BSc Speech and Language Therapy / Course details

This course unit runs across the first year of study. The unit will provide an overview of key anatomy and physiology related to communication, eating, drinking and swallowing. Biomedical learning will take place alongside learning in other year one units about social constructs of impairment, disability and participation.

The unit aims to:

• Provide students with opportunities to gain a general knowledge of the structure and functions of the cells and tissues of the body.
• Provide students with a variety of opportunities to gain in depth knowledge and understanding of typical anatomy and physiology related to communication, eating, drinking and swallowing.
• Encourage students to consider the clinical relevance of the basic sciences so that they can appreciate how medical conditions affect communication, eating, drinking and swallowing.

Students will be able to:

Knowledge and understanding

• Describe and explain the structure and functions of the cells and tissues of the body.
• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding required to describe and explain typical anatomy and physiology related to communication, eating, drinking and swallowing and to be able to apply that knowledge and understanding to other areas of study.

Intellectual skills

• Acquire, synthesise, and evaluate information from a range of sources.
• Understand the importance and application of the available information to speech and language therapy.
• Engage in independent learning to review and consolidate their knowledge and understanding of the information presented.

Practical skills

• Use library, electronic and online resources to support learning.
• Accurately present and discuss information.
• Write clearly and concisely in an appropriate formal style in order to communicate information accurately.

Transferable skills and personal qualities

• Utilise library and electronic resources to support and extend their own learning.
• Demonstrate effective communication skills appropriate to the intended audience.
• Engage in self-directed learning that will promote professional development.

Learning and teaching processes utilise tutor led lectures, tutorials and workshops. 

To support independent study, learning materials including teaching slides and recommended reading will be provided before teaching sessions on the unit’s online Blackboard learning environment. 

1. Online quizzes (formative)
2. Mock examination (1 hour, formative)
3. Written examination (2 hours, 100%)

Students will have the opportunity to self-evaluate their performance against online tutor written model answers following online quizzes and against tutor and peer discussion during tutorials/workshops.

Students will receive a mark and can have personalised feedback on the written examination as appropriate.

Throughout the unit, students will have the opportunity to self-evaluate their work and understanding against class discussions and tutor comment.

Jenkins, G.W. and Tortora, G.J. (2014) Anatomy and Physiology: From Science to Life. Wiley.

Martini, S. & Frederic, H. (1998) Fundamentals of Anatomy and Physiology 4th Edition. Prentice Hall.

Atkinson, M. & McHanwell, S. (2002) Basic Medical Science for Speech and Language Therapy Students. London: Whurr Publishers.