morley, Laurence Berman. The Chest X-Ray: A Survival Guide. 1st edition - March 12, 2008. eBook ISBN: 9780702051074
• Stephanie Ryan, Michelle McNicholas, Stephen J Eustace. Anatomy for Diagnostic Imaging 3rd edition. ISBN-13: 978-0702029714
• J. S. Benseler. The Radiology Handbook: A Pocket Guide to Medical Imaging (White Coat Pocket Guide) 1st edition. ISBN-13: 978-0821417089

Main text for Clinical Examination
Macleod's Clinical Examination.
J. Alastair Innes, Anna Dover, Karen Fairhurst. Elsevier. 14th Edition, 2018.

Supplementary Readings:

- Weir & Abrahams' Imaging Atlas of Human Anatomy, 6th Edition,
2020. ISBN-13: 978-0-7020-7926-9 ;

 
STUDY-UNIT TYPE Lecture and Tutorial

 
METHOD OF ASSESSMENT
Assessment Component/s Assessment Due Sept. Asst Session Weighting
MCQ and Written Examination (3 Hours) SEM2 Yes 100%

 
LECTURER/S Shawn Agius
Therese Marie Agius
Jean Calleja Agius
Marie Therese Camilleri Podesta'
Ramona Camilleri
Simon Camilleri
Kimberly Caruana
Analisse Cassar
Kieran Chircop
Kelvin Cortis
Sarah Cuschieri
Nathan Mark Edwards
Gabriel Galea
Joseph Galea
Alexander Gatt
Reuben Grech
Kristian Micallef
Nikolai Pace
Luise Reichmuth
Christian Scerri (Co-ord.)
Warren Scicluna
Mario Valentino
Josanne Vassallo
Neville Vassallo
Katia Vella
Gerd Xuereb
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 2023/4. It may be subject to change in subsequent years.

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