Outline

Overview

This unit provides a comprehensive introduction to the anatomy and physiology of major human organ systems, along with biomedical sciences and general medicine, all of which are essential for diagnosing oral diseases and managing patient care. In case-based tutorials, students will have the opportunity to integrate foundational sciences with clinical medicine, engage in discussions of relevant research literature, and revisit key concepts from earlier lessons. Through written reports and oral presentations, students will be encouraged to explore systemic diseases linked to oral health, critically analyse scientific information, and deliver well-reasoned, creative summaries to peers and/or simulated patients.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit	Department of Medical Sciences
Credit points	6
Prerequisites ?	ORHL1104 and ORHL1204
Corequisites ?	ORHL2101 and ORHL2102
Prohibitions ?	None
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Filip Vujovic, filip.vujovic@sydney.edu.au

Assessment

The census date for this unit availability is 31 March 2026

Details
Criteria

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length	Use of AI
Written exam	Final exam - Sem 1 (ORHL2104) This is a ‘supervised test’, corresponds to pre-pandemic pen and paper exam	50%	Formal exam period	2 hours	AI prohibited
Outcomes assessed:
Out-of-class quiz	Early Feedback Task Online task, see canvas for detail	0%	Week 03 Due date: 13 Mar 2026 at 23:59 Closing date: 13 Mar 2026	15 minutes	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
Written work	A snapshot of the experience of disease (ORHL2104) Written report	25%	Week 12 Due date: 22 May 2026 at 23:59 Closing date: 22 May 2026	800 words	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
Presentation	A snapshot of the experience of disease (ORHL2104) In-class assessment	25%	Week 13 Due date: 28 May 2026 at 10:00 Closing date: 28 May 2026	15 minutes	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
= hurdle task ? = group assignment ? = early feedback task ?

Early feedback task

This unit includes an early feedback task, designed to give you feedback prior to the census date for this unit. Details are provided in the Canvas site and your result will be recorded in your Marks page. It is important that you actively engage with this task so that the University can support you to be successful in this unit.

Assessment summary

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name	Mark range	Description
High distinction	85 - 100	Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an exceptional standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.
Distinction	75 - 84	Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a very high standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.
Credit	65 - 74	Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at a good standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.
Pass	50 - 64	Awarded when you demonstrate the learning outcomes for the unit at an acceptable standard, as defined by grade descriptors or exemplars outlined by your faculty or school.
Fail	0 - 49	When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see guide to grades.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI)

You can use generative AI tools for open assessments. Restrictions on AI use apply to secure, supervised assessments used to confirm if students have met specific learning outcomes.

Refer to the assessment table above to see if AI is allowed, for assessments in this unit and check Canvas for full instructions on assessment tasks and AI use.

If you use AI, you must always acknowledge it. Misusing AI may lead to a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy.

Visit the Current Students website for more information on AI in assessments, including details on how to acknowledge its use.

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.

Academic integrity

The University expects students to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

Our website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. This includes advice on how to avoid common breaches of academic integrity. Ensure that you have completed the Academic Honesty Education Module (AHEM) which is mandatory for all commencing coursework students

Penalties for serious breaches can significantly impact your studies and your career after graduation. It is important that you speak with your unit coordinator if you need help with completing assessments.

Visit the Current Students website for more information on AI in assessments, including details on how to acknowledge its use.

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.

Support for students

The Support for Students Policy reflects the University’s commitment to supporting students in their academic journey and making the University safe for students. It is important that you read and understand this policy so that you are familiar with the range of support services available to you and understand how to engage with them.

The University uses email as its primary source of communication with students who need support under the Support for Students Policy. Make sure you check your University email regularly and respond to any communications received from the University.

Learning resources and detailed information about weekly assessment and learning activities can be accessed via Canvas. It is essential that you visit your unit of study Canvas site to ensure you are up to date with all of your tasks.

If you are having difficulties completing your studies, or are feeling unsure about your progress, we are here to help. You can access the support services offered by the University at any time:

Support and Services (including health and wellbeing services, financial support and learning support)
Course planning and administration
Meet with an Academic Adviser

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Week 02	Unit Introduction	Lecture (1 hr)
	Physiology of kidney and urinary tract	Lecture (1 hr)
	Assignment introduction	Seminar (1.5 hr)
	Chronic kidney disease and patients on dialysis	Lecture (1 hr)
	Sexually transmitted diseases and HIV	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 03	Overview of endocrine system and pituitary disorders	Lecture (1 hr)
	Thyroid gland and adrenal gland disorders	Lecture (1 hr)
	Obesity, diabetes and metabolic syndrome	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 04	Puberty, adolescence and growth development	Lecture (1 hr)
	Reproductive system	Lecture (1 hr)
	“Uncontrolled blood sugar level”	Tutorial (2 hr)
	Nervous system organisation and function	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 06	Degenerative neurological disorders	Lecture (1 hr)
	Developmental disability and epilepsy	Lecture (1 hr)
	Cerebrovascular diseases.	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 07	Mental health disorders	Lecture (1 hr)
	Eating disorders	Lecture (1 hr)
	Psychotherapeutic agents and dental correlation	Lecture (1 hr)
	Substance use and related problems	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 08	Sedation and general anaesthesia drugs	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 08	“Drooping mouth”	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 10	“The journey of your lunch” - GI tract and common disorders	Lecture (1 hr)
	Nutrition and diet	Lecture (1 hr)
	Liver and liver disorders	Lecture (1 hr)
	Alcohol use and related problems	Lecture (1 hr)
	Assignment feedback	Seminar (1.5 hr)
	Drug metabolism and the liver	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 11	Hepatitis	Lecture (1 hr)
	A 65-year-old patient	Tutorial (2 hr)
	Principles of neoplasia	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 12	Common cancers - aetiology, presentation and dental relevance	Lecture (1 hr)
	Principles of chemotherapy	Lecture (1 hr)
	Biology of ageing	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 13	Unit review	Seminar (1.5 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

Attendance: Attendance is a professional responsibility required of all students admitted to academic programs within the Sydney Dental School. All programs in the Sydney Dental School have a 90% attendance policy, for all compulsory components of Units of Study, as detailed in the Faculty of Dentistry Attendance Provisions 2015. This includes all clinical and practical sessions. The course requirements cannot be satisfied if more than 10% of any section of a course is missed for any reason.
Professionalism: Students in all Sydney Dental School programs are subject to the Faculty of Medicine and Health Professionalism Requirements 2019 and the Faculty of Medicine and Health Professionalism Provisions 2019. Professionalism is an essential component of developing competency to practice. It is important for students to demonstrate professional behaviour in all contexts and environments. In accordance with these local provisions: candidates who demonstrate serious or repeated unprofessional behaviour may be required to show cause as to why their enrolment should be continued. Failure to show cause may result in exclusion from the course.

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.

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.

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

LO1. Explain the pathophysiology, key signs and symptoms, basic laboratory findings, and oral manifestations of common medical conditions and systemic diseases relevant to adult oral health practice.
LO2. Analyse the impact of systemic diseases, risk factors, and commonly prescribed medications on oral health status and dental treatment planning.
LO3. Apply core principles of pharmacology to evaluate the indications, contraindications, risks, and limitations of therapeutic agents used in oral health practice.
LO4. Integrate biomedical and oral bioscience knowledge to support safe, evidence-informed clinical decision-making within the adult scope of oral health practice.
LO5. Locate, critically appraise, and interpret scientific literature relevant to oral biosciences, oral health and holistic health practice.
LO6. Use scientific evidence to justify clinical reasoning and management decisions related to systemic health and oral disease interactions.

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

Alignment with Competency standards

Outcomes	Competency standards
	Professional Competencies of the Newly Qualified Dental Hygienist, Dental Therapist and Oral Health Therapist (2016) - 3.3. understand scientific method and the role of research in advancing knowledge and clinical practice 4.1. understand the determinants of health, risk factors and behaviours that influence health 5.1. understand the biological, physical and behavioural sciences in relation to oral health and disease 5.6. understand the principles of pharmacology and the risks in using therapeutic agents 6.1.1. obtain and record a relevant history of the patient’s medical, social and oral health status 6.1.3. select necessary clinical, pathology and other diagnostic procedures and interpret results 6.1.5. evaluate individual patient risk factors for oral disease 6.2.1. recognise health as it relates to the individual 6.2.3. determine the impact of risk factors, systemic disease and medications on oral health and treatment planning 6.2.5. determine when and how to refer patients to the appropriate health professional 6.3.9. manage medical emergencies
	Professional Competencies of the Newly Qualified Dental Hygienist, Dental Therapist and Oral Health Therapist (2016) - 5.1. understand the biological, physical and behavioural sciences in relation to oral health and disease 6.1.5. evaluate individual patient risk factors for oral disease 6.2.3. determine the impact of risk factors, systemic disease and medications on oral health and treatment planning 6.2.5. determine when and how to refer patients to the appropriate health professional
	Professional Competencies of the Newly Qualified Dental Hygienist, Dental Therapist and Oral Health Therapist (2016) - 5.6. understand the principles of pharmacology and the risks in using therapeutic agents 6.2.3. determine the impact of risk factors, systemic disease and medications on oral health and treatment planning
	Professional Competencies of the Newly Qualified Dental Hygienist, Dental Therapist and Oral Health Therapist (2016) - 3.1. locate and evaluate evidence in a critical and scientific manner to support oral health care 3.2. apply clinical reasoning and judgement in a reflective approach to oral health care 3.3. understand scientific method and the role of research in advancing knowledge and clinical practice

Professional Competencies of the Newly Qualified Dental Hygienist, Dental Therapist and Oral Health Therapist (2016) -

Competency code	Taught, Practiced or Assessed	Competency standard
1.4		recognise professional and individual scopes of practice
1.5		recognise the importance of continuing professional development for all members of the dental team
2.1		communicate and engage with patients, families and communities in relation to oral health
2.3		communicate effectively and clearly with other health professionals involved in patients’ care
2.5		recognise the importance of their own and others health and wellbeing on the ability to practise
2.6		understand the importance of intra and interprofessional approaches to health care
2.7		understand effective information management
2.9		communicate responsibly and professionally when using media
3.1		locate and evaluate evidence in a critical and scientific manner to support oral health care
3.3		understand scientific method and the role of research in advancing knowledge and clinical practice
4.1		understand the determinants of health, risk factors and behaviours that influence health
5.1		understand the biological, physical and behavioural sciences in relation to oral health and disease
5.6		understand the principles of pharmacology and the risks in using therapeutic agents
6.1.1		obtain and record a relevant history of the patient’s medical, social and oral health status
6.1.2		perform an examination for health, disease and abnormalities of the dentition, mouth and associated structures
6.1.3		select necessary clinical, pathology and other diagnostic procedures and interpret results
6.1.5		evaluate individual patient risk factors for oral disease
6.2.1		recognise health as it relates to the individual
6.2.2		diagnose disease or abnormalities of the dentition, mouth and associated structures and identify conditions which require management
6.2.3		determine the impact of risk factors, systemic disease and medications on oral health and treatment planning
6.2.4		formulate and record a patient-centred evidence-based oral health treatment plan
6.2.5		determine when and how to refer patients to the appropriate health professional
6.3.9		manage medical emergencies

Responding to student feedback

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

No changes have been made since this unit was last offered

Additional information

Site visit guidelines

Students must comply with Work, Health and Safety, Infection Control and Dress Standard policies of all laboratories, placement sites and Local Health Districts.

Work, health and safety

Students must comply with work health and safety, infection control and dress standard policies of all laboratories, placement sites and Local Health Districts (LHDs).

Disclaimer

Important: the University of Sydney regularly reviews units of study and reserves the right to change the units of study available annually. To stay up to date on available study options, including unit of study details and availability, refer to the relevant handbook.

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

Early feedback task

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI)

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Support for students

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Alignment with Competency standards

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Site visit guidelines

Work, health and safety

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

ORHL2104: Life Sciences III

Semester 1, 2026 [Normal day] - Westmead, Sydney

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Early feedback task

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI)

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Support for students

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Alignment with Competency standards

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Site visit guidelines

Work, health and safety

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links