Outline

Overview

This unit introduces fundamental principles in the structure, organisation and function of the mammalian central and peripheral nervous systems. We begin with an exploration of the basic building blocks - the cellular composition - of the brain and spinal cord. We'll then consider the overall organisation of the nervous system, followed by an in-depth focus on sensory and motor system concepts. This unit will then consider the building of a brain during development, from laying down the overall organisational plan to establishing connections in the nervous system. Concepts of higher order functions such as memory and sensory perception are introduced, followed by examples of neurodegenerative diseases. The theory component will also focus on a range of techniques in neuroanatomy, from experimental neuronal tracing studies to in vivo functional imaging, used to derive our understanding of nervous system connectivity and function. Tutorial meetings will provide the opportunity to encounter topics in functional anatomy and histology of the brain using photographs, diagrams, models, animations and problem-solving scenarios using real world clinical examples. Laboratory practical sessions offer students the special privilege to examine human brain specimens in the Anatomy labs and museum. Structural dentifications in typical magnetic resonance images will assist in reinforcing basic nervous system anatomy in a format that students are likely to encounter in further study. The production of a scientific e-poster introduces students to critical evaluation of a topic in the neuroscientific literature and communication of a core idea in words and graphics. This subject is of interest to students studying anatomy and related disciplines, students planning further study in neuroscience at senior levels and students in allied health fields. As the study of neuroscience embraces the fields of engineering, artificial intelligence, mathematics and computer science, economics. and law, this subject also serves as an elective for a wide range of study pathways.

Unit details and rules

Unit code	ANAT2010
Academic unit	Department of Medical Sciences
Credit points	6
Prohibitions ?	ANAT2910 or BIOS1171 or BMED2401 or BMED2402 or BMED2403 or BMED2405 or BMED2406 or BMED2801 or BMED2802 or BMED2803 or BMED2804 or BMED2805 or BMED2806 or BMED2807 or BMED2808
Prerequisites ?	6 credit points from BIOL1XXX or MEDS1X01 or CHEM1XX1 or CHEM1903
Corequisites ?	None
Assumed knowledge ?	Human biology highly recommended. At least 48 science credits recommmended
Available to study abroad and exchange students	Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Claire Goldsbury, claire.goldsbury@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s)	Karen Cullen, karen.cullen@sydney.edu.au
	Paul Austin, paul.austin@sydney.edu.au
	Dario Protti, dario.protti@sydney.edu.au
	Luke Henderson, luke.henderson@sydney.edu.au
	Claire Goldsbury, claire.goldsbury@sydney.edu.au
	Kevin Keay, kevin.keay@sydney.edu.au
	David Mor, david.mor@sydney.edu.au
	Catherine Leamey, catherine.leamey@sydney.edu.au
	Atomu Sawatari, atomu.sawatari@sydney.edu.au

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Final exam (Record+)	Theory exam MCQ, extended MCQ and fill in the gaps.	40%	Formal exam period	2 hours
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	10 x 1/2% quizzes MCQ & eMCQ. Identifications on images, function & problem-solving.	5%	Multiple weeks Due date: 01 Nov 2022 at 23:00	Untimed. Multiple attempts
Outcomes assessed:
In-semester test (Record+)	Quiz Identification on images, function questions. Short answer and MCQ.	20%	Week 08 Due date: 23 Sep 2022 at 13:00	1 hour
Outcomes assessed:
Practical test ?	*Online (RE) or In-Person (CC) Practical Exam** *RE students online with ProctorU. See Assessment Summary below for detail.	20%	Week 11 Due date: 19 Oct 2022 at 13:00	1 hour
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Scientific e-poster or scientific review (adv) Text & graphic composition on research topic in neuroanatomy.	15%	Week 13 Due date: 01 Nov 2022 at 23:00	N/A
Outcomes assessed:
= Type B final exam ? = Type B in-semester exam ?

Assessment summary

Online engagement quizzes, 5%: Ten short online quizzes related to tutorial sessions and lecture material. 0.5% each. Spaced during the semester. Multiple attempts, 90% to pass.

In-class mid-semester quiz held during semester. The 20% quiz will assess your progress in understanding the lecture and tutorial material. Questions closely resemble questions in the final exams.

ANAT2010 Scientific e-poster on a topic in clinical, anatomical or experimental research ~600-750 word plus graphics. Requires distillation and communication of 1-2 core papers in the scientific literature, 15%.

ANAT2910 Scientific literature review (1200-word) of core literature in a key area of neuroanatomical research, 15%.

In-class practical test, 20%: The practical test will consist of identification of CNS structures and short factual questions on core functions and connections. The material to be tested is covered in the practical notes. *All RE (remote)-enrolled students will be assessed online in Canvas with ProctorU Record+. All CC students will be assessed on campus. Both modes of assessment will take place simultaneously under equivalent examination conditions.

Theory exam 40%: This exam is sampled from each of the lectures and tutorials. You will find the lecture notes and presentations provide the core material and help you gauge the level of detail you are required to embrace. Structure and function are central concepts in this examination.

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Note on Universal Design Principles:

Weekly quizzes – they are untimed to accomodate all needs. They “should” only take 35 mins to complete but accomodate variability as the student is enabled to spend longer per question. Guidelines are provided.

In Semester Quiz Week 8. In-built extra time. Quiz designed to be completed in 40 minutes, but 25% more time – 50 minutes – are available to all if needed. The extra time can be used as a 5-10 minute prompted break mid-quiz and/or as more time per question. Students can also choose to finish the quiz in 40 mins. The types of questions – fill in the blank, multichoice, extended multi-choice do not advantage students if they spend more time per question (they do not benefit from writing more etc). Guidelines are provided.

In-Semester Practical exam Week 10. In-built Universal design not currently applied to this.

Individual assignment: This is open in Week 1 and not due until Week 13, thus accommodating diverse needs for planning and completion. To accomodate variability even further, we will offer automatic simple extensions of 2 to 3 days.

Final Exam: In-built extra time. Quiz designed to be completed in 70 minutes, but 25% more time – 90 minutes – are available to all if needed. The types of questions – fill in the blank, multichoice, extended multi-choice do not advantage students if they spend more time per question (they do not benefit from writing more etc). Guidelines are provided.

Assessment criteria

MCQ & extended MCQ

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

5% per day, including weekends. For online engagement quizzes (1% each), each quiz will be open Thursday morning until Tuesday evening the following week. No quiz can be completed after that as answers will be released to the class.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

You may only use artificial intelligence and writing assistance tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator, and if you do use them, you must also acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section.

Studiosity is permitted for postgraduate units unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission.

Learning support

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Week 01	Introduction to Concepts in Neuroanatomy	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 01	Composition of the nervous system: The microanatomy of neurons - structure and physiology	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 02	Composition of the nervous system: Glia	Lecture (1 hr)
	Composition of the nervous system: Cytoarchitecture and function	Lecture (1 hr)
	Independent assessment briefing	Workshop (1 hr)
	Neurophysiology	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 03	Organisation of the nervous system: The overall plan I: Central Nervous System (CNS)	Lecture (1 hr)
	Looking at cells of the brain - neurohistology	Tutorial (2 hr)
	Organisation of the nervous system: The overall plan II: CNS	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 04	Development of the nervous system	Lecture (1 hr)
	Organisation of the CNS including ventricles and meninges	Tutorial (2 hr)
	Organisation of the nervous system - The peripheral NS (PNS)	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 05	Motor pathways - General organisation	Lecture (1 hr)
	The spinal cord: general anatomy plus ascending and descending tracts	Tutorial (2 hr)
	Motor pathways - skilled movement	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 06	Motor pathways - emotional motor system	Lecture (1 hr)
	Brainstem 1 - general anatomy plus ascending and descending tracts continued	Tutorial (2 hr)
	Motor pathways - autonomic nervous system	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 07	Sensory pathways - general organisation	Lecture (1 hr)
	Brainstem 2 - cranial nerves	Tutorial (2 hr)
	Sensory pathways - somatosensation	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 08	Sensory pathways - pain	Lecture (1 hr)
	In-class quiz	Lecture (1 hr)
	Cerebral cortex	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 09	Sensory pathways - vision	Lecture (1 hr)
	Development of the nervous system 2 - axonal guidance and synaptogenesis	Lecture (1 hr)
	Diencephalon, limbic system	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 10	Techniques in neuroscience 1	Lecture (1 hr)
	Techniques in neuroscience 2	Lecture (1 hr)
	Diencephalon and the limbic system	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 11	Cerebral cortex 1	Lecture (1 hr)
	Cerebral cortex 2	Lecture (1 hr)
	Independent assessment - revising the draft	Workshop (2 hr)
Week 12	Basal ganglia and cerebellum	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 12	Brain ageing and neurodegeneration - dementia	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 13	Revision and practice spot test	Tutorial (2 hr)
	Brain ageing and neurodegeneration - movement disorders	Lecture (1 hr)
	Q & A summary of concepts	Lecture (1 hr)
	Cerebral cortex - memory	Lecture (1 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

Attendance

Students are expected to attend a minimum of 80% of timetabled activities for a unit of study. The Dean or the Head of School most concerned may determine that a student has failed a unit of study because of inadequate attendance.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

Textbook

Bear, M.F., Connors, B.W. & Paradiso, M.A. (2020) Neuroscience. Exploring the Brain. Wolters Kluwer Philadelphia 4th edition. Previous editions are okay.

Also recommended

Vanderah, T. (2019). Nolte’s : The human brain in photographs and diagrams. Philadelphia, Elsevier/Saunders

Previous editions of these textbooks are acceptible. See your Canvas pages for other suitable e-books or texts.

Library resources – Neuroscience subject guides. Curated resource for e-books and online resources in the Neurosciences and other disciplines.

See your Canvas site for textbook readings for each lecture.

Articles and readings for your interest are linked to each lecture.

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

Outcomes
Graduate qualities

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

LO1. Identify the cellular components of the brain, spinal cord and peripheral nervous system in photomicrographs and diagrams
LO2. Identify major features of the brain and spinal cord in prosected specimens, models, diagrams, and photographs
LO3. Describe the structural and functional relationships between major nervous system structures and apply this knowledge to basic clinical examples and to examples of neuroanatomical research
LO4. Identify and describe the fundamental organisation of sensory and motor systems in humans using in-depth examples of specific motor and sensory systems
LO5. Describe the major phases and mechanisms of nervous system development and relate to the basic structure of the adult human nervous system.
LO6. Apply concepts of the structure/function relationship of major brain regions and cytoarchitecture to mechanisms of brain development and neurodegeneration
LO7. Recognise and apply the core techniques - histology, in vivo imaging, experimental tracing studies, and pathology that form the basis of our understanding brain function at an anatomical level.
LO8. Apply fundamental principles of brain anatomy to a critical evaluation of the scientific literature, public media, and emerging technologies in a scientific e-poster or literature review.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1	Depth of disciplinary expertise Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.
GQ2	Critical thinking and problem solving Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.
GQ3	Oral and written communication Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.
GQ4	Information and digital literacy Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.
GQ5	Inventiveness Generating novel ideas and solutions.
GQ6	Cultural competence Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.
GQ7	Interdisciplinary effectiveness Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.
GQ8	Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.
GQ9	Influence Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes	Graduate qualities
Learning outcomes

Responding to student feedback

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

This subject is evaluated by students through the Unit of Study Survey (USS) every year. All feedback is considered. We’ll make time for the UoS survey to be completed in class in the final tutorial session. Some changes that have been made since the last offering of this unit include more online formative quizzes and in-class formative quizzes, more specific guidelines for the E-Poster assignment and earlier release of topics and guidelines. An additional workshop to discuss independent projects has been added for voluntary attendance.

Additional information

You must complete the Obligations Module before attending any online or face-to-face tutorials

We will keep you updated on lab attendence for students studying in-person and for remote streaming of tutorial sessions.

Work, health and safety

All students attending F2F session are required to comply with stirct WHS guidelines.

Students studying remotely are also expected to understand WHS requiremts.

ALL students enrolled will be required to understand these requirements in THEORY and complete an Obligations Module to proceed with the subject.

Important for this subject: understand and appreciate the special obligations required for working with and viewing human cadaveric material.

For attendance at anatomy tutorials, students must

Wear solid covered shoes
Closed lab coat – standard student lab coats or disposable gowns are acceptable
Two gloves at all times
Student IDs must be worn on your labcoat at all times in the lab
Hair must be tied back so that it does not obscure vision or dangle into specimens
Students must comply with all of the regulations required for working with human cadaveric material.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Work, health and safety

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect

Current students

ANAT2010: Concepts of Neuroanatomy

Semester 2, 2022 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Work, health and safety

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect