COURSE DESCRIPTION: The MSTP C&DA course will provide an introduction to human anatomy and embryology. The course employs multiple learning modalities, each designed to integrate with the others and support the overall learning experience. These include lectures, anatomy lab sessions with prosected cadavers, radiology images, and online electronic anatomy resources. Lectures will emphasize anatomical structure and function, embryology, clinical and radiographic anatomy. The dissection laboratory is a focus of the course. It is where much learning will take place. The hands-on experience with the cadaver-patient and the opportunity for discussion with teammates, peers and faculty will make the dissection lab a rich learning environment. The C&DA course is organized according to the natural subdivisions of the body. This regional approach is adopted because of its relevance to both clinical practice and the study of the body by dissection.
COURSE OBJECTIVES: The initial goal of the Clinical and Developmental Anatomy course is to teach the language of anatomy, an essential part of medical training because this vocabulary will become the basis of daily professional conversations and written communications. A working knowledge of anatomical nomenclature is also essential in order to locate information.
Another goal is to facilitate both: 1) the ability to recognize anatomical structures and appreciate their developmental history, and 2) the experience to appreciate the relationship between anatomical structures and clinical care.
All of the specific C&DA course objectives are linked to Einstein’s Educational Competencies.
At the completion of the C&DA course each student should be able to:
1. Utilize orally and in writing the correct and common descriptive anatomical terms.
2. Demonstrate and describe the functional significance of structures, their anatomical relationships, and their developmental history.
3. Demonstrate sufficient knowledge of surface anatomy to be able to palpate and inspect the structures necessary to conduct a physical exam on a living subject.
4. Characterize the basics of diagnostic imaging and be able to apply them as an aid in understanding clinical anatomy.
5. Detail the normal ranges of variability in anatomical structures found in the human body.
6. Apply relevant anatomical and embryological information to the study of other basic medical sciences and clinical problems.
7. Demonstrate an appreciation of diverse perspectives and alternative approaches to learning anatomy and problem-solving in the analysis of normal and pathological conditions.
8. Engage in peer evaluation and exchange feedback on reflective writing regarding cadaver-patient experience to advance personal and professional development.
9. Show sensitivity and gratitude toward the donor families and cadavers by acting respectfully and responsibly at all times.
PREREQUISITES: None.
REQUIRED MATERIALS: There are many good anatomy and embryology textbooks available in both hard copy and e-book formats. One can learn anatomy and embryology from any of them. However, it is not realistic for us to annotate reading, lecture and laboratory assignments with page numbers from all the available texts. Therefore, the following three texts will be ‘required’, meaning that page numbers in course materials will refer to these specific texts.
Required Textbooks
• Essential Clinical Anatomy, 5th ed. 2015. Moore, K.L, A. Agur and A. Dalley. Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins, Philadelphia, 686 pp. ISBN 978-1-4511-8749-6.
Essential Clinical Anatomy (a.k.a. "Baby Moore") is a comprehensive regional anatomy textbook that is a single source for both descriptive information and clinical correlations.
• Imaging Atlas of Human Anatomy, 4th ed., 2011. Weir, J., P.H. Abrahams, J. Spratt and L. Salkowski. Elsevier, Philadelphia, 250 pp. ISBN 978-0-7234-3457-3.
The Weir Imaging Atlas is not only a valuable self-directed learning resource for radiographic anatomy studied in this course but also for many future courses where the interpretation of imaging modalities will be an essential aspect of diagnosis and treatment. It is required. All previous editions of the Weir Imaging Atlas are inferior to the fourth edition and are not recommended. There is no other equivalent text. An electronic version of this text is available through the library (see Appendix 1).
• Langman's Medical Embryology, 13th Edition ISBN: 978-1-4511-9164-6
The study of embryology is an essential component of the Clinical and Developmental Anatomy course. The Sadler embryology text has clear and simple drawings, many photographs and clinical correlations, and well-organized explanations. Copies are present in each lab. Lab and lectures will follow the 13th Edition textbook, which is in the Library’s Book Collection and can be borrowed for 2 weeks at a time. The 14th Edition textbook is On Reserve in the Library. E-book: https://libcat.einsteinmed.edu/record=b1134481
SUITABLE FOR 1ST YEAR STUDENTS: For 1st year MD-PhD students only.
STUDENT ASSESSMENTS: Students’ learning will be assessed with three exams that will each include multiple-choice questions (MCQ) and a practical lab exam. The MCQ portion of the exams will be administered through the ExamSoft system. Each exam will be worth 33% of the final grade. Pass/Fail cutoff will be in accordance with Medical School’s grading policy. Final grades (Honors, Pass, Fail, Incomplete) will be assigned according to Graduate Division policies. The make-up exam will be Image-based Questions on the entire course. There will be 50 multiple choice questions. It covers content on the whole body.
CREDIT HOURS: 3.0
