Learning objectives
The course aims to convey the fundamentals of neuroscience that have implications for general and specialist medical practice. The student will acquire useful knowledge to perform a complete neurological physical examination and to interpret the clinical signs and symptoms that fall within a framework of anatomical and functional normality or pathology, will learn notions that allow to frame the syndromic pictures linked to specific alterations of the central, peripheral and autonomic nervous system (eg pyramidal system, extrapyramidal system, vegetative system). The course will allow students to deepen the most up-to-date notions (epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical and instrumental diagnosis, treatment, prognosis) in the field of autoimmune, vascular, neuromuscular and degenerative diseases. Advanced notions on headaches and major sleep-related diseases will also be provided. Overall, the teaching program aims to confer judgment skills in the general framework of the patient, providing students with tools for a correct communication and assessment of the principle neurological pathologies.
Prerequisites
- - -
Course unit content
Semiology of neurological clinical practice
Headaches (migraines, cluster headaches, trigeminal neuralgia, post-herpetic pain)
Epilepsies and status epilepticus (causes and therapies).
Multiple sclerosis and demyelinating diseases.
Neurodegenerative diseases.
Parkinson's disease and parkinsonisms.
Cranial nerves and related pathologies.
Acute cerebral vasculopathies. (stroke): etiology, risk factors, and specific treatments.
Pathologies of the I and II motor neurons
Cerebrospinal fluid: composition and pressure alterations.
Pathologies of the neuro-muscular plaque and of the peripheral nerves.
Elements of neurotraumatology.
Limbic system and cognitive functions
Dementias
Brain trauma
Spinal injuries
Coma, vegetative state and locked-in syndrome
Brain tumors
Sleep medicine
Anatomy of the main and accessory optical pathways
Basic knowledges of neuroimaging
Full programme
Semeiology of motility, sensitivity, cranial nerves and vegetative functions. Vigilance, consciousness, coma, vegetative state, brain death. Cognitive functions. Neurophysiopathology (EEG, EMG, evoked potentials, TMS). Doppler ultrasonography. Polysomnography: macro- and microstructure of sleep. Sleep pathologies (insomnia, narcolepsy and other hypersomnias, OSA, parasomnia, nocturnal epilepsy, movement disordersd uring sleep, circadian rhythm changes). CSF examination and laboratory techniques for the diagnosis of diseases of the nervous system. Epilepsies. Headaches and facial pains. Pathologies of the peripheral nerves. Spinal cord compressions and spinal injuries. Syringomyelia. Vascular myelopathies. Demyelinating diseases. Motor neuron diseases. Extrapyramidal diseases. Degenerative and hereditary diseases of the central nervous system. Dementias. Vascular diseases of the brain. Infectious and/or communicable diseases. Neurological manifestations of systemic diseases. Muscle and neuromuscular junction disorders.
Bibliography
La Neurologia della Sapienza
G. Cruccu, A. Berardelli
Esculapio Ed. Roma
Teaching methods
Lectures will be held on-site in compliance with safety standards, provided that further instructions on the ongoing health emergency are not implemented. Supporting material will be available on the specific, student-reserved platform (Elly) and will include slide presentations, audio-video aids or video-recording of the lectures.
Assessment methods and criteria
oral or written exam
Other information
- - -
2030 agenda goals for sustainable development
- - -
