Undergraduate - UnitHUP3801 - Essentials of pathology

Refer to the specific census and withdrawal dates for the semester(s) in which this unit is offered.

Synopsis

This unit will introduce students to various aspects of Pathology and its importance in medical sciences. The content is broad-based and focuses on general principles and pathophysiological processes in the body. The lecture and practical material emphasises applied and practical aspects of the topics. The unit will include the following:

1. Clinical Biochemistry includes metabolism of vitamins and minerals, the role of plasma enzymes in prognosis and diagnosis and some organ functions;
2. Haematology - involves the anaemias, leukaemias, myeloproliferative and bleeding disorders together with the principles of blood banking and blood transfusion;
3. Histopathology and Cytology include common cytotological problems of gynaecological and non gynaecological nature, acute and chronic inflammation, healing and repair, circulatory disorders as well as hyperplasia and neoplasia;
4. Medical Parasitology and Entomology are confined to protozoalogy and helminthology, arthropods and basic knowledge of the life cycles and human diseases born by insects and arachnids found in the Malaysian region.

Outcomes

On completion of this unit, students will have an understanding of how the organs and tissues of a healthy body become diseased. It provides an understanding of the disease processes encountered, their causes and their clinical effects. In Histopathology/ Cytology the objective is to show some basic mechanisms by which the normal in the body is converted to the abnormal eg. cytological problems associated with gynaecological and non-gynaecological abnormalities, circulatory disorders and disorders of growth such as hyperplasia and neoplasia while Clinical Biochemistry will enable students to further their appreciation of the involvement of metabolic interrelationships in health and disease. These include vitamins, micro and macro minerals and also some organ functions in relation to the above. Haematology will help the students to achieve an understanding of how blood diseases can be explained from the biochemical, physiological and immunological processes involved in normal body functions and disturbances that may occur in different diseased states eg. anaemias, leukaemias and some bleeding disorders, while Medical Parasitology and Entomology will help them in understanding the pathophysiology of some parasitic diseases born by insects and arachnids found in the Malaysian region.

Assessment

Assignment: 10%
Mid-semester test: 10%
Practical reports: 30%
Final Exam: 50%

Chief examiner(s)

Dr Neetu Gopinath

Contact hours

Three 1-hour lectures, one 3-hour practical class and one 1-hour tutorial per week

Prerequisites

BTH2741, BTH2752, ANT2331