Entry requirements

Admitted to the physician programme. The education follows a course of studies, which implies that the courses should be taken in an established order.

Learning outcomes

The course should prepare the student for the continued education by giving a basic knowledge about circulation - and the morphology of the respiratory organs and the physiological and biophysical processes that are relevant to their function.

Aims of the course

After the course, the student should be able to:

- account for the structure and function of the heart, the vascular system and the lungs and how arterial blood pressure is regulated.

- account for how the perfusion to different organs is regulated and how it is adapted to different needs.

- account for how the transport of oxygen and carbon dioxide is regulated between lungs and other tissues.

- illustrate which consequences various types of defects in circulation - and the respiratory organs can obtain.

Content

General cell biology applied on the endothelial cell: the tissue concept, cellular and subcellular structure and function, cell membrane. Vascular tree, heart, lungs (descriptive anatomy, radiology, histology), fluid compartment, the conduction system of the heart, the cardiac myocyte, the innervation of the heart, vascular types, vascular structure, the cardiac cycle, microcirculation, circulation physiology overview (pressure-resistance flow). The heart embryology, the formation and morphology of the blood and lymphatics. Lung volumes, respiration - and ventilation regulation, blood gases, acid/base balance (introduction), protein structure (overview). Oxygen transport: the erythrocyte, the structure, function, oxygen bond curve and effect of carbon dioxide of the haemoglobin and pH. Diffusion barrier (in lungs and capillaries).

Instruction

The course be given in the form of lectures, case studies, group tuition, laboratory sessions and demonstrations.

Assessment

For regulatory framework about absence from compulsory parts and rules for participation in examination, see programme curriculum in the students' guide.

Students who have not passed the examination have a right to attend 4 additional examinations (i.e. 5 examinations in total). If special circumstances apply, the programme committee may admit additional examinations. Every time the student participates in an examination counts, i.e. also submission of a so called blank exam.

The student has right on request to change examiner after 2 failed examinations.