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Unit of study_

SURG5028: Thorax, Back, Spinal Cord by Dissection

2025 unit information

This is a face to face teaching course. Candidates dissect in supervised groups, according to a strict daily dissection schedule, utilising team-based learning (TBL) methods. This is a proven technique for teaching clinical topographical anatomy to surgical trainees. Throughout this course there is a strong emphasis on applied clinical and surgical anatomy. Supervision is by anatomists and/or specialist surgeons. All candidates are given allotted tasks to prepare for presentation to the class prior to dissection. Self-directed study is required before each of the sessions of approximately 10 hours per session as a minimum. The student is expected to have read and learnt the appropriate texts before coming to class. There are ongoing SCORPIOs carried out during the dissection. At the end of each module there is a summative examination. The dissection covers all aspects of the thorax, including body wall, thoracic wall, diaphragm, thoracic cavity, superior, anterior, middle and posterior mediastinum, pleura, lungs, heart, oesophagus, and osteology of thorax.

Unit details and rules

Managing faculty or University school:

Medicine and Health

Study level Postgraduate
Academic unit Surgery
Credit points 6
Prerequisites:
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None
Corequisites:
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None
Prohibitions:
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None
Assumed knowledge:
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This is an advanced course and it is recommended for advanced trainees who are preparing for the GSSE or for a SET program. It is also available if you have completed other Anatomy courses/training

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. Develop a detailed knowledge and understanding of the five regions of the body
  • LO2. Recognise and explain all common and important characteristics of an anatomical structure
  • LO3. Develop an understanding of key relationships and common variations of topographical regional anatomy which are important to surgeons in the management of patients in clinical and operating rooms
  • LO4. Correlate clinically relevant regional anatomy with core systematic anatomy of surgical importance
  • LO5. Interpret transition regions of the body and sectional anatomy regions of the body using modern imaging techniques

Unit availability

This section lists the session, attendance modes and locations the unit is available in. There is a unit outline for each of the unit availabilities, which gives you information about the unit including assessment details and a schedule of weekly activities.

The outline is published 2 weeks before the first day of teaching. You can look at previous outlines for a guide to the details of a unit.

Session MoA ?  Location Outline ? 
Semester 1 2024
Normal day Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney
Semester 2 2024
Normal day Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney
Session MoA ?  Location Outline ? 
Semester 1 2025
Normal day Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney
Outline unavailable
Semester 2 2025
Normal day Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney
Outline unavailable
Session MoA ?  Location Outline ? 
Semester 1 2021
Normal day Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney
Semester 1 2022
Normal day Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney
Semester 1 2023
Normal day Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney
Semester 2 2023
Normal day Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

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Modes of attendance (MoA)

This refers to the Mode of attendance (MoA) for the unit as it appears when you’re selecting your units in Sydney Student. Find more information about modes of attendance on our website.