MSci Neuroscience / Course details

You will study the anatomy of the head and neck with a particular focus on the special sense organs; eyes, nose, tongue and ears.

BIOL21402 Pre- & Co-requisites are BIOL21291

BIOL21402 Pre- & Co-requisites are BIOL21291

This unit focuses on the anatomy of the head and neck with a particular focus on the special sense organs. The aim is to provide students with a good foundation in these topic areas.

NOTE: Synchronous assessments will be carried out during the unit. These synchronous assessments cannot be rescheduled and you should avoid arranging any appointments or extracurricular activities on the dates of the assessments (the dates will be announced at the beginning of the course).

You will be able to:

• Describe the anatomy of the skull, brain, cranial nerves and special sense organs
• Explain the topological disposition and functional organisation of craniofacial organs
• Explain the nerve and blood supply of craniofacial organs
• Describe the neural pathways from/to the special sense organs
• Understand the spatial arrangement and relations of the above structures

The course will include a series of lectures which are supplemented by a number of interactive sessions.

The following topics will be covered:

• Overview of the brain and meninges
• Overview of the cranial nerves
• Anatomy of the skull
• Anatomy of vision (layers of eyeball, extraocular muscles, retina)
• Anatomy of taste (tongue and oral cavity)
• Anatomy of smell (nose) and paranasal sinuses
• Anatomy of hearing and balance (outer, middle, inner ear)
• The neural pathways from/to the special senses

eLearning Content
There are four e-Learning nodes. These will reinforce the anatomy learned during the unit. The four nodes are on: brain, cranial nerves and skull; eyes and orbital cavity; nose and tongue; and outer, middle and inner ears.

• Written exam. You will write an essay in answer to 1 question (out of choice of 5); worth 55% of unit mark
• 3 synchronous tests (each 30 minutes in total); each test is worth 15% of the unit mark

Feedback will be given after completion of each of the e-Learning nodes. Oral feedback can be given during the face to face interactive sessions.