Undergraduate Course: The Animal Body (2) (BVMS08053)
Course Outline
| School | Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies |
College | College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 8 (Year 1 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Not available to visiting students |
| SCQF Credits | 40 |
ECTS Credits | 20 |
| Summary | This course deals with the scientific principles and basic mechanisms of the molecular, cellular and tissue changes in disease including cellular pathology, inflammation and host immune mechanisms. Bacterial, viral, parasitic and mycotic diseases are introduced beginning with the general features of the biology of infectious agents followed by more detailed coverage of the mechanisms of pathogenesis, immunity and control of specific diseases of domesticated animals. The course includes laboratory methods for diagnosis of diseases and practical instruction is given in appropriate laboratory techniques. These topics should provide the student with an understanding of the pathogenesis and control of infection and will lay the foundation for consideration of infectious diseases and immunity in subsequent courses in later years.
The Animal Body 2 course consists of the following main sections:
Basic Cellular Pathology
Animal Response to Injury and Disease
Bacteriology
Virology
Parasitology
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| Course description |
The Animal Body courses are an integrated programme which covers the normal structure and function of the Animal Body and the mechanisms of molecular and cellular pathology, immunology, inflammation and repair and the general biology of pathogens.
There are four courses over two years. We wish to emphasise the integration between the courses but they stand alone and equal in terms of assessment and credit weighting.
Year 1
Course 1 The Animal Body 1 - From Cell to Body Structure (50 credits)
Course 2 The Animal Body 2 - Pathobiology of the Animal Body (40 credits)
Year 2
Course 3 The Animal Body 3 - Systems Biology and Pathobiology (60 credits)
Course 4 The Animal Body 4 - Integration of Structure and Function (20 credits)
Most material is taught in courses 1-3. Course 4 will review and integrate the material given in the previous three courses and will be assessed by a synoptic examination.
Animal Body 1 and 2 will lay the groundwork for the study of systems biology and pathobiology in year 2. A major aim of AB3 and AB4 is to obtain an understanding of homeostasis and the pathologies that can give rise to failures in homeostasis. A strong understanding of normal anatomy, cell biology and physiology underpins the interpretation of the abnormal. We wish to emphasise a deductive approach, we will describe the normal workings of a homeostatic mechanism and guide the student to deduce what happens if a component of the homeostasis fails.
Animal Body 4 will 'put the animal back together again'. It will illustrate and consolidate the teaching of the three previous modules using interpretation exercises. There will be little new taught material. The interpretation exercises in AB4 will take the form of clinical case studies. They will emphasise how awareness of pathological change can illustrate and consolidate understanding of normal structure and function. In order to interpret the case studies the students will need to draw on their knowledge from all the preceding courses.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | Students must be enrolled on a BVMS Veterinary Medicine degree programme in order to take this course. |
| Additional Costs | None |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2025/26, Not available to visiting students (SS1)
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Quota: None |
| Course Start |
Full Year |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
400
(
Lecture Hours 95,
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 10,
Supervised Practical/Workshop/Studio Hours 104,
Summative Assessment Hours 7,
Revision Session Hours 1,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 8,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
175 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
85 %,
Coursework
15 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
In-course assessments (15% of final mark) which consists of:
Presentation: 10% of final mark
MCQ assessment: 5% of final mark
Written examination (85% of final mark) which consists of:
Paper 1: 60 MCQs (multiple choice questions) (35% of final mark)
Paper 2: 5 SAQs (short answer questions) & 3 Data analysis and interpretation questions (50% of total mark)
Resit information:
The combination of the written examination and the in-course components must be passed at 50% or above. Any student that does not achieve 50% or above will be required to resit. The resit examination will be worth 100% and will consist of:
Paper 1: 60 MCQs (multiple choice questions) (40% of final resit mark)
Paper 2: 5 SAQs (short answer questions) & 3 Data analysis and interpretation questions (60% of final resit mark)
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| Feedback |
Paper copy of feedback to be provided for in course assessments. |
| Exam Information |
| Exam Diet |
Paper Name |
Minutes |
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| Outwith Standard Exam Diets May | Short Answer and Data Analysis Paper | 105 | | | Outwith Standard Exam Diets May | MCQ paper (online spot) | 90 | | | Resit Exam Diet (August) | Short Answer and Data Analysis paper | 105 | | | Resit Exam Diet (August) | MCQ paper (online spot) | 90 | |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Define and use specialist terminology applied to infectious diseases in clinical and scientific contexts.
- Describe the key characteristics and mechanisms of pathological processes and understand how these lead to the development of clinical disease.
- Describe the cellular and molecular pathogenic processes of viral, bacterial, fungal, and parasitic diseases in animals and those transmitted to humans (zoonoses).
- Relate pathogen, host and environmental factors to the transmission, epidemiology, diagnosis, treatment, control and prevention strategies to infection.
- In relation to infectious diseases, interpret and analyse data effectively to draw meaningful conclusions and make evidence-based decisions.
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Reading List
| Relevant reading lists will be provided at the beginning of each topic. |
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Not entered |
| Keywords | Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Mrs Zofia Lisowski
Tel:
Email: zofia.lisowski@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Mr Andrew Newcombe
Tel: (0131 6)50 6106
Email: Andrew.Newcombe@ed.ac.uk |
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