PMED1110 Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry Course description

In clinical emergency medicine, a paramedic is dependent on good basic knowledge about the structure and functions of the body and the interaction between them. Skills in anatomy and physiology form the basis for independent assessment of the seriousness and need for intervention in acutely ill and injured patients. The course provides the students with knowledge of normal physiological processes, which are decisive in order to understand disease processes and injury mechanisms.

Skills acquired in this course provide an important basis for further acquisition of knowledge in general pathology, emergency medicine and pharmacology. It is also important that the paramedic learns to use medical terminology to describe different conditions and communicate in a structured, objective manner with other healthcare workers.

The course also provides an introduction to the structure and function of different microbes, and their interaction with the individual. This provides a basis for assessment and treatment of patients with acute conditions caused by infection.

The student must have been admitted to the study programme.

After completing the course, the student should have the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence:

Knowledge

The student

• can name key anatomical structures and organs in the human body
• can describe where organs are located in relation to each other
• can describe the anatomical structure of organs and organ systems, cells and tissue
• can describe the function of different organs and organ systems in the body
• can describe key biochemical processes in a healthy body
• can explain physiology in the different organs and organ systems, with particular emphasis on the nervous, circulatory and respiratory system
• can describe regulation mechanisms and homoeostasis in a healthy body
• can distinguish between different types of microorganisms’ structures and properties
• can describe how different microorganisms affect health and disease
• can describe preventive measures to avoid antibiotic resistance

Skills

The student

• can apply and disseminate broad knowledge about human anatomy and physiological processes
• can convey knowledge about biochemical processes
• can identify and recognise anatomical structures on the surface of the body
• can collect and assess vital physiological parameters

General competence

The student

• acknowledges the importance of knowledge in the subject for professional clinical practice
• applies fundamental hygienic and ethical principles in patient examinations

Lectures, group work, seminars, simulation and skills training, written assignments, guidance, multiple-choice tasks, and self-study. Parts of the teaching are organised as flipped classroom. Digital learning resources will be made available in advance.

Parts of the teaching are shared with the bachelor’s degree in nursing.

The following must have been approved in order for the student to take the exam:

• Attendance at seminars, 80% attendance of scheduled activities marked as mandatory.
• Attendance at study groups, 80% attendance of scheduled activities marked as mandatory.
• Attendance at simulation and skills training, 90% attendance of scheduled activities marked as mandatory.
• Multiple-choice task, 60% correct answers on digital multiple-choice tasks under supervision.
• Oral presentation in a group, each group is assigned a problem/task in microbiology to present in a seminar

Supervised individual written exam, 4 hours.

No aids permitted.

Grade scale A-F.

All answers are assessed by two examiners. An external examiner is used regularly, at a minimum of every third completion of the course. If selecting answers for external evaluation, the external examiner’s assessment of the selected answers shall benefit all students.

• 12 credits overlap with the course PMED1100 Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry
• 12 credits overlap with the course PARA1110 Anatomy and Physiology.