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PA10307: Fundamentals of pharmacy: the healthy body 1

[Page last updated: 05 August 2021]

Academic Year: 2021/2
Owning Department/School: Department of Pharmacy & Pharmacology
Credits: 12 [equivalent to 24 CATS credits]
Notional Study Hours: 240
Level: Certificate (FHEQ level 4)
Period:
Semester 1
Assessment Summary: EX 100%
Assessment Detail:
  • Examination (EX 100% - Qualifying Mark: 40)
Supplementary Assessment:
Like-for-like reassessment (where allowed by programme regulations)
Requisites: While taking this module you must take PA10306 AND take PA10308 AND take PA10309 AND take PA10310
Description: Aims:
To provide the student pharmacist with an understanding of the structure and function of the cells and tissues comprising the major physiological systems of the human body, their integration and regulation, as the basis for the later study of healthy physiological function relevant to pharmacy.
To provide the student with an introduction to the concepts of what health is, what healthy behaviours are and a knowledge of the interpersonal skills required to engage individuals in discussions about healthy behaviours.

Learning Outcomes:
After taking this unit, the student pharmacist should be able to:
* Describe the normal structure and function of human cells at a molecular, cellular and tissue level
* Demonstrate a foundation knowledge of the differences between bacterial, viral, fungal cells and principles of infection mechanisms
* Have knowledge of the principles for the molecular basis of drug action within living systems at a molecular and cellular level (pharmacology)
* Define health and illness and the physiological concept of homeostasis
* Describe the key health behaviours required to maintain good physical and mental health.
* Describe psychological principles that explain an individual's perceptions of health and the development and maintenance of health enhancing behaviours and apply this knowledge to pharmacy practice scenarios.

Skills:
Scientific and practical skills (T/F/A)
Study skills, handling information, working with others (T/F)
Problem solving (T/F/A).

Content:

* What is health?
* What is a healthy body (Introduction to cell, tissues, and systems)?
* What is healthy behaviour?
* Introduction to public health
* What is a cell? - Structure, function, membranes and organelles of the human cell.
* Lipids / cell membranes, Proteins - amino acids & peptides
* Transporters, enzymes, receptors - cell to cell
* Introductions to bacterial cells, human microflora & infections, viral cells & infections, protozoa & fungi, human microbiome & defences
* Intro to pharmacology & receptor theory, agonists - EC50 - efficacy, co-operativity. antagonists - comp / non- comp IC50, Schild plots
* Introduction to pharmacodynamics
* Enzymes as catalysts. Enzyme role in drug metabolism.
* Enzymes as drug targets - Km, Vmax
* Nucleosides / tides, nucleic acids, nucleic acid biosynthesis
* DNA replication prokaryotes / eukaryotes
* Transcription to translation - drug targets
* Carbohydrates - cellular functions
* Anatomy of the nervous system, nerve cells - membrane potential, communication - chemical transmission & synapses, the brain, the autonomic nervous system
* Reflexes and senses (touch)
* Ears and eyes (Anatomy and function)
* Nose and throat (Anatomy and function)
* Blood cells, blood formation & clotting
* Skeletal, cardiac and smooth muscle
* The gastrointestinal system: anatomy, function, digestion.

Programme availability:

PA10307 is a Designated Essential Unit on the following programmes:

Department of Pharmacy & Pharmacology
  • USPA-AFM03 : MPharm(Hons) Pharmacy (Year 1)
  • USPA-AKM03 : MPharm(Hons) Pharmacy with integrated pre-registration year (Year 1)

Notes:

  • This unit catalogue is applicable for the 2021/22 academic year only. Students continuing their studies into 2022/23 and beyond should not assume that this unit will be available in future years in the format displayed here for 2021/22.
  • Programmes and units are subject to change in accordance with normal University procedures.
  • Availability of units will be subject to constraints such as staff availability, minimum and maximum group sizes, and timetabling factors as well as a student's ability to meet any pre-requisite rules.
  • Find out more about these and other important University terms and conditions here.