This module aims to:

1. Provide students with an understanding of the principal concepts underlying the cardiovascular, lymphatic and respiratory systems of the human body; 
2. Introduce students to the regional (topographical) anatomy and practical dissection of the thorax;
3. Enable students to apply their learning in a practical setting using facilities and materials appropriately, recognising and understanding the requirement to adhere to appropriate ethical standards and codes of practice; 
4. Allow students to play an effective role working as part of a group;

Identify and recall relevant features of surface anatomy applicable to the thoracic region;   

Locate the functional osteology of the thorax;

Identify the major blood vessels of the body and distinguish between the histology of arteries, veins and lymphatic vessels;

Identify and recall the gross morphology of the thorax relating this to structure and function in the thorax;

Locate and identify anatomical structures within the thorax;

Locate and recall the anatomical structures in the thorax using diagnostic imaging

Describe the embryological development of relevant structures within the thorax and relate to the adult anatomical structures;

Lecture - Lectures will explain the key concepts for the module and aid in preparing the students for their practicals

Unscheduled hours will consist of online formative assessments.

Laboratory Work - Human dissection practicals to aid in their understanding of the module.

WEEK 1

Lecture 1 – Introduction to the course and the thorax

·         Boundaries of the thorax

·         Surface anatomy of the thorax

·         Distinguish between pleural cavities,  mediastinum and pericardial cavity

·         The muscles of the chest wall

Lecture 2– The chest wall and the breast

·         Accessory muscles of breathing

·         Anatomy of the breast

Practical 1 – study session (station based)

·         Using prosections and models to study the chest wall

WEEK 2

Lecture 3 – The chest wall (II)

·         Intercostal muscles

·         Intercostal neurovascular bundle

Practical 2 – Chest wall (I)

·         Dissection of the chest wall

WEEK 3

Lecture 4 – The pleura and pleural cavity

·         Changes in the diameter of the thorax whilst breathing

·         Parietal and pleural cavity

·         Surface anatomy of pleural and thoracic cavity

Practical 3 – Chest wall (II)

·         Dissection of the chest wall

WEEK 4

Lecture 5 – The ANS in the thora x

·         Introduce the differences between the SNS and ANS both functionally and structurally

·         Introduce the sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions

·         The sympathetic chain

·         Splanchnic nerves

·         Autonomic plexuses

·         Distribution of parasympathetic supply

Lecture 6 - An introduction to embryology

·         An introduction to the stages of the embryo up the 3 germ layers

Practical 4 – The pleura and pleural cavity

·         Dissection of the pleura and pleural cavity

WEEK 5

Lecture 7 – The heart

·         The pericardium

·         Chambers and divisions of the heart

·         Borders of the heart

·         Position and orientation of the heart within the thorax

·         The great valves of the heart

Lecture 8 – The heart (II)

·         The coronary arteries and veins

·         The valves of the heart and their auscultation points

·         The fibrous skeleton of the heart

·          Detailed anatomy of the 4 heart chambers

Practical 5 – Mediastinum

·         Dissection of the mediastinum

WEEK 6

Lecture 9 – Imaging of the thorax

Lecture 10 – The development of the CVS and heart

·         Review of an embryo post-gastrulation

·         Vasculogenesis and angiogenesis

·         Heart tube formation

·         Development and fate of the major veins draining into the heart tube

·         Folding of the heart into the pericardium

Practical 7 – The heart

WEEK 7

Lecture 11 – The heart (III)

·         The fetal circulation

·         The properties of a cardiac myocyte

·         The anatomy of the hearts conduction system

·         The cardiac cycle

·         Autonomic control of the heart

·         Cardiac plexuses

Lecture 12 – Development of the heart

·         Partitioning of the heart

·         Development of the sinus venosus

·         Partioning of the bulbus cordis and truncus arteriosis

·         Development of the heart valves

·         Congenital abnormalities associated with the heart and the great vessels

Practical 8 – The heart (II)

WEEK 8

Lecture 13 – The lungs

·         Fissures and lobes of the lungs

·         Respiratory tree

·         Alveolar structure

·         Bronchopulmonary segments

Lecture 14 - Developement of the respiratory system

·         Development of the trachea

·         Development of the bronchi and lungs with relationship to the pleural membranes

·         Maturation of the lungs

·         Congenital abnormalities associated with the heart and the great vessels

WEEK 9

Lecture 15 - The back

Lecture 16 - The back (II)

Practical 10 - The back

WEEK 10

Practial 11 - Revision 

WEEK 11

Assessment – In-course spotter assessment (30%)