2024
Paleopathology I
Name: Paleopathology I
Code: BIO14696M
6 ECTS
Duration: 15 weeks/156 hours
Scientific Area:
Biological Sciences
Teaching languages: Portuguese, Italian
Languages of tutoring support: Portuguese, English
Regime de Frequência: Presencial
Presentation
This CU aims to provide theoretical knowledge about the causes and manifestations of skeletal disease and practical experience in the identification and diagnosis of paleopathology, namely infectious lesions and those resulting from physiological stress.
Sustainable Development Goals
Learning Goals
This CU aims to:
1. provide theoretical knowledge about the causes and manifestations of skeletal disease and practical experience in the identification and diagnosis of paleopathology;
2. understand the history of health and disease and their relationship with the human organism and with human adaptation and evolution;
3. discuss the relationship between disease, activity and diet, as well as the epidemiological transition, epidemiology of the pathologies and their impact for the individual and population;
4. develop critical thinking about the methodologies to be applied in laboratory research as well as about the results interpretations to which the investigations lead.
Within this CU it is intended that students acquire fundamental skills in the area of paleopathology, acquire the ability to plan and execute work and develop critical thinking about the results.
1. provide theoretical knowledge about the causes and manifestations of skeletal disease and practical experience in the identification and diagnosis of paleopathology;
2. understand the history of health and disease and their relationship with the human organism and with human adaptation and evolution;
3. discuss the relationship between disease, activity and diet, as well as the epidemiological transition, epidemiology of the pathologies and their impact for the individual and population;
4. develop critical thinking about the methodologies to be applied in laboratory research as well as about the results interpretations to which the investigations lead.
Within this CU it is intended that students acquire fundamental skills in the area of paleopathology, acquire the ability to plan and execute work and develop critical thinking about the results.
Contents
Introduction to paleopathology
1.1. Definition, history and evolution of paleopathology
1.2. Osteological paradox
Paleoepidemiology concepts
2.1. Epidemiological transitions
Study methods in paleopathology
3.1. Macroscopic
3.2. Imaging
3.3. Chemical and molecular
Bone as a living tissue
4.1. Types of bone tissue
4.2. Bone growth
4.3. Bone remodeling
Bone lesions and their relationship with pathologies
5.1. Severity of the lesions
5.2. Differential diagnosis
Physiological stress
6.1. Growth issues
6.2. Dental enamel hypoplasia
6.3. Porotic hyperostosis
6.4. Cribra orbitalia
6.5. Harris lines
Infectious diseases
7.1. History and evolution of infectious diseases and their relationship to human adaptation and evolution
7.2. Epidemics and pandemics
7.3. Non-specific infections (periostitis, osteitis and osteomyelitis)
7.4. Bacterial infections (syphilis, leprosy, tuberculosis, brucellosis)
7.5. Viral infections
7.6. Fungal infections
1.1. Definition, history and evolution of paleopathology
1.2. Osteological paradox
Paleoepidemiology concepts
2.1. Epidemiological transitions
Study methods in paleopathology
3.1. Macroscopic
3.2. Imaging
3.3. Chemical and molecular
Bone as a living tissue
4.1. Types of bone tissue
4.2. Bone growth
4.3. Bone remodeling
Bone lesions and their relationship with pathologies
5.1. Severity of the lesions
5.2. Differential diagnosis
Physiological stress
6.1. Growth issues
6.2. Dental enamel hypoplasia
6.3. Porotic hyperostosis
6.4. Cribra orbitalia
6.5. Harris lines
Infectious diseases
7.1. History and evolution of infectious diseases and their relationship to human adaptation and evolution
7.2. Epidemics and pandemics
7.3. Non-specific infections (periostitis, osteitis and osteomyelitis)
7.4. Bacterial infections (syphilis, leprosy, tuberculosis, brucellosis)
7.5. Viral infections
7.6. Fungal infections
Teaching Methods
Teaching methodology:
Theoretical-practical classes supported by audiovisual media, Moodle platform and bibliography. Additionally, students will have access to osteological material in order to follow, experimentally and sequentially, the entire syllabus and identify the etiology of lesions. Classes will be complemented with lectures, on-site or on-line, given by international renown experts in paleopathology.
Theoretical-practical classes supported by audiovisual media, Moodle platform and bibliography. Additionally, students will have access to osteological material in order to follow, experimentally and sequentially, the entire syllabus and identify the etiology of lesions. Classes will be complemented with lectures, on-site or on-line, given by international renown experts in paleopathology.
Assessment
The continuous and final assessment will have the same components:
Practical work (50%): throughout the classes the students will fill in the laboratory sheets referring to the skeletons that will be analyzed. These sheets will be collected by the teachers at the end of the classes.
Theoretical work (50%): essay having as theme one of the pathologies, or type of pathologies, studied in this CU.
The final assessment will be obtained through the arithmetic average of the practical and theoretical components.
Students will have the opportunity to carry out a final assessment consisting of a practical work (with the description and analysis of lesions in a skeleton selected by the teaching staff) and a theoretical work on one of the pathologies, or type of pathologies, studied in these UC.
The final classification will be obtained through the arithmetic mean between the components.
Practical work (50%): throughout the classes the students will fill in the laboratory sheets referring to the skeletons that will be analyzed. These sheets will be collected by the teachers at the end of the classes.
Theoretical work (50%): essay having as theme one of the pathologies, or type of pathologies, studied in this CU.
The final assessment will be obtained through the arithmetic average of the practical and theoretical components.
Students will have the opportunity to carry out a final assessment consisting of a practical work (with the description and analysis of lesions in a skeleton selected by the teaching staff) and a theoretical work on one of the pathologies, or type of pathologies, studied in these UC.
The final classification will be obtained through the arithmetic mean between the components.
Teaching Staff
Certificações
