OVERVIEW

The integrated course in Animal Biology and Human Anatomy (10 ECTS total) provides the structural and functional foundations necessary to understand the cellular, tissue, and systemic organization of the human body, with particular attention to aspects relevant to the training of future pharmaceutical chemistry professionals.

The Biology module (5 ECTS), delivered in the first semester during the first teaching period, covers the study of the cell and its components, membrane transport and signaling mechanisms, the extracellular matrix, and the fundamental principles of genetics and gene transcription.

The Human Anatomy module (5 ECTS), held during the second teaching period, offers an overview of the macroscopic and microscopic organization of the main tissues, organs, and systems involved in the processes of drug absorption, distribution, metabolism, elimination, and hormonal regulation.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The integrated course in Animal Biology and Human Anatomy aims to provide students with fundamental knowledge of the structural and functional organization of cells, tissues, and human body systems, laying the foundation for understanding the biological and anatomical mechanisms involved in drug action, absorption, metabolism, and elimination.

By the end of the course, students should be able to:

• Understand and describe the structure and functions of major cellular compartments, biological membranes, and basic molecular mechanisms (Biology module);

• Identify and describe the main tissues, organs, and systems involved in pharmacological processes (Human Anatomy module);

• Establish coherent relationships between structure and function, from the cellular to the organ level;

• Use scientific terminology appropriately, both in biological and anatomical contexts;

• Master the morphological and cellular concepts required to successfully approach the biomedical, biochemical, physiological, and pharmacological subjects included in the following years of the degree program.

PREREQUISITES

A basic knowledge of general biology is required, with particular reference to the structure and functions of the cell, intracellular organelles, and the main cellular specializations.
Preliminary knowledge of general and organic chemistry is also necessary to understand the molecular and structural processes covered in the course.

TEACHING METHODS

Any Student with documented Specific Learning Disorders (SLD), or with any special needs, shall reach out to the Lecturer(s) and to the dedicated SLD Representative in the Department ( Prof. Luca Raiteri, Luca.Raiteri@unige.it ) before class begins, in order to liaise and arrange the specific learning methods and ensure proper achievement of the learning aims and outcomes. VERY IMPORTANT: any request for compensatory tools and adaptations in the exam MUST be done within 10 working days before the date of the exam according to the instructions that can be found at https://unige.it/disabilita-dsa/comunicazioni

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

LESSONS

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The exam consists of a written test with 30 single-answer multiple-choice questions, equally divided between the two modules:

• 15 questions on Biology

• 15 questions on Human Anatomy

The test duration is 30 minutes. To pass the written test and be admitted to the oral exam, students must answer correctly to at least 9 questions per module.
Both modules must be passed for access to the oral exam.

The oral exam, held on the same day as the written test, consists of three questions per subject and is designed to assess:

• subject mastery,

• correct use of scientific terminology,

• the ability to correlate biological and anatomical structures with their functions.

Exam questions cover the entire course content, which must be studied using the recommended textbooks.
Slides provided during lectures are intended as a study guide, not a substitute for textbook-based preparation.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

Student learning will be assessed through a written test followed by an oral exam.

The written test evaluates the acquisition of fundamental knowledge, correct use of scientific language, and the ability to apply concepts to both biology and anatomy.
To access the oral part, the student must reach the minimum threshold (9/15 correct answers per module).

The oral exam allows for further evaluation of:

• disciplinary competence,

• logical organization of knowledge,

• the ability to establish functional relationships and explain content using appropriate scientific terminology.

Students with certified Specific Learning Disorders (SLD) are required to contact the SLD advisor, Prof. Luca Raiteri (luca.raiteri@unige.it), and the course instructors at least 10 days before the exam, to agree on appropriate accommodations (e.g., 30% extra time for the written test, use of concept maps for the oral exam), in accordance with the course learning objectives.