SU519: Module 4. Physiology and Pharmacology for Pharmacists: Hormones, glands, bones and nervous system

• 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 

• 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
  

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

• 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 anatomical structure of the hypothalamus and pituitary gland as well as signaling between the hypothalamus and the pituitary gland
• Hypothalamic-pituitary-endocrine gland axes, including the concepts of positive and negative feedback.
• Hormones that regulate growth
• The anatomical structure of the adrenal gland and the physiological functions / effects of the adrenal cortex hormones.
• Disorders of abnormal adrenal function and how these disorders can be treated pharmacologically
• The anatomical structure of the thyroid gland and the physiological functions / effects of the thyroid hormones.
• Disorders of abnormal thyroid function and how these disorders can be treated pharmacologically
• The regulatory mechanisms that ensure a stable calcium ion concentration in the extracellular fluid
• Bone structure and bone remodeling
• Examples of disorders in bone remodulation and how these disorders can be treated pharmacologically
• 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

• Physiology, 6th or 7 th Edition, By Linda S. Constanzo
• Rang and Dale’s Pharmacology, 8th or 9th Edition
• Supplemented with additional material for neuro.

See itslearning for syllabus lists and additional literature references.

Teaching activities result in an estimated indicative distribution of the work effort of an average student in the following way:

• Intro phase (lectures) - Number of hours: 28
• Training phase: Number of hours: 15

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.

Activities during the studyphase: