Authorised by Academic Registrar, April 1996
Objectives Physics Demonstrate an understanding of the basic optics of the eye, lenses, and optical instruments; demonstrate a knowledge of the application of lasers, X-rays, gamma rays, and ultrasound in diagnosis and therapy; demonstrate an understanding of the nature of radioactive materials and their use in medicine; demonstrate an understanding of solutions and their dilution; be able to do simple pressure calculations. Chemistry Discuss the basic chemistry of carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids; describe glucose and other single sugars by reference to molecular models; compare the structures of dietary fibre and starches; describe the digestion and absorption of carbohydrates, proteins and fats and oils; describe amino-acids and their linking in proteins, fibrous and globular; describe lipids as triglycerides, phospholipids or steroids; describe a nerve cell, and polarisation and depolarisation of its membrane by ions; describe the base-sugar-phosphate linkages in ATP, RNA and DNA; explain pairing of bases by hydrogen bonding; perform %w/v dilution calculations and test the prepared solutions; perform calculations of millimolar concentrations; describe the chemical compositons of a variety of common household materials.
Synopsis Physics The electro-magnetic spectrum, reflection, refraction, total internal reflection, optical fibres and endoscopes, optical systems, the eye, vision defects, ophthalmoscopes, microscopes. The laser and its application in medicine. X-rays, generation and measurement, radioisotopes, half-life, inverse-square law, physiological effects, units, radiation safety, radiotherapy, radiology, tomography, nuclear medicine. Use of ultrasound, measurement and units of pressure. Simple concepts and calculations of solutions and dilutions. Chemistry Simple ideas of covalent bonding (with molecular models) to describe glucose and other single sugars. Models for the shapes of glucose linked in dietary fibre and starches and their digestibility. Sequence of digestion of carbohydrates, by specific enzymes, leading to double sugars and then to single sugars before absorption. Models of amino-acids and their linking in proteins, fibrous and globular. Digestion of proteins, by specific enzymes, to polypeptides, dipeptides and amino acids before absorption. Models of lipids, triglycerides, phospholipids and steroids. Fats and oils emulsified by bile soaps and digested by lipase to yield fatty anions and mon-acyl glycerols before absorption and reconstitution. Nerve cells, their polarisation and their depolarisation and the passage of an action potential. Movement of ions across the membrane of an axon. Effect of myelin sheath. Models of ATP, RNA and DNA and base-sugar-phosphate linkages in nucleic acids. Pairing of bases by hydrogen bonding between A:T and C:G in DNA and similarly between codons and anticodons in protein synthesis. DNA/RNA, protein, phospholipid and glyco-protein structures in virus sytems. Dilution calculations and conductivity and pH measurements on the prepared solutions. Calculations of millimolar concentrations. Chemical compositions of various common household materials.
Assessment Examination: 70% + Laboratory assessment: 30%