| This highly interactive CBL program is designed to teach the essential
physiology and pharmacology of the neuromuscular junction. It is intended
for first or second year undergraduate students of medicine, physiology,
pharmacology and biological sciences. Some sections may also be appropriate
for health-related courses. It is suitable for primary learning, revision
or as a resource to support other types of teaching. It should occupy
students for 3-4 hours of study.
Learning Objectives: after working through this program
students should be able to:
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Describe the functional anatomy of the skeletal
neuromuscular junction;
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Explain the process of neurotransmission;
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Describe the characteristics of nicotinic acetylcholine
receptors and the actions of acetylcholine at these receptors;
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Explain the differences in mode of action of
depolarising and non-depolarising neuromuscular blocking agents
and the characteristics of the blocks they produce;
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Describe the clinical use of anticholinesterases;
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Discuss the clinical implications of using
neuromuscular blocking agents.
The approach is to combine succinct textual/factual descript-ions
with graphics and to use features such as animation and hotwords where
appropriate. Hotwords function either to define terms which may be
unfamiliar to the student or to provide additional, sometimes more
detailed or advanced information. Some experimental data, which illustrates
the different actions of neuromuscular blocking agents in animal models,
is also used. The program contains numerous self-assessment questions
e.g. multiple choice and true/false questions with feedback, drag
and drop exercises (to test e.g. knowledge of stepwise sequences),
and clinically-related scenarios. These are designed primarily to
promote and reinforce learning rather than to test students. Learning
by this method is non-intimidating, is independent of time and place,
may be self-paced and may take place either individually or in small
groups. |