Pathophysiology

Recommended Prerequisites

Anatomophysiology, Biochemistry, Cellular Biology.    

Teaching Methods

 The lectures and the case-study classes are given in an integrated way, including the exposition of selected topics, supported by visual material (Powerpoint presentations), followed by the discussion/resolution of problems and of typical physiopathological situations, stimulating students to participate in discussions and to integrate acquired knowledge.

Learning Outcomes

This Unit is based on a thorough understanding of the mechanisms underlying the clinical symptoms of the diseases affecting the main organs or systems of the human body. Teaching is organized in modules, and includes lectures integrated with discussions and case studies.

Thus, the main aim is to confer basic knowledge of the pathophysiology of the main organs/systems, which is essential for the understanding of different subjects in the scope of other curricular units of the course and help students to achieve the required basic skills in interpreting laboratory data. At the end, students should be able to understand the pathophysiology of: i) fluids in body compartments and edema formation; ii) cardiovascular system; iii) renal system; iv) hepatic/pancreatic system; v) gastrointestinal system; v) osteoarticular diseases associated with aging; vi) respiratory system; vi) central nervous system.

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

Lectures:
1. Introduction: basic concepts. Disease signs and symptoms, fever and pain.
2. The fluids of the body compartments: imbalance and pathophysiology of edema formation.
3. Pathophysiology of the cardiovascular system.
4. Urinary pathophysiology.
5. Hepatic and pancreatic pathophysiology.
6. Gastrointestinal pathophysiology.
7. Bone pathophysiology: osteoarticular pathologies associated to aging (osteoporosis and osteoarthritis or osteoarthrosis).
8. Pathophysiology of the respiratory system.
9. Pathophysiology of the central nervous system: neurotransmission and neurotransmitters; movement and sensorial pathophysiology, cognitive pathophysiology; Brain ischemia.

Problem-solving classes:
These classes are integrated with lectures, towards an integrated learning strategy approach. Their purpose is the discussion of particular problems and case studies, together with the theoretical expositions, to get a better understanding of the main concepts.  

Head Lecturer(s)

Leonor Martins Almeida

Assessment Methods

Assessment
Exam: 100.0%

Bibliography

- Essentials of Pathophysiology. Concepts and Applications for Health Care Profissionals, Novak, T.J. and Handford, A.G., 3d Edition (2003). McGraw-Hill International Editions.
- Fisiopatologia – Fundamentos e Aplicações, Pinto, A.M., 2ª Edição (2014). LIDEL Editora.
- Pathophysiology of disease: an introduction to clinical medicine, Hammer, G.D. and McPhee, S.J., Editors 7th Edition (2014). LANGE, McGraw-Hill.
- Essentials of Pathophysiology: Concepts of Altered Health States, Porth, C., 3d Edition (2011). Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
Notas das aulas e artigos científicos são fornecidos em diversos módulos/Slide presentations regarding lectures and scientific articles are made available to students in different modules.