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. Topics that may be discussed within this course include:
Embryo development
Implantation; interactions between embryo and endometrium
Trophoblast invasion and formation of placenta
Maternal recognition of pregnancy
Maternal adaptation to pregnancy
Fetal cardiovascular system
Fetal renal system
Fetal lung development and respiratory system
Fetal brain
Fetal growth
Fetal endocrinology
Endocrinology / physiology of labour
The fetus as a patient
Transition from fetal to newborn life
The fetus and adult health
Recommended Preparation:
PSL420H1.
Students will normally be expected to have gained credit in an appropriate 3rd year general physiology course.
Evaluation:
Course Assignments: 15%
Mid-term exam (short essay-based): 22%
Final exam (short essay-based): 33%
Review paper: 30% - well-focused 15-page review on a novel topic related to pregnancy and birth. The review should be no more than 15 pages double-spaced, exclusive of references and figures (12 pt font, 1 inch margins).
