AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Know the structural organization of the body with its main anatomical-clinical applications; recognize the essential morphological characteristics of the systems, apparatuses and organs of the human organism, as well as their main morpho-functional correlates, with particular reference to the endocrine and nervous systems

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The educational objectives of the course “Nervous and Endocrine System Anatomy” are intended to provide students with 1) the acquisition of the knowledge necessary to understand the morpho-functional organization of the Nervous and Endocrine Systems, 2) the acquisition of the knowledge of the basic mechanisms by which the Nervous and Endocrine Systems perform their functions within the human organism and 3) the understanding of the basic mechanisms by which the Nervous System performs its function of receiving, integrating and processing signals. This knowledge forms the basis for understanding the various anatomo-clinical pictures resulting from damage to the Nervous and Endocrine Systems. The understanding and knowledge of the topics covered during the lectures will enable the student to further investigate specific topics in complete autonomy.

TEACHING METHODS

The teaching activity is organised in lectures. During these lectures all the issues the student has to know for the final exam will be explained and discussed with the help of visual aids.

Pursuant to L.170/10 “New Regulations on Specific Learning Disorders in Schools”, support services are in place for students with Specific Learning Disorders (SAD), disabilities or other educational needs, through the “Support Services Sector for disabilities and for students with SAD”. These students are encouraged to contact the lecturer and the School's disability contact person, Prof. Nicola Girtler (nicolagirtler@unige.it), at the beginning of the course to agree on possible teaching modalities that, while respecting the objectives of the course, take into account individual learning patterns.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

Central Nervous System

Introduction to the Nervous System (NS). General Organization of the NS.

Meninges, ventricles, and barriers of the Central Nervous System (CNS).
 
Spinal cord. Introduction. Morphology. Organization of gray matter and white matter. The motor unit and classification of motor units. Origin of the spinal nerves.
 
Brainstem. Introduction. Organization of gray matter: intrinsic nuclei, reticular formation, cranial nerve nuclei.
 
Cerebellum. Introduction. Morphology. Organization of gray matter: intrinsic nuclei and cerebellar cortex. Structure of the cerebellar cortex.
 
Diencephalon (Part 1). Introduction. The thalamus and subthalamus.
 
Telencephalon. Introduction. Organization of gray matter. Structure of the telencephalic cortex. Brodmann areas. Telencephalic nuclei. The limbic system. The hippocampus. Anatomical structures involved in the Papez circuit.  Organization of the white matter of the telencephalon. Telencephalic structures involved in language. Hemispheric asymmetries (fundamentals).

Embryonic Development of the CNS
 
The somatic afferent compartment. Classification of receptors. Definition of sensory unit and receptor field. Receptors and pathways of general somatic sensation. Taste receptors and the gustatory pathway. Olfactory receptors and the olfactory pathway. The eye, the adnexa of the eye, and the optic pathways. The ear and the auditory and vestibular pathways.
 
The somatic efferent system. Review of the motor unit. Spinal reflexes. The pyramidal and extrapyramidal systems. Motor control of eye movements. Circuits that modulate motor cortex activity: circuits of the basal ganglia and the cerebellum. 
 
Diencephalon (Part 2). The epithalamus: the epiphysis. The hypothalamus. The visceral nervous system: sympathetic and parasympathetic.

Neuroendocrine motor system. Pituitary gland, adrenal gland.

Peripheral Nervous System

Spinal nerves, anterior and posterior branches of the spinal nerves
Structure of the cervical plexus, brachial plexus, intercostal nerves, and the lumbar, sacral, pudendal, and coccygeal plexuses.

Cranial nerves and their relationship to the brainstem nuclei.
Motor innervation of the major muscle groups of the head, neck, trunk, and limbs. 
Sensory innervation of the skin surface and major joints.
 
Visceral peripheral nervous system: paravertebral and prevertebral ganglia. The splanchnic nerves; the vagus nerve.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

TW Vanderah, DJ Gould. NOLTE Anatomia del sistema nervoso centrale. VIII Edizione. Edra

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 first part, which is a written preliminary screening test; passing this test grants access to the second part of the exam, which is an oral exam.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The assessment procedures include an initial written exam covering the entire course material covered in class. Passing the written exam grants access to the oral exam. During the oral exam, the student’s communication skills will be evaluated; through these, the student must demonstrate knowledge of the various structures of the nervous system and the musculoskeletal, articular, and vascular systems of the head and limbs covered in class, as well as an understanding of their anatomical and functional relationships.

Pursuant to L.170/10 “New Regulations on Specific Learning Disorders in Schools”, support services are in place for students with Specific Learning Disorders (SAD), disabilities or other educational needs, through the “Support Services Sector for disabilities and for students with SAD”. These students are encouraged to contact the lecturer and the School's disability contact person, Prof. Nicola Girtler (nicolagirtler@unige.it), at the beginning of the course to agree on possible teaching modalities that, while respecting the objectives of the course, take into account individual learning patterns.