Clinical Foundations in Anatomy, Physiology, and Palpation

Catalog description

Using a combination of dynamic lectures, anatomy/physiology software, cadaver lab access and active learning assignments, students learn to differentiate major anatomical tissues and cellular structures. This includes connective tissue – connective tissue proper, bone, cartilage, fascia, tendons, ligaments, and specialized connective tissue blood and adipose tissue; muscle – smooth, cardiac, and skeletal muscle; nerves both myelinated and unmyelinated in CNS and PNS; and epithelium, and organs. Palpation of key musculoskeletal structures is introduced using online videos and in synchronous lab sessions. The major physiological systems (nervous, endocrine, genitourinary, gastrointestinal, and supporting organs, musculoskeletal, cardiac, pulmonary, lymphatic, integumentary, and hematopoietic) are also presented. Pathologies related to each of the above tissues and systems are discussed. Students also analyze the impact of immobility, acute activity/exercise and chronic training on all body structures and physiological processes and explore the growing body of knowledge of exercise, epigenetics, and pain science.