The Human Body:Health/Disease

3 Credits · Level: Undergraduate

The goal of this course is to provide students with a better understanding of the human body in health and disease. Topics to be reviewed will include: the heart disease and lung disease; the abdomen and diseases such as pancreatitis, ulcerative colitis, kidney stones, and urinary tract infections; the reproductive system and sexually transmitted diseases; limbs and sports injuries, including exercise routines and strength training; the brain and head trauma in sports such as football and soccer. Other topics will include the anatomy of back pain, breast cancer, and the promise of stem cells in treating disease – use and abuse. The course will encompass lectures and student presentations / discussion groups about ethical issues in medicine such as stem cells, performance enhancing drugs, and newer reproductive techniques. At the end of the course, students will have a better appreciation of the human body that will be an enduring frame of reference. Students will have the option to view an actual dissection of a human body during the term. By the end of the course, students should know: 1. The major organs in the chest, abdomen, and pelvis and their diseases. 2. The major muscle groups in the limbs and their function. 3. Sport injuries and other common injuries to the limbs. 4. Strength training. 5. Common head injuries in sports, such as concussion and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). 6. A better appreciation of ethical issues related to medicine. 7. The promise of adult stem cells in medicine to treat disease and even to produce designer babies.