Course Description
Designed to make pre-veterinary students understand the general principles of anatomy and appreciate the species differences in different aspects of anatomy. This course will also prepare them to be ready for the comparative veterinary gross anatomy courses in schools and colleges of veterinary medicine when they join their DVM program.
Athena Title
Comparative Veterinary Anatomy
Non-Traditional Format
This course will be taught 95% or more online. A 12-week online course consisting of 15 online modules.
Semester Course Offered
Offered fall, spring and summer
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
Our research indicates that comparative gross anatomy courses in the veterinary schools are some of the most time consuming, detail-oriented courses in the veterinary curriculum. Veterinary students in their first year find it difficult to cope with the details and species differences. Further, there are no pre-veterinary anatomy courses that prepare them specifically for veterinary education. Based on the survey of first year veterinary students over the past several years, we found out that 90% of the students in the class would have really liked to take a pre-veterinary anatomy course before they entered the veterinary school. They further indicated that an online course will be much appreciated. The development of a comparative veterinary anatomy for pre-veterinary students (3-credit online) course is an attempt to realize this potential. Comparative Veterinary Anatomy for Pre-Veterinary Students will be a 12-week online course. This course will consist of 15 online modules. The course will be designed to make pre- veterinary students understand the general principles of anatomy and appreciate the species differences in different aspects of anatomy. This course will also prepare them to be ready for the comparative veterinary gross anatomy courses in schools and colleges of veterinary medicine when they join their DVM program. Further, this course will also satisfy some of the biology requirements for admission to the veterinary curriculum. General Philosophy: Anatomy is one of the important basic subjects that students have to learn when entering into any health-related program. In veterinary medicine, students are required to learn the anatomy of several species of domestic animals. Students, in general, get lost in learning the "sea of details" rather than focusing on important aspects of anatomy. Thus, appropriate preparation during the pre-veterinary years will help them understand and appreciate the species differences and get them ready for veterinary gross anatomy in the veterinary curriculum. Course Objectives: 1. Understand the basic concepts, ideas of anatomy and anatomical terms. 2. General familiarization with species differences in the anatomy of various systems. Learning Outcomes: The students are expected to learn the basic concepts of regional anatomy in multiple species. This will help them learn common anatomical terms used in the veterinary anatomy course when they start their DVM curriculum. Further, they are expected to familiarize themselves with gross anatomical species differences in different systems, which will help them understand the anatomy of different species when they start their veterinary anatomy courses in the DVM curriculum.
Topical Outline
Description of Modules Module 1: Basic ideas, concepts, and anatomical terms (week 1) Objectives: To understand the ideas, concepts, and terminology related to anatomy. Material to be covered: 1. Language, concepts, and terms of anatomy 2. Connective tissue 3. Blood vessels, lymphatic structures 4. Nerves and tissues of the nervous system Module 2: Anatomy of the common integument (week 2) Objectives: To understand the anatomy of common integument. Material to be covered: 1. Skin and hair 2. Foot pads, nails, claws, hoofs 3. Horns 4. Sweat glands and mammary glands Module 3: Comparative anatomy of the nervous system (week 3) Objectives: To understand the anatomy of the somatic and autonomic nervous system Materials to be covered: 1. General structural and descriptive anatomy of the nervous system – brain, spinal cord 2. Cranial nerves 3. General Somatic Nervous System 4. Autonomic nervous system Module 4: Comparative anatomy of the musculoskeletal system – general (week 4) Objectives: To familiarize students with the basics of the locomotor system – bones, muscles, joints, ligaments, tendons, etc. Material to be covered: 1. Bones and skeleton 2. Joints 3. Muscles – skeletal vs smooth; skeletal: origin, insertion, function, innervations; epaxial vs hypaxial; Muscles of the limbs vs. abdominal and thoracic muscles Modules 5 & 6: Comparative anatomy of the forelimb – bones, muscles, nerves, and vessels (weeks 5 & 6) Objectives: To be able to understand the general species differences in the forelimb of canine, equine, and bovine. Material to be covered: 1. Bones and joints of the forelimb – comparative 2. Muscles, innervations, and function – comparative 3. Blood vessels of the forelimb – comparative 4. Special features – comparative – stay apparatus 5. Foot – hoof – bovine, equine Modules 7 & 8: Comparative anatomy of the hindlimb – bones, muscles, nerves, and vessels (weeks 7 & 8) Objectives: To be able to understand the general species differences in the hind limb of canine, equine, and bovine. Material to be covered: 1. Bones and joints of the hind limb – comparative 2. Muscles, innervations, and function – comparative 3. Blood vessels of the hind imb – comparative 4. Special features – comparative – stay apparatus/stay apparatus 5. Foot – hoof – bovine, equine Module 9: Comparative anatomy of the cardiovascular system (week 9) Objectives: To understand and appreciate the anatomy of the heart and great vessels Material to be covered: 1. Anatomy of the heart 2. Great vessels – species differences 3. Coronary circulation 4. Systemic circulation 5. Circulation in the fetus 6. Innervation to the heart Module 10: Comparative anatomy of the respiratory system (week 10) Objectives: To understand the anatomy of the respiratory system – lungs and associated structures Material to be covered: 1. Nose 2. Larynx and trachea 3. Lungs 4. Muscles involved in respiration Modules 11 & 12: Comparative anatomy of the digestive system (week 11 & 12) Objectives: To understand the anatomy of the simple digestive system; to appreciate the diversity in general organization in different species Material to be covered: 1. Anatomy of the stomach 2. Anatomy of the small intestines 3. Anatomy of the large intestines 4. General anatomy of the foregut fermenters – ruminants 5. General anatomy of the hindgut fermenters – equine 6. Vascularization and innervations of the digestive system Modules 13 & 14: Comparative anatomy of the urogenital system (week 13 & 14) Objectives: To understand the general anatomy of the male and female reproductive organs, kidney, and excretory system. Material to be covered: 1. Development of urogenital organs 2. Male reproductive organs 3. Female reproductive organs 4. Accessory sex glands 5. Kidney 6. Bladder and urethra Module 15: Comparative anatomy of the sense organs (week 15) Objectives: To understand the general anatomy of the sense organs Material to be covered: 1. Anatomy of the eye – muscles of the eyeball, structures of the eye, innervations to structures of the eye 2. Ear – anatomy of the ear and structures of internal ear 3. Olfactory organ 4. Gustation 5. Proprioception Assessment Participating students will be assessed by 3 online exams: Exam 1 after unit 6; Exam 2 after Unit 10; Exam 3 (final): at the end of the semester after unit 15. Each exam will be for 50 points (total: 3X50 = 150 points). Students will also be administered 10 quizzes in total: 10 X 15 = 150 points. The total points for the course will be 300 points. Grading Scale: We will follow the guidelines established by CVM for the grading scale. Total possible points: 300 276 - 300 points – 4.0 GPA 264 - 276 points - 3.5 GPA 252 - 263 points - 3.0 GPA 240 - 251 points - 2.5 GPA 228 - 239 points - 2.0 GPA
Syllabus
Public CV