Universitat Internacional de Catalunya
Sturcture and Function: Musculoskeletal System
Other languages of instruction: Catalan, English
Teaching staff
Introduction
This course will provide the necessary knowledge of the musculoskeletal system, which contributes to the maintenance of homeostasis in living organisms. Both its physiological and structural components will be studied.
The course contributes to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda, particularly SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and, transversally, SDG 4 (Quality Education), through the acquisition of fundamental knowledge of the structure and function of the musculoskeletal system and its relationship with human health.
Pre-course requirements
Knowledge of basic molecular, cellular and chemical terminology
Objectives
- Provide fundamental knowledge of the composition and organization of connective and muscle tissues.
- Explain the main functions of these tissues and the mechanisms that enable them to perform these functions.
- Describe the general anatomy of the human musculoskeletal system and the organization of its main components.
- Explain the physiological processes that allow musculoskeletal tissues to perform their functions.
- Facilitate the understanding of the main physiological and structural alterations of the musculoskeletal system that may contribute to the development of disease in humans.
Competences/Learning outcomes of the degree programme
- CN06 - Describe the anatomical, physiological and histological aspects of the organs and systems in the human body at different stages in life, in both sexes.
- CN07 - Identify the structure, function and action mechanisms of the components of the immune system, both when healthy or when experiencing a pathology.
- CP02 - Apply scientific methodology to interpret practical or theoretical data by evaluating situations and results from a critical and constructive point of view.
- CP05 - Apply biological foundations in the search for practical solutions to health problems, following ethical standards and scientific rigour and respecting fundamental equal rights between men and women, and the promotion of human rights and the values inherent in a peaceful society of democratic values that includes inclusive, non-discriminatory language without stereotypes.
Learning outcomes of the subject
Upon completing the course, students should be able to:
● Identify musculoskeletal anatomy through macroscopic methods.
● Distinguish the shape, structure, and functions of the musculoskeletal system, considering different muscle types.
● Identify the main bones of the human body, as well as their physiology, formation, and remodeling.
● Understand the importance and functioning of calcium homeostasis.
● Describe the processes that occur after a fracture or bone disease.
● Identify the internal processes that trigger muscle contraction.
● Explain the processes that take place after muscle injury.
Syllabus
Theoretical contents
Composition, structure and physiology of connective tissue
- Components of connective tissue: cells, fibers and ground substance.
- Organization and function of the extracellular matrix.
- Collagen, elastin and other structural components.
- Main types of connective tissue and their histological and functional characteristics.
- Tendons, ligaments and fasciae: structure, organization and mechanical function.
- Basic mechanical properties of connective tissue and response to loading.
- Remodeling, repair and adaptation of connective tissue.
Cartilaginous tissue and joints
- Types of cartilage: hyaline cartilage, fibrocartilage and elastic cartilage.
- Histological organization of cartilage and composition of the extracellular matrix.
- Chondrocyte physiology and maintenance of cartilaginous tissue.
- Nutrition, regeneration and mechanical response of cartilage.
- Basic anatomy and classification of joints.
- Components of synovial joints: articular cartilage, joint capsule, synovial membrane, ligaments and synovial fluid.
- Relationship between joint structure, mobility and stability.
Bone tissue and the skeletal system
- Macroscopic and microscopic organization of bone tissue.
- Cortical and trabecular bone.
- Osteoblasts, osteocytes and osteoclasts.
- Bone matrix and mineralization.
- Ossification, growth and bone remodeling.
- Regulation of bone metabolism and calcium and phosphate homeostasis.
- Bone adaptation to mechanical loading.
- General anatomy of the axial and appendicular skeleton.
- Classification of bones and main anatomical landmarks.
- Relationship between bone structure and biomechanical function.
Muscle tissue and the muscular system
- Types of muscle tissue and characteristics of skeletal muscle.
- Macroscopic and microscopic organization of skeletal muscle.
- Muscle fibers, myofibrils and sarcomeres.
- Physiological basis of muscle contraction and excitation-contraction coupling.
- Regulation of muscle force and types of contraction.
- Muscle fiber types and their metabolic and functional properties.
- Muscle architecture and the relationship between structure and function.
- General anatomy of the major muscle groups of the human body.
- Functional relationship between muscles, tendons, joints and movement.
Practical contents
Anatomy and dissection sessions
- Practical study of the anatomy of the musculoskeletal system.
- Identification and recognition of the main anatomical structures using dissection material and other anatomical resources.
Laboratory and histology sessions
- Microscopic study of the main tissues that form the musculoskeletal system.
- Identification of their basic histological characteristics and their relationship with function.
Teaching and learning activities
In person
The course contents will be delivered using two different teaching methodologies or learning activities:
1. Lectures – ≈20 hours: the teaching staff provides the fundamental knowledge of the course to the whole group of students in the classroom. Attendance at lectures is not compulsory.
2. Practical sessions – ≈10 hours: practical activities aimed at applying and understanding the contents covered in the theoretical sessions, under the supervision of the teaching staff. These include approximately 4 hours of anatomy and dissection sessions and 6 hours of laboratory and histology sessions. Attendance at practical sessions is compulsory. Each unjustified absence will result in a 0.5-point deduction from the final course grade. Missing more than 3 practical sessions will result in an automatic fail for the course.
Evaluation systems and criteria
In person
1st, 3rd and 5th call consists of: 25% final practical test, 65% final theoretical test, 10% continuous evaluation.
Practical test.
- Day: To be determined
- Type of test: 10 questions related to the practices carried out in the course.
- The wrong question does not subtract.
- The person who does not pass this exam does not pass the course.
Final exam.
- Day: To be determined
- Type of test: 40-60 multiple choice questions.
- It includes all the material explained in the theoretical classes.
- It is essential to pass this exam in order to pass the course.
- Each question will consist of four answer options, of which only one will be correct.
Incorrect answers will incur a penalty of 0.33 points.
Unanswered questions will not be penalised.
Continuous evaluation: questions, works and tests carried out during the classes (both oral and written). Included are moodle quizzes that can be announced or can be surprise (without prior notice in the same class) and attitude assessment by the teacher.
REMARKS:
- The final exam and the practical exam must be passed to pass the subject with a grade equal or higher than 5.
- In order to pass the subject an overall grade equal to or higher than 5 must be obtained (in addition to the above point).
- The person who has passed the practical exam and final theoretical exam, but the average does not exceed 5, will have to take the exam with a lower grade (test type or practical) and get a better result in this exam so that the average is equal to or higher than 5.
2nd, 4th and 6th exams consists of: 40% practical test and 60% final test.
- The final test and the practical test will have the same characteristics as the previous exams.
Other points to take into account:
1) Class attendance:
Attendance to the master classes is not compulsory, but attendees will have to abide by the rules indicated by the professors. The expulsion of a student from a master class, practical class or case method will have negative repercussions in the continuous evaluations.
Attendance to practicals is mandatory. If you miss a session, 0.5 points will be deducted from your FINAL grade for each absence. If you miss three or more practice sessions, you will fail the course.
If a student attends the class more than 5 minutes late, the professor may deny him/her entrance.
2) Misuse of electronic devices such as cell phones, tablets or laptops may result in expulsion from class. Misuse is understood as the recording and broadcasting of students or teachers during the different lessons as well as the use of these devices for recreational and non-educational purposes. In the case of accessing the laboratories with the phone, the teacher will have the power to fail the course.
Bibliography and resources
TORTORA. Principios de Anatomía y Fisiología. Ed. Panamericana
THIBODEAU. Anatomía y fisiología. Ed. Elsevier
GUYTON. Fisiología médica. Ed. Elsevier
MEZQUITA. Fisiología médica. Ed. Panamericana