OVERVIEW OF COURSE

1.

Course Director
Jack Schumann, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Department of Neurobiology
(schumann@pitt.edu)

2.

Course Description
Medical Anatomy is a seven week course designed to provide an introduction to anatomical and
medical terminology and broad coverage of the gross structure of the human body fundamental to
considerations of function, physical diagnosis, trauma, and disease as a foundation of the medical
curriculum. Learning formats include lectures, laboratory dissection, small group demonstrations,
problem-based learning sessions, and special clinical presentations. Cadaver dissection is considered
one of the most important active learning aspects of the course. The regions of the body that will be
taught are (in order of presentation): (1) The Thorax, (2) The Abdomen, (3) The Pelvis and
Perineum, (4) The Head and Neck, and (5) The Extremities. Emphasis on clinical relevance is one of
the main goals of the basic science curriculum and is an underlying aim of all aspects of Medical
Anatomy. The clinical faculty associated with the course have organized three Problem Based
Learning (PBL) sessions. Each of the PBL sessions involves self directed learning of a clinical case
related to the topics/regions being studied at the time. The Clinical presentations in the course allow
students to interact with patients and their physicians. Medical Anatomy contains a strong
introduction to radiographic anatomy.

3.

Course Goals

4.

To introduce the fundamental organization and structure of the human body

To begin the process of clinical observation by attention to detail and honing of
observational skills.
To introduce imaging methods that are used clinically to image body structure.
To begin to use knowledge of anatomical structures to solve clinical scenarios.

Course Objectives

To introduce students to the language used to describe the Human body.

To provide an understanding of the dynamic three-dimensional organization of the body.
To provide a thorough foundation of anatomical structure as a pre-requisite for performing a
competent physical examination of any patient.
To provide a thorough foundation of anatomical structure pre-requisite for demonstrating
normal and abnormal physical signs.
To provide a thorough foundation in anatomical structure pre-requisite for interpreting image
data.
To begin to correlate findings on conventional radiographs, computed tomography (CT),
magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), ultrasound and other modalities with three dimensional
structure.
To provide a thorough knowledge of the bodys regions and systems, including function, in
order to provide the basis for clinical reasoning.
To provide (for most students) a first exposure to working with a dead body in order to
promote respect for the dead and promote student thinking on the realities of death and
dying.
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5.

Learning Format
A.

Lectures: Lectures are given on all of the body regions which are then dissected and
observed in the laboratory.

B.

Laboratory Dissection: Anatomy is a visual science. No description or illustration can

surpass individual observations of the three dimensional structure. The capacity to be
observant is essential to clinical diagnosis, and studying anatomy is a good way to develop
it. The time spent on repeated reading of a textbook or syllabus is less effective than the
time spent thinking about a subject and visualizing a structure and its relations to other parts
or regions. Laboratory observation is a vital component of learning anatomy.
Dissection in the laboratory is performed through the required dissection guide, Grants
Dissector (15th edition, 2013), by Patrick W. Tank. It is very important to thoroughly
read the required pages of dissection before entering the laboratory. This will save a great
deal of time, eliminate unnecessary frustration, and enhance your understanding of the
material to be examined. It will make dissection a challenging experience and its rewards
will be discovery. Knowledge gained from lecture notes, textbooks, and atlas sources will
be reinforced and expanded by dissection. Before proceeding to the next laboratory
assignment, each student should again, by way of summary, recall visually the dissected
parts, and return to lecture notes and textbook sources, to reinforce known concepts, and to
pick up additional details that were missed in the first reading. It is helpful to meet with
fellow students periodically to discuss the material and quiz each other on what has been
learned.

C.

Problem Based Learning Sessions (PBL): PBL sessions will consist of 9 students and one
faculty facilitator. Faculty Facilitators are usually members of the Department of Surgery
with specific expertise in the clinical cases being presented. Each group will meet twice per
PBL. The first session will consist of introduction of the case, group discussion, and
establishment of learning objectives for the case. The second session, the resolution,
includes student presentations of the learning objectives they have researched and in-depth
analysis of the case. It should be noted that PBLs are primarily self-directed learning
activities. While the faculty facilitators are a knowledge resource on clinical aspects of the
cases, they are not there to lecture, but rather to guide the student efforts toward successful
conclusions of the cases.

D.

Small Group Ultrasound Demonstrations: Ultrasound is a safe, non-invasive and versatile

imaging modality which is used widely in clinical practice. This exercise will provide the
opportunity for some hands-on experience practicing on standardized patients and reinforce
the anatomy learning experience.

E.

Dissection videos: A number of detailed dissection videos in DVD format have been
prepared to help the students and can be visualized at any time. They may be accessed from
the course homepage on navigator. They are also held on CMC reserve in the library.

F.

Question-and-answer web log: The course site on Navigator contains a very efficient
question/answer blog interactive between the students and course director. Please refer to
the blog regularly and feel encouraged to submit questions concerning any of the material in
the course. Questions will be promptly answered.

G.

Clinical Lectures: Four clinical lectures are presented during the Medical Anatomy course
and are integrated into the regional areas being studied (Thorax, Abdomen, Head and Neck
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and Extremities). They will involve a short presentation by a distinguished member of the
clinical faculty involving the subject at hand (e.g., heart surgery, liver transplant surgery) and
a question and answer session with a patient who has undergone the procedure. While
demonstrating important medical application of anatomical concepts, these sessions with
real patients are primarily designed to reinforce the human aspect of medical practice
and emphasize the fact that medical science is all about the people who benefit from your
knowledge and experience. Please see number 8 below.
6.

Evaluation
Three interim examinations are scheduled during this course: Exams 1 and 2 will include both a
written and a practical component, exam 3 will have only a practical component. You are required
to return the question paper along with your answer sheet at the end of the written examinations.
The question paper and the answer keys will be available for review at a specified time. Your
answer sheets for the practical will be returned soon after they are graded. The answer key to the
practical examination will be posted immediately after that examination. Please refer to the schedule
for the dates and times of the Interim examinations.
The Final Examination will be a comprehensive written examination covering the entire anatomy
course. There will be no practical component to this examination.
Grading Policy
Interim Examination I (Thorax, Abdomen, Pelvis and Perineum)
Written Examination10%
Laboratory Practical.....10%
Interim Examination II (Head and Neck)
Written Examination10%
Laboratory Practical 10%
Interim Examination III (Extremities)
Laboratory Practical.10%
Final Comprehensive Written Examination......50%
(Note: The Final Comprehensive Examination will be weighted more heavily on the Extremities
portion of the course)

7.

Resource Materials
Textbooks and Supplies

Primary Texts: (Required)

Grants Dissector (15th edition). Patrick W. Tank. Lippincott, Williams and Wilkins, 2013.
Anatomy: A Photographic Atlas (8th edition). J.W. Rohen, C. Yokochi, and E. Lutjen-Dreoll. Wolters
Kluver, 2016.
Atlas of Human Anatomy (6th edition). Frank H. Netter. Elsevier Inc. 2014
Suggested Atlas
Atlas of Anatomy (1st edition). P.W. Tank and T.R. Gest. Lippincott, Williams and Wilkins, 2009
Supplies Required:
White laboratory coat
Strongly Recommended: (But Not Required)
Clinically Oriented Anatomy (7th edition). K.L. Moore, A.F. Dalley, and A.M.R. Augur Lippincott,
Williams and Wilkins, 2014
Grays Anatomy for Students (3rd edition). R.L. Drake, A.W. Vogl, and A.W.M. Mitchell. Elsevier Inc. 2015
Medical Dictionary - One or the other recommended:
Stedmans Medical Dictionary (28th edition). Lippincott, Williams and Wilkins, 2013
OR
Dorlands Illustrated Medical Dictionary (32nd edition). W. B. Saunders, 2011
8.

Professionalism
Attendance is strongly encouraged in all aspects of the course, but is required in the Problem Based
Learning Sessions and the Clinical Lectures. With respect to the clinical lectures, you will be
meeting patients who will donate their time to your medical education in order to share with you
some very personal and sensitive information about themselves, their lives, and their conditions.
Therefore, please arrive by 4:00 sharp in Lecture Room 4 prior to the start of the presentation and
wear your short white coats for these clinical lecture presentations.

If you have a disability for which you are or may be requesting an

accommodation, you are encouraged to contact both your instructor and Disability
Resources and Services, 216 William Pitt Union, (412) 648-7890 or (412) 383-7355
(TTY), as early as possible in the term. DRS will verify your disability and
determine reasonable accommodations for this course.
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