Unit information: Neuroendocrinology in 2019/20

Unit name	Neuroendocrinology
Unit code	MEDIM7004
Credit points	20
Level of study	M/7
Teaching block(s)	Academic Year (weeks 1 - 52)
Unit director	Dr. O'Carroll
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	None
Co-requisites	None
School/department	Bristol Medical School
Faculty	Faculty of Health Sciences

Description including Unit Aims

The students are given a background in Neuroendocrinology with emphasis on: Interconnections of the endocrine and nervous systems; Hypothalamus; Anterior pituitary hormones; Stress.

The Aims and Objectives of this Unit are to provide an introduction to the neuroendocrine systems of the body. In addition, there will be a consideration of the neuroendocrine and immune systems and their relevance to disease. While basic research will be presented, this will be done within a framework of the clinical relevance of these systems.

This Unit will specifically describe:

1. The regulatory interactions between brain and periphery;
2. Anatomy of the hypothalamus, pituitary and adrenal;
3. Hypothalamic releasing factors;
4. The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and stress;
5. Neurohypophysial hormones (vasopressin and oxytocin);
6. Neuroendocrine disorders and tumours;
7. The brain and the immune system;
8. Anterior pituitary hormones;
9. The hypothalamo-pituitary-thyroid axis;
10. The hypothalamo-pituitary-gonadal axis and sex steroid hormones.

Intended Learning Outcomes

At the end of this Unit students will have gained a good understanding of the anatomy and physiology of the major components of the neuroendocrine systems and will be able to integrate this knowledge in a coherent manner.

Teaching Information

This unit is taught through lectures. Tutorials may be given to further illustrate and discuss the unit subjects.

Assessment Information

This unit is assessed through:

• a 3,000-word essay (50%)
• 1 MCQ exam (50%)

A formative set of MCQ questions will be provided to aid understanding of neuroendocrinology.

Reading and References

Selected relevant review papers from the literature.