Course Overview: The course will provide a general overview of the integrated physiologic events associated with pregnancy and birth. The approach will be to consider physiologic processes (e.g., implantation, maternal adaptations to pregnancy, parturition, physiologic consequences associated with the transition from fetal to neonatal life, etc.) using insights gained from studies of humans, animals, cells and genes. Where appropriate the clinical consequences of aberrant development will be reviewed.
Learning Objectives: By the end of the course students will be able to demonstrate:
Understanding of embryo and fetal development
Knowledge of the role of the placenta during pregnancy
Understanding of the development of specific organ systems during fetal and early postnatal life, and how these systems transition at birth
Knowledge of how the early environment can alter developmental trajectories leaving individuals at risk of developing chronic disease in later life.
Prerequisites: PSL300H1, PSL301H1
Recommended Preparation: PSL420H1
Students will normally be expected to have gained credit in an appropriate 3rd year general physiology course.
Evaluation: A 2h mid-term exam (35%) and a final 3h exam (50%). Course assignments (15%). The exam questions are of the short (~30 min) essay type
