SU519: SU519 Module 4. Physiology and Pharmacology for Pharmacists: Hormones, glands, bones and nervous (5 ECTS)

Group	Type	Day	Time	Classroom	Weeks	Comment
Common	I	Tuesday	14-16	WP 19.02	17
Common	I	Tuesday	12-15	WP 19.02	20	Case
Common	I	Wednesday	08-10	WP 17.109	6-7,9-10,18
Common	I	Wednesday	08-10	WP 19.02	15
Common	I	Wednesday	14-17	WP 19.02	20	Case
Common	I	Thursday	14-16	WP 17.109	5,10,12
Common	I	Thursday	12-14	U20	14
Common	I	Thursday	14-16	WP 15.st.aud.	15
H1	TE	Tuesday	14-16	WP 19.07	19
H1	TE	Wednesday	12-14	WP 17.110	7
H1	TE	Thursday	16-18	WP 25.104	8,11,16,18
H1	TE	Thursday	16-18	U20	14
H2	TE	Tuesday	16-18	WP 19.07	19
H2	TE	Wednesday	14-16	WP 17.110	7
H2	TE	Thursday	14-16	WP 25.104	8,11,16,18
H2	TE	Thursday	14-16	U20	14

Students taking the course are expected to:

• Have knowledge of the basics of physics, chemistry and biochemistry

 

The aim of the course is to give students insight into the function of the nervous system and the endocrine organs under normal physiological conditions and in disease. This is important for being able to explain the effect of a pharmacological treatment directed to these organs under normal physiological conditions and in disease. 

The course is based on the knowledge acquired in module 1 to 3, i.e. SU516, SU517, and SU518 and provides a scientific basis for studying the course on Clinical pharmacology and therapeutics, which will be taught in the master's program.

With regard to the competence profile of the curriculum, it is the explicit focus of the course to:

 

Provide the competence to:

• combine the various disciplines in the natural sciences with the more application-oriented medical disciplines, in particular for resolving pharmacological problems and for the development of new drugs 

Provide skills to: 

• acquire new knowledge effectively and independently and apply this knowledge in a critical way.
• perform analyzes using scientific methodology
• identify own deficits in knowledge and to structure own learning

Provide knowledge about:

• the theories and methods within the discipline
• knowledge acquisition and experimental methods in the pharmaceutical sciences and related fields.

 

The learning objective of the course is that the student demonstrates the ability to:

• Understand and apply physiological terms and concepts properly for future studies.
• Describe the anatomy of hypothalamus, pituitary gland, thyreoida gland, adrenal gland, and bones
• Understand the physiological regulation of the hypothalamus-pituitary gland-endocrine gland axes. To understand how diseases affect the axes. Identify therapeutic targets and examples hereof.
• Understand how the organism regulates calcium and phosphate balance including bone remodeling under normal physiological situation and pathophysiological conditions. Identify therapeutic targets and examples hereof.
• Describe the gross anatomy of the nervous system.
• Describe the cellular organization of the nervous system and the general functions of neurons and glial cells.
• Describe the meningues and CNS blood supply.
• Describe the cerebrospinal fluid production circulation and function.
• Describe the make-up and function of the blood brain barrier
• Understand the electrochemical properties of neurons, incl. initiation and propagation of action potentials (nerve impulses).
• Understand signal transduction in the synapse, incl. transmitter functions and possibilities for modulation of signal transmission.
• Understand spinal cord and the neuronal basis for most important reflexes.
• Understand the peripheral somatosensory and visceral sensory receptors, propagation of somatosensory information from the periphery to the cerebral cortex. 
• Understand the senses (vision, hearing, balance, taste, smell) and the how they are connected to the  cerebral cortex and  sense reflexes.
• Understand the structural and functional organization of the motor pathways from cerebral cortex to muscle.
• Describe the functional interaction between primary cortical motor areas and other cortical areas.
• Understand the structural and functional organization of the basal ganglia and connected brain areas.
• Understand the structural and functional organization of the cerebellum.
• Describe the structural and functional organization of the cerebral cortex the neural background for consciousness, sleep and arousal.
• Describe cognitive functions, incl. language, perception of space, self and personality.
• Understand the structural and functional organization of the limbic system, the neural basis for emotions, motivation, learning and memory.

 

The following main topics are taught in the course: 

• Endocrinology, anatomy of the endocrine glands, physiological regulation and pharmacological targets
• Macro and micro anatomy of the nervous system, basal neurophysiology and neurotransmission
• Menigues, blood vessels in the brain and cerebrospinal fluid circulation
• The function of the blood brain barrier
• The structure and function of the spinal cord, cranial nerves with a focus on reflexes, sensory and motor pathways
• Sensory systems, including vision, hearing, balance, smell and taste
• Motor systems including basal ganglia and cerebellum
• The limbic system, emotions, learning and memory
• Structure and organization of the cerebral cortex
• Cortical functions: wakefulness and sleep

 

• Self-study of the textbook
• Self-study after the introduction and training phase
• Repetition in preparation of the exam

 

The introduction phase consists of lectures, in which the students will get a brief introduction to the course topics and the way to achieve competences. This will be complemented by the study guide and the textbooks, which the students are expected to study independently.

 

During the training phase, the students will achieve competences in endocrinology and neurobiology (anatomy, physiology and pharmacology). In the small classroom teaching, the students will work with assignments, which they will have to prepare at home. In the study phase, students are expected to work independently with textbooks and examples and exercises herein. They are expected to work in small groups as regards elaboration and presentation of “case” work. Finally, students are expected to use part of the study phase to work on assignments of the training phase and do some repetition for the written exam.