Human Anatomy and Physiology Overview

Learning Outcomes and Assessment Criteria

• Students will understand human anatomy and physiology, and the impact of diseases/disorders on the body.
• Learners can identify the structure of the human body.
• Learners can describe the key functions of the human body.
• Learners can explain the physiology of special senses.
• Learners can explain various medical conditions (e.g., kidney disorders, eye disorders, neurological conditions).
• Learners can assess patients, formulate diagnoses, determine severity, and assist in managing illnesses/injuries.
• Learners can describe elements of a patient assessment (e.g., ABCDE, vital signs, clinical observations).
• Learners can recognize normal physiological ranges for adults, children, and infants.
• Students will know how to recognize and manage life-threatening infections, including sepsis.

Content Overview

• Human Body Systems: Gastrointestinal, nervous, ear, nose, throat, endocrine, musculoskeletal, reproductive, urinary, lymphatic, skin, hair, and nails are key systems to understand.
• Physiology of Special Senses: Hearing, sight, smell, and taste are covered.
• Medical Conditions: Cardiovascular (heart failure, hypertension), cerebrovascular (stroke), musculoskeletal (osteoarthritis, osteoporosis), kidney (acute pyelonephritis), neurological (dementia, Parkinson's), and reproductive system disorders are examples. Disorders of the ear, eye, and spinal cord are also included.
• Patient Assessment: Components include physical examinations, history taking, and observing vital signs like respiratory rate, pulse, blood pressure, blood glucose, temperature, oxygen saturation, and capillary refill.
• Life-threatening Infections: Meningitis and sepsis are discussed with their management and pathophysiology. Specific criteria for recognition of sepsis are also listed (like NEWS2 scores).

Sepsis Specific Details

• Definition: Sepsis is a life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response to infection
• Septic Shock: A subset of sepsis with severe circulatory, cellular, and metabolic abnormalities, increasing mortality risk.
• Pathophysiology: Sepsis originates as a localized infection spreading systemically through the bloodstream, causing inflammation and potentially organ failure.
• Recognition: Includes signs of infection, red and yellow flag criteria, altered clinical observations, and NEWS2 score.
• Management: Includes assessing the patient, determining a diagnosis, referring to appropriate healthcare staff, and immediate conveyance when needed. Following organization-specific procedures is crucial.