MedInTO Medicine and Surgery

Neurology

Neurology

Academic year 2020/2021

Sommario del corso

• Course objectives
• Results of learning outcomes
• Course delivery
• Learning assessment methods
• Support activities
• Program
• Suggested textbooks and readings
• Course modules
• Teaching tools

Course objectives

Anatomy 

The Anatomy module aims to provide the morphofunctional basis for understanding the functional and structural alterations occurring in neurological and neurosurgical pathologies; in particular, it will analyse the architectural organization and functional properties of the peripheral and autonomic nervous system, and of the sensory organs. A particular attention will be drawn on the major pathways of the central nervous system: motor and somatosensory, visual and auditory pathways

Neurophysiology

Objective is to teach the function of the nervous system, including motor control, sensory perception and integrative, cognitive, emotional functions.

Neurology

The Neurology module aims to provide intend to give to the student the knolwedge of the main anatomic and functional aspects of Central and Peripheral Nervous System with a simple but scientifically correct description of principal physiopathological alterations valuable by neurological examination. The lessons of Neurology and Neurosurgery have the goal to provide to the student the knowledge of the main functions, dysfunctions and pathologies of Central and Peripheral Nervous System.

Neurosurgery

The Neurosurgery module is intended to learning and knowledge of major neurosurgical pathologies and their surgical /nonsurgical management. The target of these lessons is to provide theoretical and practical bases for current practice.

Results of learning outcomes

Anatomy 

The student must be able to describe the major pathways of the central nervous system, and the anatomy of sensory organs. She/He must know the course(s) and innervation(s) of the cranial and spinal nerves, as well as the autonomic nervous system nerves. In addition she/he should acquire the basis of functional anatomy and the importance of anatomy for each structure, related to some pathologies.

Neurophysiology

Students must know the principles of the functional organization and neurophysiology of the human central nervous system. The course is aimed at providing a framework for understanding brain systems for sensory perception, control of body movement, human behavior, cognitive functions, emotions, control of the sleep-wake cycle, in view to understand nervous system pathology.

Neurology

The student should identify the most common neurological diseases and to know their etiology, prognosis, and treatment. To provide the necessary elements to indicate the execution of neuroradiological, and to refer the patient to the neurosurgeon or to the neuro-rehabilitator.

Neurosurgery

The student should learn and achieve the basics in relation to neurosurgical pathologies, their diagnosis and surgical/non surgical management.

Course delivery

Anatomy 

• Mandatory attendance
• Online classes (remote learning)
• Practical classes of macroanatomy

Neurophysiology

• Mandatory attendance
• E-learning: live streaming classes, or recorded lessons and synchronized interactive learning.
• If not synchronous, recorded lessons will be posted in Moodle within the time they are scheduled.
• Mandatory attendance

Neurology

• Mandatory attendance
• Online classes (remote learning)
• Practical classes of clinical cases

Neurosurgery

• Mandatory attendance
• Online classes (remote learning)
• Practical classes of clinical cases

Learning assessment methods

Anatomy 

• Written test, multiple choice: 60 minutes, 60 questions, 0.5 points/question, 4 choices/question (more than 1 right answer possible)

Neurophysiology

Written test, multiple choice: 30 minutes, 30 questions, 1 point/question, 4 choices/question

Neurology

• Written test, multiple choice: 60 minutes, 60 questions, 0.5 points/question, 4 choices/question (more than 1 right answer possible). Oral: not requested for votations of 27 or higher (available if requested); oral mandatory for grades of 26 or lower. 

Neurosurgery

• Written test, multiple choice: 30 minutes, 30 questions, 1 points/question, 4 choices/question (more than 1 right answer possible). Oral:available if requested or needed.

Support activities

Anatomy 

• Practical activities on the virtual cadaver (Anatomage) in small groups (20/25 students). Based on the Coronavirus governmental provisions, professors are envisioning lab activities with VR/AR tools.

Neurophysiology

• Interactive learning

Neurology

• Clinical tutorship. Based on the Coronavirus governmental provisions, professors are envisioning lab activities with VR/AR tools.

Neurosurgery

• Clinical/Surgical tutorship. Based on the Coronavirus governmental provisions, professors are envisioning lab activities with VR/AR tools.

Program

Anatomy 

• Peripheral Nervous System: organization (macro- and micro-anatomy) of cranial and spinal nerves.
• Autonomic Nervous System: brief introduction to sympathetic and parasympathetic systems.
• Sense Organs: brief introduction to the overall organization of gustative receptors and olfactory receptors, sense corpuscles and proprioceptors; eye, ear.
• Major pathways of the central nervous system

Neurophysiology

• General organization of motor systems. Spinal reflexes. Vestibular physiology. Control of posture and balance. Locomotion. Eye movements. Cerebellum. Basal ganglia. Cortical control of movement.
• Central mechanisms of the sensory systems: somatic sensations and pain, vision, hearing, smell, taste.
• Cortical functions, electroencephalographic rhythms, sleep-wake cycle, states of consciousness. Learning and Memory. Emotion. Language. Attention and decision making.

Neurology

• The motor function: pyramidal, extrapyramidal system, the cerebellum, the peripheral motor neuron and its pathology.
• Sensations: pathways and centers. The sensation disorders.
• The cranial nerves: functions and disorders.
• The symbolic functions: Aphasia, agnosia, apraxia.
• The state of consciousness and its disorders.
• The encephalitis.
• The Epilepsies and the electroencephalogram.
• The demyelinating diseases and brain evoked potentials
• The cerebral vasculopathy.
• Diseases of the spinal nerves. Neuropathies. The electromyogram.
• The muscle diseases.
• Parkinson's disease and parkinsonism. The choreas, dystonias, tremors.
• Alzheimer's disease and dementias.
• Degenerative ataxias.
• The main neurological exams.
• The headaches.
• Trigeminal neuralgia.

Neurosurgery

• Brain tumors and Central Nervous System metastasis
• Degenerative diseases of the cervical and lumbar spine
• Hydrocephalus
• Radicolopathies and myelopathies
• Subarachnoid hemorrhage

Anatomy 

• Gray’s Anatomy, Elsevier.
• Atlas of Human Anatomy - Prometheus, Schunke, Shulte and Schumaker
• Atlas of Human Anatomy, Netter

Neurophysiology 

• Purves D, Augustin GJ, Fitzpatrick D, Hall WC, LaMantia AS, White LE – Neuroscience. Oxford University Press.
• Monographic textbooks with more comprehensive and updated description of single subjects: Kandel ER, Schwartz JH, Jessell TM, Siegelbaum SA, Hudspeth AJ – Principles of neural science. McGraw-Hill.

Neurology

• Mutani R. et al. Il Bergamini di Neurologia, Cortina, Torino,  2012.
• Ropper AH, Samuels MS. Adams and Victor's Principles of Neurology. Mc Graw Hill, New York, 2009.

Neurosurgery

• Staffa G. Elementi di Neurochirurgia, Timeo 2012

Moduli didattici

• Neurology - Module of Human Anatomy (SCB0217D)
• Neurology - Module of Neurology (SCB0217B)
• Neurology - Module of Neurosurgery (SCB0217C)
• Neurology - Module of Physiology (SCB0217A)

• Teaching materials
• Exams and finals
• Go to Moodle
• Visit the forums