Morfologia umana macroscopica (1° anno)

The first semester provides an in-depth knowledge of the anatomy of the upper/lower limbs and thorax, incorporating; gross anatomy, surface anatomy, medical imaging, and embryology.
It focuses on gross anatomy of the bones, joints and muscles, basic embryology (week I through week IV of human development, including development of the skull, spine and limbs).
Definition of the terms relative to the anatomical position: anterior/ventral, posterior/dorsal, superior, inferior, medial, median, lateral, proximal, distal, superficial, deep, prone, supine, palmar & plantar.
Description of the anatomical planes (axial/transverse/horizontal, sagittal/vertical plane and the coronal/frontal plane) and of the corresponding terms used to describe the movements.
Introduction to the major surface and bony landmarks in each body region (e.g. occipital protuberance, orbital ridge, nasal bones, mastoid process, cervical to sacrococcygeal vertebrae and associated joints, shoulder girdle and upper limb, sternal region, ribs and costal margin, pelvic girdle and lower limb).
Description of the skull (bones & foramina/canals) intracranial cavities (anterior, middle and posterior cranial fossa), orbit bones, nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses, external-middle-inner ear and petrous temporal bone.
Classifications of the major bones that make up the axial (the main curvatures and features of the vertebral column, individual vertebrae cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacral and coccygeal) and intervertebral joints and appendicular skeleton and summarizing their main differences and also the differences between compact and cancellous bone.
The different types of joints (synovial, fibrous and cartilaginous) and their associated structures (cartilage, tendons, ligaments, bursa) in relation to movement and stability.
Description of the major muscle groups of the head, neck, thorax, abdomen, pelvis, upper limb and lower limb.
The second semester focuses on topographical/systemic gross anatomy of the head, neck and body cavities (thorax, abdomen, pelvis, the four quadrants and nine descriptive regions of the abdomen in relation to underlying organs), cross sectional anatomy and corresponding embryology (lectures on the development of the organs and functional systems precede gross anatomical presentations and include frequently occurring malformations). During this semester the students will be introduced to the normal structure (including anatomical variants) and development of the gastrointestinal system and to the morphological basis of the function of the following systems:
Gastrointestinal system
Description of the major features of the oral cavity including the teeth, tongue, soft and hard palate.
Description of the salivary glands (parotid, submandibular and sublingual).
Description of the structure of the oesophagus.
Description of the relationship of the abdominal organs to the peritoneum (parietal and visceral layers) and the mesenteries.
Description of the regions of the stomach.
Description of the major sphincters of the gastrointestinal system in relation to their associated structures (oesophageal sphincter, cardiac sphincter, pyloric sphincter, ileocaecal sphincter, hepato‐pancreatic sphincter, anal sphincters).
Description of the constituent parts of the small intestine (duodenum, jejunum and ileum) and the large intestine (caecum, ascending colon, transverse colon, descending colon, sigmoid colon, rectum and anus).
Description of the lobes and major ligaments of the liver, the anatomy of the gallbladder, the anatomy of the pancreas and its associated ducts, and their position relative to the intestines.
Respiratory system
Description of the joints and muscles of respiration (accessory and intercostal muscles and thoracic joints, i.e. components of the sternum, ribs and costal cartilage articulations) and examine their contribution to the mechanism of breathing.
Description of the major features of the external nose, the nasal cavity, the pharynx, the larynx and the trachea.
Description of the major features of the diaphragm, pleural layers and the lungs (lobes and fissures of the right and left lungs; bronchi, bronchioles, alveoli; surface landmarks).
Identify and describe the course and role of the phrenic nerve in maintaining normal breathing.
Urinary system
Description of the main differences between the male and female urinary systems.
Description of the position of the kidneys and adrenal glands in relation to adjacent structures.
Description of the external and internal structure of the kidney and the relationship to the associated structures.
Description of the position of the bladder relative to associated structures in males and females (including during pregnancy).
Reproductive system
Differences between the male and female reproductive systems (organs, glands, external genitalia and pelvic characteristics).
Description of the anatomy of the pelvic diaphragm and perineum and their relationship to the neurovascular structures that supply these regions in males and females.
Structure and composition of the breast.
Endocrine
Identify the major endocrine structures (hypothalamus, anterior and posterior lobes of the pituitary gland, pineal gland thyroid gland and parathyroid glands, thymus, adrenal gland, pancreas, gonads, skin, heart, kidneys, gastrointestinal tract).
Cardiovascular system
Description of the position of the heart in the mediastinum relative to the associated structures.
Description of the atrial and ventricular chambers of the heart (macroscopic and functional features), the specialized conduction network, and the fibrous and serous layers of the pericardium; structure and location of the valves of the heart.
Description of the origin, course and main branches of the left and right coronary arteries and describe their location relative to the heart and the general area of the heart that they supply.
Structure of arteries, veins and capillaries.
Description of the structures of the pulmonary and systematic circulation.
Description of the course and important relationships of the major arteries and veins of the trunk, with emphasis on the aorta, superior vena cava and inferior vena cava, their major branches and associated pulse points.
Description of the deep and superficial veins and outline the course of the main veins of the upper limb and lower limb.
Description of the blood supply and venous drainage of the brain and its association to the great vessels of the heart and neck.
Description of the hepatic portal‐venous system.
Lymphatic system
Description of the drainage of lymph throughout the body.
Description of the primary (bone marrow & thymus) and secondary lymphoid (lymph nodes, spleen, tonsils and appendix) organs and tissues of the lymphatic system.
The third semester takes place in the second academic year and it focuses on central and peripheral nervous system, organs of special senses and corresponding embryology.
Description of the general features of nervous tissue, the spinal cord and the brain stem.
Introduction to the fundamentals of neural development.
Fundamental concepts, organizational principles, structure, connectivity, and how these relate to function and behavior are considered, with a strong emphasis on the clinical application of "traditional" neuroanatomical knowledge.
The forebrain (cerebral hemispheres), the midbrain (amygdala, thalamus, hypothalamus, hippocampus, pituitary gland, pineal gland and crus cerebri), the brainstem/hindbrain (pons, medulla oblongata and cerebellum).
Characteristics of the grey matter (e.g. nuclei, ganglia, cerebellar and cerebral cortex and basal nuclei/ganglia) and white matter (association, commissural and projection fibers, and the corpus callosum).
Cortical topography: frontal, parietal, temporal and occipital lobes and the major sulci/landmarks that separate them. Description of the cerebral cortex in relation to its functions, namely: motor, sensory, visual, auditory, speech; memory and emotion, decision making, social behavior.
Describe the organization of the internal capsule.
Basal ganglia (the caudate nucleus, putamen, and globus pallidus, their relationship with each other and with the lateral ventricle and internal capsule).
Description of the cerebellar anatomy (anatomic division and evolutionary terms neocerebellum, paleocerebellum and pontocerebellum).
Description of the cerebellar cortex and nuclei, afferents, internal circuitry, efferents and blood supply.
Identify the major structures of the limbic system (limbic lobe, hypothalamus, hippocampus, amygdala.
Describe and identify the anatomic features of the hypothalamus, the efferent connections of the hypothalamus with the autonomic nervous system and compare neuroendocrine secretion and control in the anterior and posterior pituitary.
Description of the structure of the spinal cord, a typical spinal nerve and a reflex arc, and its relation to the vertebral column.
Spinal and dorsal column-medial lemnisci, trigeminal lemniscus (proprioception i.e., joint position, tactile discrimination, vibration sense and form recognition).
Motor tracts: pyramidal [the corticobulbar and corticospinal tracts) and extrapyramidal (i.e., reticulospinal, vestibulospinal, tectospinal, rubrospinal including the basal ganglia (caudate, putamen, and globus pallidus), and the subthalamic nucleus].
Description of the 12 cranial nerves and their major functions in relation to innervation.
Description of the general organization of the outer, middle and inner ear.
Description of the structure of the visual system: eye, eyelid, conjunctiva and lacrimal gland.
Particular importance is given to central nervous pathways and to the anatomical basis of the reflexes (Moro reflex, abdominal reflexes, myotatic, tendon and those involving cranial nerves like as pupillary light reflex, the lacrimal reflex , the cough reflex, sucking and swallowing reflexes, the gag reflex, salivation, accommodation and corneal reflexes, vestibulo-ocular reflex, baroreflex) that are critical for clinical diagnosis and also for the basic understanding of the principles of motor control.
Description of the structural differences between the three layers of meninges (dura, arachnoid and pia), their relationship to the brain and spinal cord and the ventricular system and the formation, circulation, drainage and role of cerebrospinal fluid.