Undergraduate

The department runs various undergraduate programs that are part of basic training of medical, dental, pharmacy and allied health sciences students. These programs are given certain code and below is given their brief description:

 

Teaching Methodologies of the Department

The Department has realized the importance of the ever-changing demand for better standards and understanding of medical physiology by the students. The following steps have been taken to improve medical education methodology in different areas, so to provide learning in several multi-dimensional areas.

 

Lectures

The Department has introduced audio-visual aids for improving the students learning e.g. Power point is frequently used by the teachers. Teachers are also encouraging an interactive environment during the lecture.

 

Tutorials

·        The methodology of tutorials has been radically changed, e.g. analysis of clinical scenarios based on knowledge of basic physiology, use of Interactive CDs. Most importantly, 2 years ago, the concept of small group teaching was initiated, with the use of Facilitators

·        Their role is not to repeat lecture content but to involve students in increase their problem solving and communication skills. They are used specifically for Medical student tutorials. They have weekly meetings with the respective course organizers on what clinical problem or CD will be presented to the students

·        A worksheet plan is provided for students. Teachers are expected to follow a planned program, and the students are encouraged to actively participate in small groups.

·        The facilitator monitors the level of discussion and correctness of knowledge. Group competitions are also held where these groups are sub-divided and compete with each other.

 

Practicals

Active participation of students in practicals is encouraged. All practicals are based on their knowledge achieved during lectures. The results are fully discussed among the students and with the teachers.

Students are divided into small groups, of about 20 students with one facilitator. Students are given relevant clinical and basic physiology practicals, which they perform and interpret themselves.

Students are evaluated at the end of a practical and a practical exam is given at the end of the semester. This reinforces the theoretical knowledge and it cultivates self-confidence in themselves.

Resources used include other Laboratories, including regular weekly use of Pathology and Clinical Biochemistry labs.

 

Biopac Student Lab

Recently, the Department introduced the Biopac. This allows students and researchers to perform complicated tests simply, giving easy computerized analysis and results. Tests include ECG, heart sounds, EMG, Spirometry, nerve conduction etc.

Recently, the Department introduced the Biopac. This allows students and researchers to perform complicated tests simply, giving easy computerized analysis and results. Tests include ECG, heart sounds, EMG, Spirometry, nerve conduction etc.

More than just a data recorder, the Biopac Student Lab is an integrated set of hardware, software, and documentation that guides students through a set of lessons which illustrate fundamental physiological principles.

 

Student Seminars

The department organizes seminars on specific topics e.g. body fluids, ECG, etc. All students are obliged to discuss the specified topic and their colleagues are given time to ask questions. Students are assessed by the teachers for confidence, content and presentation skills.

To encourage students, some of them are selected to give these seminars again in front of the faculty and students. Often students use OHP or Power point for their seminars. Again the feedback is that these help the students increase content knowledge and communication skills.

 

Integrated Teaching

Teachers from the Clinical Departments are invited to discuss clinically oriented medical physiology with the students e.g. demonstration of Doppler by Vascular Surgeons, Neurophysiology of sleep, evoked responses, EEG, EMG by the staff of Clinical Physiology.

 

Library Sessions

As part of their tutorials, all students are rotated in small groups to the Library, with a Facilitator. The Librarians inform them how to access books and periodicals from the library computers. They are also told how to look for research articles via online literature searches like PubMed etc.

 

Mini-projects

Mini-projects or tasks are also assigned to students, at the end of practical or tutorial sessions. These might be based on specific problems, e.g. analysis of ECG, in terms of heart rate, pathophysiology, cardiac axes, etc.

 

Reading Enhancement Group

Weak students are screened in the beginning of the year and form a Reading Enhancement Group.

This group comprises of about 20 students, who need improvement in English language. An Arabic speaking teacher who facilitates this group for 4-6 weeks.
This group is helped by translating many new terms in Arabic and English, simultaneously.

After the students and staff feel that these students are confident with medical physiology being taught in English, these students are merged with normal tutorial groups. Both students and staff have felt this Group greatly benefits these students.

 

Resource Center

Students and staff have access to a good library of Interactive CDs and books. Staff also has access to a collection of images of all areas of physiology. We are trying to encourage students to use specific websites and we provide them a list of web addresses.

The Department has also produced 2 volumes of a Manual of Experimental Physiology, which contains updated practical experiments and questions for students. This has made practical sessions easier for students and staff alike.

Question bank has also been developed by the Department.

 

PSL-131

This program of Physiology is for undergraduate first year medical students.

The course is concerned with normal functioning of the body, including its chemical and physical bases.  The course stresses how each organ normally functions on its own, and at the same time, how the different organs cooperate and function in unison and harmony.

 

OBJECTIVES OF THE COURSE:

At the end of human physiology course the student is expected to:

1.     Achieve a good understanding of the mechanisms of body functions under normal circumstances.

2.     And accordingly, integrate this knowledge with that of human disease, thereby paving the way for easy transition from the preclinical domain into clinical years.

3.      Learn some of the basics of clinical examination and laboratory investigations.

4.      Develop the ability of individual deductive thinking, analysis & interpretation of data.

 

COURSE CONTENTS:

1.     During introductory classes, the students will learn about cell biology, body fluids and the mechanisms of transport across the cell membrane.

2.     Lectures on muscle and nerve will help students to understand the basic electrophysiology e.g. membrane potentials, action potentials.  The molecular basis of muscle contraction will also be covered in detail.

3.     Blood physiology teaching will include details about the formed elements, basic immunity and body defense, blood groups, blood transfusion and the mechanisms of haemostasis.

4.     Autonomic nervous system will include anatomical organization and the effects of sympathetic and parasymapathetic stimulation on different systems.

5.     Cardiovascular system will be covered in five parts namely heart as a pump, vascular system haemodynamics, regional circulation and pathophysiology of few abnormal states e.g. hypotension, shock and cardiac failure.

6.     The respiratory system will be covered under the headings of ventilation, diffusion and perfusion, gas transport, mechanics and regulation of breathing.

7.     Gastrointestinal teaching will enable the students to understand the complex processes occurring along the gastrointestinal tract, secretory, absorptive and motility functions. Emphasis is made on the mechanisms by which these function are controlled.

8.     Kidney and excretory system lectures will cover the functional anatomy, filtration reabsorption and secretion. The concept of clearance and urine concentration mechanism will be explained. 

9.     Acid base balance regulation by the body will be explained and abnormalities in the form of acidosis and alkalosis will be discussed.

10. Endocrine system teaching will include glands like the pituitary, thyroid, parathyroid, adrenal and pancreas.  Hormonal actions, regulation of secretion and disorders of function of each gland will be discussed.

11. Reproductive system will be taught so that the students will be able to understand sex determination and differentiation, menstrual cycle, pregnancy and the action of hormones in both sexes. 

 

Methods of Teaching

Lectures: As shown in flow charts.

Practical classes: the students are expected to participate in each practical class so that they acquire some physiology laboratory skills and be able to interpret the results obtained.  They will also be introduced to some basic clinical skills such as examination of the pulse and heart sounds, breath sounds and measurement of the blood pressure at rest and during different manoeurres.

Tutorial: the student id expected to prepare for tutorials beforehand, give posters and deliver short talks. 

 

EVALUATION SYSTEM – PSL131

TOTAL	100 marks
FIRST HALF
Total	38 marks
SECOND HALF
Third Continuous Assessment	10 marks
Second Practical Examination	5 marks
(Written Paper)
3 Quizzes	7 marks
Total	22 marks
Final Examination at the End of the Year
Written Examination	30 marks
Oral Examination	10 marks
Total	40 marks

Summary of Marks Distribution:

Continuous Assessment: 1st half total (38 marks) + 2nd half total (22 marks) = 60 marks.

Final Examination :Written (30 marks) + Oral (10 marks) = 40 marks.
N.B. A supplementary examination for failure students, out of 100 marks is carried out, at the start of the next academic year.

  

PSL-132

This program of Physiology is for undergraduate second year medical students.
The course describes the normal mode of functioning of the nervous system from an applied and practical viewpoint. By giving examples of disturbances of function, it furthers the student’s understanding of the normal mechanisms, and the functional implications of their derangement.

 

OBJECTIVES OF THE COURSE:

At the end of human applied neurophysiology course the student is expected to:
achieve a good understanding of the normal mechanisms underlying the normal functioning of the central nervous system and peripheral nerves.

And accordingly, integrate this knowledge with that of human disease, thereby paving the way for easy transition from the preclinical domain into clinical knowledge.

Learn some of the basics of neurological examination and clinical neruophysiological investigation.

Develop the ability of the deductive thinking, analysis & interpretation of data.

 

COURSE CONTENTS:

1.         Components of the spinal cord and the brain.

2.         Synpatic transmission.

3.         Sensory receptors.

4.         Ascending sensory pathways.

5.         Cortical sensory areas (primary & secondary).

6.        Applied neurophysiology: sensory system (e.g. syringomyelia, tabes dorsalis, herpes zoster, trigeminal neuralgia, Brown-Sequaro Syndrome).

7.        Clinical examination of the sensory system.

8.        Evoked potentials (auditory brainstem evoked potentials, visual evoked potentials and somatosensory evoked potentials-clinical physiology classes).

9.        Spinal reflexes: mechanisms and control (spinal and supraspinal regulation).

10.    Cortical motor areas and descending motor pathways (tracts).

11.    Clinical physiology: motor lesions (e.g. hemiplegia, monoplegia, quadriplegia, paraplegia).

 

Methods of Teaching:

Lectures

1.     Practical classes: Interactive. The students takes active part in clinical examination of the sensory and motor systems, and in clinical physiology tests such as EEG, NCSs, EMG, evoked potentials, audiometry and tests for vision.

2.     Discussion: Include participate the students in discussion of physiology equipments for example: the central nervous system and its disorders. 

EVALUATION SYSTEM – PSL132:

TOTAL	100 marks
FIRST SEMESTER
First Continuous Assessment       Second Continuous Assessment       2 Quizzes       Sub Total	15 marks 16 marks 4 marks 35 marks
*Second Continuous Assessment is comprehensive for lecture and tutorial materials given during the whole first semester period.
SECOND SEMESTER
Third Continuous Assessment	12 marks
Practical Examination	10 marks

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Undergraduate Programs Brief Description (Physiology).pdf

Undergraduate PSL 131 (Physiology).pdf

Undergraduate PSL 132 (Physiology).pdf

Undergraduate Programs Brief Description (Physiology).doc

Undergraduate PSL 131 (Physiology).doc

Undergraduate PSL 132 (Physiology).doc