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DEGREE REGULATIONS & PROGRAMMES OF STUDY 2021/2022

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DRPS : Course Catalogue : Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies : BVMS

Undergraduate Course: Veterinary Pathology (BVMS09014)

Course Outline
SchoolRoyal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies CollegeCollege of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine
Credit level (Normal year taken)SCQF Level 9 (Year 3 Undergraduate) AvailabilityNot available to visiting students
SCQF Credits30 ECTS Credits15
SummaryThe Veterinary Pathology course uses lectures, tutorials and practical classes to focus on the principles and patterns of pathology using, where appropriate, examples of specific diseases for illustrative purposes. Students are exposed to practical examples of the disease processes taught in The Animal Body modules from First and Second Year or First Year Graduate Entry Programme (GEP). Together with the Clinical Foundation Course taught this semester, this course provides a link between preclinical and clinical disciplines and a foundation in pathophysiology for the species-based courses to follow.
Course description Course Objectives/Aims:
The main aim of this Course is to understand and learn the pathological changes that occur in tissues and organ systems and how such changes provide the basis for clinically-manifested diseases. Students are expected to apply their knowledge of cellular biology, anatomy and physiology as well as the pathology-related disciplines taught in the First and Second Year/GEP courses.

To understand and learn the occurrence, development and progression of pathological changes in body systems and individual organs, and to relate their morphology at gross (macroscopic) and microscopic levels to clinically recognisable functional defects and disease states.

Principle topics to be covered:

The spectrum and mechanisms of pathological changes in tissues at macroscopic, microscopic and molecular levels.

The specific pathogenesis and diseases of body organ systems in the veterinary species (i.e. systems pathology).

The role of clinical pathology in relation to diagnosis, prognosis, case monitoring and the use of the in-house practice laboratory.

The Course will be taught using the following:

Formal lectures - this course includes a series of 47 lectures, divided into Introductory Veterinary Pathology (12 lectures) and Systems Pathology (35 lectures).

Practical classes in gross pathology - student exposure to fresh and fixed pathological specimens (from necropsies and abattoir specimens) in one-sixth classes. These have an informal basis allowing question-answer tutorial-style teaching for each session following initial formal instruction.

Practical classes in histopathology and cytology - classes involve tutorial-type histopathological teaching of one-sixth classes using microscope slides and/or virtual microscopy.

Revision classes - towards the end of the semester, there will be revision classes with the aim of consolidating knowledge and pathological problem solving approaches. Students will also have access to self-study programmes and imagebanks.
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
Pre-requisites Co-requisites
Prohibited Combinations Other requirements Students must be enrolled on a BVMS Veterinary Medicine degree programme in order to take this course.
Course Delivery Information
Academic year 2021/22, Not available to visiting students (SS1) Quota:  None
Course Start Semester 1
Timetable Timetable
Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) Total Hours: 300 ( Lecture Hours 48, Dissertation/Project Supervision Hours 21, Supervised Practical/Workshop/Studio Hours 21, Online Activities 4, Feedback/Feedforward Hours 2, Summative Assessment Hours 3, Revision Session Hours 4, Other Study Hours 5, Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 6, Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours 186 )
Additional Information (Learning and Teaching) Other Study Hours = 5
Assessment (Further Info) Written Exam 85 %, Coursework 15 %, Practical Exam 0 %
Additional Information (Assessment) Written Exam 85%
Coursework 15%
Practical Exam 0%
Feedback Informal verbal feedback will be continually provided to students throughout the Course, particularly during the practical classes and round-up sessions.
Feedback sessions will be held to provide feedback on the in-course assessment then again for the End of Semester 1 Examinations.
Exam Information
Exam Diet Paper Name Hours & Minutes
Main Exam Diet S1 (December)Vet Pathology Exam3:00
Resit Exam Diet (August)Vet Pathology Resit3:00
Outwith Standard Exam Diets OctoberVeterinary Pathology ICA0:30
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
  1. To be able to explain the occurrence, development and progression of [BASIC/COMMON] pathological changes in body systems and individual organs, and to relate their morphology at gross (macroscopic) and microscopic levels to clinically recognisable functional defects and disease states.
  2. To be able to interpret macroscopic lesions in such a way as to make a meaningful diagnostic assessment in relation to clinical observations.
  3. To be able to explain the principles and importance of post-mortem examination in disease diagnosis.
  4. To be able to explain appropriate means of sample collection and handling and the basic interpretation of haematology, clinical biochemistry and cytology investigations
Reading List
Students are not required to purchase specific textbooks. However, students are encouraged to consult textbooks for greater depth of understanding where necessary. The majority of these texts are available in the Veterinary Library.

Histology:
Colour Atlas of Veterinary Histology, 2nd Ed.
WJ Bacha & LM Bacha, 2000

Wheater's Functional Histology: A Text and Colour Atlas, 5th Ed. (n.b. human text)
B Young, JS Lowe, A Stevens & JW Heath, 2006

Disease Mechanisms/Pathogenesis:
Mechanisms of Disease ¿ A Textbook of Comparative General Pathology, 3rd Ed.
DO Slauson & BJ Cooper, 2001

Pathologic Basis of Veterinary Disease, 4th Ed.
MD McGavin & JF Zachary, 2006 ¿ Highly recommended

Jubb, Kennedy and Palmer¿s Pathology of Domestic Animals, 5th Ed. Volumes 1-3.
MG Maxie (Ed), 2007 ¿ FOR REFERENCE ONLY (copy in library)
Additional Information
Graduate Attributes and Skills Not entered
KeywordsNot entered
Contacts
Course organiserDr Susan Rhind
Tel: (0131 6)50 6219
Email: Susan.Rhind@ed.ac.uk
Course secretaryMrs Belgin Davidson
Tel: (0131 6)50 6175
Email: belgin.davidson@ed.ac.uk
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