Respiratory Disease

Code School Level Credits Semesters
MGEM2013 Medical Sciences and Graduate Entry Medicine 2 20 Spring UK
Code
MGEM2013
School
Medical Sciences and Graduate Entry Medicine
Level
2
Credits
20
Semesters
Spring UK

Summary

This module builds on basic anatomical, histological, microbiological and physiological knowledge of the respiratory system to provide an integrated understanding of the biomedical basis, diagnosis and select treatments for a range of common respiratory diseases. Diagnostic and investigative content includes:


Surface anatomy of the lungs and clinical imaging of the respiratory system

Percussion and basic palpation of the chest wall and thorax

Auscultation and breath sounds

Clinical respiratory approaches for respiratory signs and symptoms

Spirometry

Arterial blood gas analysis

The core content requires some self-directed and independent directed learning. Furthermore the module facilitates the development of group work to apply knowledge and understanding to explain the diagnosis and underpinning pathophysiology in mock clinical cases. Select therapeutic management is included.

Target Students

Students registered on Part I of the BSc in Medical Physiology and Therapeutics.Thereare a limited number of places on this module.

Classes

Delivery via lectures, complemented with tutorials (1hr -1.5 hrs) and workshop/practical sessions (1-2 hrs). Online learning and directed components provide an approximate content hourage of 36 hours. Activities may take place every teaching week of the Semester or only in specified weeks

Assessment

Assessed by end of spring semester

Educational Aims

This module aims to provide students with a broad knowledge and understanding of the scientific basis of select common respiratory diseases, the role and basis of selective investigative techniques used to diagnose such dysfunctions and the rationale for treatments available. Students are also expected to develop a number of transferrable skills such as group working, information searching and written academic skills.

Learning Outcomes

Knowledge and understanding.

At the end of this module students will be able to: 

• Describe the anatomy, histology and physiology of the respiratory system in health, explain and compare the pathophysiology of select respiratory disorders and  causative factors (including infectious agents)  
 
• Describe the benefit of the selected diagnostic techniques and biomarkers in respiratory medicine to determine the presence, severity or type of disease eg chronic obstructive lung disease (chronic bronchitis, emphysema and asthma), respiratory infection, pneumothorax, pulmonary cancer, occupational disease (e.g. asbestosis, sarcoidosis) and interstitial lung disease (e.g. fibrosis)  

Laboratory/Practical skills 

At the end of this module the student will be able to: 

•Describe procedures and purpose of respiratory examination procedures such as chest wall percussion, thorax palpation to assess chest expansion, cheat auscultation and describe and differentiate the nature of respiratory sounds 

• Describe, explain and interpret basic lung function testing e.g.  spirometry for static and dynamic lung function tests and recognise characteristic changes in measurements in common measurements used to diagnose select lung conditions e.g. asthma 

• Interpret blood gas analysis data as being respiratory or non-respiratory (metabolic) in origin, and relate the data to the severity of the respiratory dysfunction.  

Intellectual skills 

Students will be able to: 

Analyse and interpret basic patient information to reach their basic diagnostic conclusion based on information provided. 

Transferrable Skills 

• Develop skills in independent study and effective communication to support life-long learning and professional development 

• Develop enquiry-based learning, and independently and with others search for and use relevant information from the scientific literature  to reach a conclusion 

• Present reasoning and conclusions as a diagnostic report   

Conveners

View in Curriculum Catalogue
Last updated 07/01/2025.