NSC218

Human Anatomy IV

Health Sciences
200 level
2 credit units
168 pages
14 units

This course on Human Anatomy IV covers the integumentary, special senses, and nervous systems. It explores the anatomy and functions of the skin, special senses such as taste, smell, hearing, and vision, and the central, peripheral, and autonomic nervous systems. Students will learn about the structures, locations, and disorders associated with these systems, as well as their clinical correlates. The course aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of these essential regulatory systems.

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About this course

Difficulty: Intermediate
Study hours: 208 hours
Maths: None
Content: Theoretical, practical, case study
Practical work: Yes

Before you start

NSC 215 Human Anatomy I
NSC 217 Human Anatomy II

How it is assessed

Assignments
Tutor Marked Assignments
Computer Marked Assignments
Laboratory Practical Sessions and Reports
Final Examination

What you'll read

The real module and unit structure of NSC218, taken from the course material NOUN publishes.

Module 1

Module 2

Module 3

One paragraph, so you can see how it reads

NSC218 · UNIT 2: THE TONGUE AND THE SENSE OF TASTE

Melanin- Only pigment made in the skin, it is a polymer of tyrosine which is an amino acid, ranges in color from yellow to reddish-brown to black. Synthesis depends on an enzyme in melanocytes called tyrosinase. It passes from melanocytes to the basal keratinocytes.

Start reading Get the original PDF, if you want it

What you should be able to do

Describe the anatomy and functions of the skin and special senses
Discuss the formation of the brain and the spinal cord from the most primitive neural tube
Discuss the anatomy of the central nervous system
Differentiate between structural and functional divisions of the nervous system
Discuss the peripheral and autonomic nervous systems
Explain the role of skin in regulating body temperature

What it prepares you for

Careers

Medical Doctor
Nurse
Physiotherapist
Anatomist
Medical researcher

Where it is applied

Healthcare
Medical Research
Pharmaceuticals
Rehabilitation Centers

Tools

MS Office software
Internet Explorer
Mozilla Firefox
Adobe Acrobat Reader

Where it gets hard

The units students slow down on, and what makes each one heavy.

Module 2: The Nervous System
Unit 3: Brain stem
Complex neural pathways and functions require strong understanding of neuroanatomy and physiology.
Module 2: The Nervous System
Unit 7: Blood supply of central nervous system
Requires detailed knowledge of brain vasculature and potential impact of vascular lesions.

A suggested way through it

Suggested

13 weeks, about 70 hours in total. Yours will differ.

Week 1Module 1: The Special Senses
- Unit 1: Integumentary System · 4 hours
  Read Unit 1: Integumentary System, focusing on the functions of the skin, its layers, and temperature regulation.. Complete Self-Assessment Exercises to test your understanding of the skin's components and functions..
Week 2Module 1: The Special Senses
- Unit 2: The Tongue and the Sense of Taste · 4 hours
  Study Unit 2: The Tongue and the Sense of Taste, paying attention to the location and histology of taste buds.. Describe how taste sensations are created and interpreted..
Week 3Module 1: The Special Senses
- Unit 3: The Nose and the Sense of Smell · 4 hours
  Review Unit 3: The Nose and the Sense of Smell, focusing on the olfactory epithelium and bulb.. Explain how the perception of different odors is possible..
Week 4Module 1: The Special Senses
- Unit 4: The Ear and the Sense of Hearing · 5 hours
  Study Unit 4: The Ear and the Sense of Hearing, focusing on the auditory structures and functions.. Explain how sounds travel through the ear and are interpreted in the brain..
Week 5Module 1: The Special Senses
- Unit 5: The Eyes and the Sense of Vision · 5 hours
  Study Unit 5: The Eyes and the Sense of Vision, focusing on the anatomy of the eye and the visual pathway.. Describe the focusing system of the eye and how it adjusts to see distant and near objects..
Week 6Module 2: The Nervous System
- Unit 1: Embryology of the central nervous system · 4 hours
  Read Unit 1: Embryology of the central nervous system, focusing on the transformation of the neural tube into the different parts of the definitive brain.. Complete Self-Assessment Exercises to test your understanding of the brain's components and functions..
- Unit 2: Spinal cord · 4 hours
  Read Unit 2: Spinal cord, focusing on the parts of the spinal cord.. Complete Self-Assessment Exercises to test your understanding of the spinal cord's components and functions..
Week 7Module 2: The Nervous System
- Unit 3: Brain stem · 5 hours
  Study Unit 3: Brain stem, focusing on the anatomy of the different parts of the brain stem.. Describe the characteristic features of the midbrain, pons and medulla oblongata..
Week 8Module 2: The Nervous System
- Unit 4: Dienecephalon and Basal ganglia · 5 hours
  Study Unit 4: Dienecephalon and Basal ganglia, focusing on the anatomy of the thalamus and its surrounding structures.. Describe the diencephalon and basal ganglia..
Week 9Module 2: The Nervous System
- Unit 5: Cerebral hemisphere · 5 hours
  Study Unit 5: Cerebral hemisphere, focusing on the different regions of the cerebral hemisphere.. Identify the boundaries of the different regions of the cerebral hemisphere..
Week 10Module 2: The Nervous System
- Unit 6: Ventricles and cerebrospinal fluid · 5 hours
  Study Unit 6: Ventricles and cerebrospinal fluid, focusing on the parts of the ventricular system and relate them to the different regions of the brain.. Describe the walls of the different parts of the ventricular system..
Week 11Module 2: The Nervous System
- Unit 7: Blood supply of central nervous system · 5 hours
  Study Unit 7: Blood supply of central nervous system, focusing on the arterial supply of the brain and the spinal cord.. Describe the venous drainage of the brain and the spinal cord..
Week 12MODULE 3 The Peripheral and Autonomic Nervous System
- Unit 1: Cranial nerves · 5 hours
  Study Unit 1: Cranial nerves, focusing on the distribution and function of each of the cranial nerves.. Discuss the brain stem reflexes.
- Unit 2: Spinal nerves · 5 hours
  Study Unit 2: Spinal nerves, focusing on the spinal nerves.. Discuss the spinal reflex arc..
Week 13MODULE 3 The Peripheral and Autonomic Nervous System
- Unit 3: Autonomic nervous system · 5 hours
  Study Unit 3: Autonomic nervous system, focusing on the effects of sympathetic versus parasympathetic stimulation on specific organs.. Describe the effects of sympathetic versus parasympathetic stimulation on specific organs..

Preparing for the exam

What to do

Create detailed diagrams of the skin layers, labeling all structures and their functions (Unit 1).
Develop flashcards for each special sense (taste, smell, hearing, vision), including receptors, pathways, and associated brain regions (Units 2-5).
Construct a flow chart tracing the development of the brain and spinal cord from the neural tube, noting key developmental milestones (Module 2, Unit 1).
Practice labeling cross-sections of the spinal cord and brainstem, identifying major tracts and nuclei (Module 2, Units 2-3).
Create concept maps linking the diencephalon and basal ganglia, highlighting their roles in motor control and sensory integration (Module 2, Unit 4).
Review the blood supply to the CNS, focusing on the circle of Willis and potential stroke syndromes (Module 2, Unit 7).
Memorize the cranial nerves, their functions, and clinical signs of damage to each (Module 3, Unit 1).
Study the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems, focusing on their effects on different organs and the neurotransmitters involved (Module 3, Unit 3).

Questions students ask about this course

What is NSC218 about?

How many units does NSC218 have?

NSC218, Human Anatomy IV, has 14 units across 3 modules, over 168 pages of course material. You can read it one unit at a time.

How many credit units is NSC218?

NSC218 carries 2 credit units, at 200 level in Health Sciences.

Is NSC218 hard?

NSC218 is rated intermediate level, with no mathematical content. It is mostly theoretical, practical and case study work, and it has a practical component.

How long does NSC218 take to study?

About 208 hours of study, spread across its 14 units.

How is NSC218 assessed?

NSC218 is assessed by Assignments, Tutor Marked Assignments, Computer Marked Assignments, Laboratory Practical Sessions and Reports and Final Examination.

What do I need before starting NSC218?

NSC 215 Human Anatomy I NSC 217 Human Anatomy II

What can I do with NSC218?

Medical Doctor, Nurse, Physiotherapist, Anatomist and Medical researcher.