About this course: In this anatomy course you will explore the organs involved in our food digestion and discover the common causes of abdominal and pelvic pain. The latest graphics and animations will help you to find new insights and understanding of this part of the body, that has been the focus of anatomical research for centuries and presently arouses renewed scientific interest. You will explore the 3D anatomy of the organs from a basic level, providing thorough anatomical understanding, to its advanced application in surgical procedures. This course will challenge you to discover and help you to understand the anatomy of the abdomen and pelvis in all its aspects, ranging from its embryological underpinnings, via digital microscopy to gross topography and its clinical applications. The course is unique in that it continuously connects basic anatomical knowledge from the lab with its medical applications and current diagnostic techniques. You’ll get the chance to discuss anatomical and clinical problems with peers and experts in forum discussions and you will receive guidance in exploring the wealth of anatomical information that has been gathered over the centuries. Follow us on an exciting journey through the abdomen and pelvis where you digest your food but also where new life starts!
Who is this class for: Beginners and professionals interested in Anatomy. This course is free, and will remain free for participants. You can purchase a certificate.
Created by: Universiteit Leiden, Leiden University Medical Center
Taught by: Marco De Ruiter, PhD, Professor of Clinical and Experimental Anatomy
Leiden University Medical Centre
Taught by: Paul Gobée, MD, Assistent professor of Anatomy
Leiden University Medical Centre
Taught by: Beerend P. Hierck, PHD., Associate professor of developmental biology
Leiden University Medical Center
Taught by: Daniël Jansma, MSc, E-Learning developer
Leiden University Medical Centre
Taught by: Bas Boekestijn, MD, Trainee Radiology
Leiden University Medical Centre
Taught by: Friso Jansen, Drs.
Leiden University Medical Centre
| Commitment | 7 weeks of study, 4-6 hours/week |
| Language | English |
| How To Pass | Pass all graded assignments to complete the course. |
| User Ratings |
Syllabus
WEEK 1
Introduction
2 videos, 6 readings
- Video: Trailer: Anatomy of the Abdomen and Pelvis
- Video: Welcome and introduction
- Leitura: Meet the instructors & the team
- Leitura: Welcome to Leiden University!
- Leitura: Graphic content warning
- Leitura: Tips for studying online
- Leitura: Being successful in an international virtual learning environment
- Leitura: Behaving in an academic way
- Prompt de discussão: E-tivity: Introduce yourself
Mapping the abdomen and pelvis
Welcome to the first week of the course. Have you ever wondered what lies inside your abdomen? Do you know where the spleen or appendix is situated? Would you like to know how the physician looks at it and get the basics of a physical examination of the abdomen? Do you want to understand how all these structures can be seen on scans or X-rays? During this week you will get a better understanding of these things. We also lay the foundation for the following weeks of the course, like basic things to know about vascularization, the nervous system, embryology, and the wonderful membrane holding all these structures together: the peritoneum.
9 videos, 4 readings, 5 practice quizzes
- Video: Introduction 'Mapping the abdomen and pelvis'
- Video: Follow the food - A tour along the intestines
- Video: Anatomy on the table - 'Follow the food': A tour along the intestines
- Leitura: Getting the names right
- Teste para praticar: Follow the food
- Video: What do you see if you open the abdomen
- Video: Anatomy on the table - What do you see if you open the abdomen
- Teste para praticar: 'What lies here doctor?'
- Video: Human Anatomy 101 - What you need to know
- Teste para praticar: What you need to know
- Leitura: Links to some 101 readers
- Leitura: Location of cross-sectional viewers
- Video: Working with the viewers
- Video: A tour of the abdomen and pelvis in the viewers
- Teste para praticar: Working with the viewers
- Leitura: 'Reading' cross-sections
- Teste para praticar: Diving into the cross-sections
- Prompt de discussão: E-tivity: Diving deeper into the cross-sections (in-depth)
- Video: Summary of module ‘Mapping the abdomen’
Graded: Test your knowledge
WEEK 2
Trip into the gut
After the first introduction of the abdomen with all its organs, this week we will focus at some microscopy and the first stages of gut development in the embryo. The gut starts as a simple straight tube which differentiates further into a internalized tract with specialized sections, each with its own function. You will learn how the esophagus transports your food, while its lower sphincter prevents food from returning - even if you're upside down! Then you will focus on how the stomach drenches all food in an extremely acid pool, attacking ingested bacteria and starting the digestion. That same acid would also damage the duodenum, so protective action is required. You will follow the digestion further down the tract, with its extensive folds and specialized cells and end up with more and more solid bowel contents when water is extracted in the colon. In order to demonstrate some functions further, we also have to dive into the world of microscopy. Join us on this trip into the gut with all its ingenious structural specializations along the way!
10 videos, 9 readings, 3 practice quizzes
- Video: Introduction
- Leitura: Histology 101: Some basics & links
- Video: Four layer model
- Video: Peristalsis and muscle layer orientation: in-depth
- Video: Esophagus histology at a glance
- Video: Stomach histology in a nutshell
- Video: GI Tract histology: Some practical pointers
- Leitura: GI Tract histology: Short summary
- Video: A slice of the gut at a glance
- Leitura: CASK GI Tract microscopy: Interactive tutorial
- Video: Introduction embryology and what happened before...
- Video: Folding of the embryo
- Video: Cavities
- Leitura: Embryology 101: Holding or folding
- Teste para praticar: Basic embryology
- Prompt de discussão: E-tivity: Basic Embryology
- Leitura: Anatomy on the table - Lower oesophagus
- Leitura: Anatomy on the table - Stomach
- Leitura: Anatomy on the table - The small intestines
- Leitura: Anatomy on the table - The large intestines
- Leitura: Anatomy on the table - The rectum and anus
- Teste para praticar: Anatomy on the table
- Prompt de discussão: E-tivity: Integration with the clinic - microscopy
- Teste para praticar: Integration with the clinic - macroscopy
Graded: Test your knowledge
WEEK 3
The gut and its 'suppliers and purchasers'
We discussed some microscopy before and the embryonic origin of the initial gut tube and how it differentiates into specialized sections for digestion. We will now focus on the question why the bowels are not arranged symmetrically left and right, like in the rest of our body, but are closely encircling and crossing over each other. With a unique 3D animation you will learn about the rotation of the gut during development. This key concept will help you to understand the anatomical relationships of the gut with its suppliers and purchasers. The gut cannot do it alone; it needs additional organs which supply digestive chemicals such as enzymes and bile and organs that process the absorbed food further. Both the gut and these organs also need a blood supply. You will learn where their blood vessels are situated. Also, the less prominent, but very important 'sewage' system, the lymphatics, will be dealt with. In the gut area, the lymphatics are specialized in transporting fats that are absorbed from the food! Lymphatic vessels also keep an eye on pathological invaders. Unfortunately they may also spread tumor cells. In short, this week's module is for everyone who is interested in the collaboration between the abdominal organs and the gut.
10 videos, 7 readings, 4 practice quizzes
- Video: Introduction
- Video: Histology: Some practical pointers
- Video: A slice of pancreas at a glance
- Leitura: CASK microscopy blood vessels: In-depth interactive tutorial
- Leitura: Liver histology in a nutshell
- Video: Liver histology at a glance
- Teste para praticar: Virtual sections to practise with and gallbladder quiz
- Video: Introduction
- Video: Gut rotation in the embryo
- Video: Animation
- Leitura: Exercise embryology - Reading
- Video: Exercise embryology - Movie I (no audio)
- Video: Exercise embryology - Movie II (no audio)
- Video: Exercise embryology - Movie III (no audio)
- Teste para praticar: Exercise embryology - Quiz
- Leitura: Liver
- Leitura: Vascular system
- Leitura: Pancreas
- Leitura: Spleen
- Teste para praticar: Organs
- Teste para praticar: Integration with the clinic: A few cases
Graded: Test your knowledge
WEEK 4
Knowing your peritoneal relationships
You have already learned that the bowels are not arranged symmetrically left and right. The rotation processes of the gut and its suppliers have important consequences for the peritoneal coverings of the gut and the abdominal wall. It determines why some structures lie easily accessible in the abdomen and others are more hidden away. In this week you will get a grip on difficult concepts as 'intraperitoneal' and 'retroperitoneal'. It is also a starter week about abdominal surgery. You will also learn a secret: The best way to mobilize the abdominal and pelvic organs is to separate what got adhered when the patient was just an embryo! Please feel free to dive into these embryonic matters and enjoy all the twists and turns!
13 videos, 1 reading, 3 practice quizzes
- Video: Introduction 'The peritoneum - Why the surgeon needs embryology'
- Video: Why bother about the peritoneum
- Video: What makes understanding the peritoneum so difficult
- Video: The relation of the peritoneum to the gut
- Video: Locations of the intestines in relation to the peritoneum
- Video: Anatomy on the table - The three locations of organs in relation to the peritoneum
- Teste para praticar: Locations of the intestines in relation to the peritoneum
- Video: Peritoneal terminology: Introduction
- Leitura: Reader Peritoneal terminology
- Teste para praticar: Exercise: Peritoneal terminology
- Video: Peritoneal development
- Video: Peritoneal development, step 0, model, Introduction
- Video: Peritoneal development, step 1, model, Rotation of stomach, duodenum, pancreas
- Video: Peritoneal development, step 2, model, Rotation of the bowels
- Video: Peritoneal development, step 3, model. Development of the greater omentum
- Video: Anatomy on the table - Peritoneal structures and relations – an overview
- Teste para praticar: Case: “I’m worrying about my stool”
Graded: Test your knowledge
WEEK 5
Protecting the internal organs
The abdominal body wall and the pelvis are the topics of this week. What happens if you push hard to pass a stool, or in reverse, how do you prevent unwantedly passing a stool when you sneeze or cough hard? It may not seem the most attractive area of the body, but the rectum and anus hold many intricacies and even nowadays new things are discovered! Weak areas in the body wall are a frequent cause of problems, for instance they can lead to inguinal hernias. You will learn about their complicated anatomy. And finally, we will dive deep in the pelvis and learn about its hidden gems: the internal genitals.
19 videos, 6 readings, 7 practice quizzes
- Video: Protecting the internal organs
- Video: Introduction of the abdominal wall
- Video: General principles of the body wall
- Video: From body wall to abdominal wall
- Video: Structures of the abdominal wall
- Video: Anatomy on the table - Demonstration of the superficial body wall
- Video: Anatomy on the table - Demonstration on the deep body wall
- Teste para praticar: Test your knowledge up till now
- Teste para praticar: Excercise The body wall in function: The muscles contract
- Teste para praticar: The body wall in function: Pregnancy
- Leitura: Doctor, why do I have an oblique scar?
- Teste para praticar: Why do I have an oblique scar, doctor?
- Leitura: CASK E-learning: The inguinal canal and hernias
- Video: The hidden importance of the pelvic floor
- Video: Urine and bowel continence
- Teste para praticar: Structures of the pelvic floor
- Prompt de discussão: E-tivity: Pros and cons of the episiotomy
- Video: Gems of the pelvis
- Video: Overview female pelvis
- Video: The extrauterine pregnancy
- Leitura: OAH Viewer - The 3D pelvis; user instructions
- Video: How to use the OAH viewer
- Leitura: OAH viewer – Start with the exercise
- Teste para praticar: OAH viewer
- Leitura: OAH evaluation / survey
- Prompt de discussão: E-tivity: The pelvic organs
- Leitura: Laparoscopy - Start with the excercise
- Video: Laparoscopy: normal pelvic organs (no audio)
- Video: Laparoscopy: normal pelvic organs with explanation (no audio)
- Video: Laparoscopy: Adnex extirpation 1 (no audio)
- Video: Laparoscopy: Adnex extirpation 1 with explanation (no audio)
- Video: Laparoscopy: Adnex extirpation 2 (no audio)
- Video: Laparoscopy: Adnex extirpation 2 with explanation (no audio)
- Teste para praticar: Laparoscopy
Graded: Test your knowledge
WEEK 6
Pain!
The course comes to an end with this last topic: Pain in my belly! Probably all of us have experienced abdominal pains and have witnessed its many different forms. Sometimes it can just be a slight discomfort, or it can come in waves of agony. The aches can develop gradually over several days, or strike suddenly as severe abdominal pain. In many cases the patient cannot easily locate the pain. Even shoulder pain can be caused by something going on in the abdomen! Abdominal pain is one of the most frequent reasons to seek medical attention. However, diagnosing the cause of the pain can be very difficult. Many different diseases may cause abdominal pain. Many of those do not require immediate treatment, yet others are life-threatening. The challenge is to correctly identify those dangerous cases that require prompt surgical intervention. You will learn the anatomical basis of pain and how to apply this knowledge in the diagnostic process. We will wrap up with an overview of several abdominal diseases that might all present themselves with pain.
11 videos, 5 readings, 5 practice quizzes
- Video: Anatomy of pain
- Video: Organisation of the nervous system
- Leitura: Visceral innervation in depth
- Video: Anatomy on the table - Innervation of the viscera: Thorax
- Video: Anatomy on the table - Innervation of the viscera: Abdomen
- Video: Visceral stimuli
- Video: Types of abdominal pain
- Leitura: The abdominal aorta aneurysm
- Prompt de discussão: E-tivity: The abdominal aortic aneurysm
- Leitura: The brain of the gut
- Teste para praticar: Anatomic basics of pain
- Video: Visceral pain
- Teste para praticar: Visceral pain
- Video: Referred pain
- Leitura: The referred area
- Teste para praticar: Exercise referred pain
- Leitura: Reader Pain without a cause (in-depth)
- Video: From theory to practice
- Video: Evaluating abdominal pain
- Video: Examining the abdomen
- Teste para praticar: Migrating pain: From visceral to parietal
- Teste para praticar: The theory of practise: wrapping things up
Graded: Test your knowledge
WEEK 7
Concluding the MOOC
Graded: Final quiz of the MOOC
FAQs
How It Works
Trabalho
Cada curso é como um livro didático interativo, com vídeos pré-gravados, testes e projetos.
Ajuda dos seus colegas
Conecte-se com milhares de outros aprendizes, debata ideias, discuta sobre os materiais do curso e obtenha ajuda para dominar conceitos.
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Creators
Universiteit Leiden
Leiden University is one of Europe's foremost research universities. This prominent position gives our graduates a leading edge in applying for academic posts and for functions outside academia.
Leiden University is the oldest university in the Netherlands. It was founded in February 1575, as a gift from William of Orange to the citizens of Leiden after they had withstood a long siege by the Spanish. Our motto is: Praesidium Libertatis — Bastion of Liberty.
Leiden University Medical Center
Ratings and Reviews
The course contains a lot of information. Authors did great job to help us understand more clearly the topic and some difficulties in it.
It´s just awesome
Very good source of knowledge regarding human anatomy and especially GI tract anatomy. All the major aspects are covered.
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KO
Very informative and fun classes -- the best part about it is that the material is all practical and reality oriented. You learn from the lab instead of a dry-and-boring textbook. Thank you for offering this course! Cheers.