Medical University of Bialystok. Syllabus.
  • Updated 30.09.2025 by Zakład Patologii Ogólnej i Doświadczalnej

    Syllabus

     

    SYLLABUS

    Academic year 2025-2026

     

    Name of course/module

    Pathophysiology

    Name of unit(s) in which the course is implemented

    Department of General And Experimental Pathology

    E-mail of the unit

    patofiz@umb.edu.pl

    Faculty

    Faculty of Medicine with the Division of Dentistry and Division of Medical Education in English

    Major

    Medicine

    Mode of study

    long-cycle studies

    Form of study

    full-time £                                 part-time £

    Language of the course

     Polish                                       English £

    Course type

    obligatory  £                            facultative 

    Year/ semester

    I    II    III £   IV    V   VI 

    1    2    3    4    5 £   6 £  7   8   10  11   12 

    Introductory courses and essential requirements

    Anatomy, biochemistry, physiology: the realization of learning outcomes in terms of knowledge, skills and competences from the previous years of studies.

    Number of hours of teaching divided into forms of teaching

    80 hours, incl.: 20 - lectures, 50 - practical classes, 10 - seminars

    Course assumptions and objectives

    The aim of pathophysiology teaching is to explain to students of medicine the functional changes of the system in disease, mechanisms of disease development and systemic consequences resulting from the disease. Students should know and use the basic terms used in pathophysiology, know the basics of etiopathogenesis of diseases of individual systems, know the pathomechanism of consequences of impaired function of organs and systems, and use the acquired knowledge in practice.

    Teaching methods

     

    - lecture

    - consultations (before each test)

    - discussion

    - presentation

    - case description

    - independent searching for knowledge

    Name and surname of the tutor

    Scientific and didactic staff employed at the Department of General and Experimental  
    Pathology, MUB

    Name and surname of the person responsible for teaching

    dr hab. Tomasz Bonda

     

    Symbol

    and number of the learning outcome

    in accordance with the educational standard and other subject learning outcomes

    Description of the learning outcomes for the major

    Form of training

    Method of verification of assumed learning outcomes

    Knowledge

    BW17

    knows the ways in which cells communicate with each other, between the cell and the extracellular matrix; the pathways for signal transduction in the cell and examples of disruption of these processes leading to cancer and other diseases

    Lecture, classes

    Summarising methods, e.g.:

     - written examination (MCQ - test)

     

    Formative methods, e.g.

    - assessment of activity during classes

    - evaluation of preparation for classes

    - discussion during classes

    - partial assessment

     

    BW18

    knows processes such as apoptosis and necrosis and their significance for the functioning of the organism

    Lecture, classes

    BW25

    knows the relationship between factors disrupting the balance of biological processes and pathophysiological changes

    Lecture, classes

    CW27

    knows the basic mechanisms of cell and tissue damage

    Lecture, classes

    CW28

    describes the clinical course of specific and non-specific inflammations and processes of tissue and organ regeneration

    Lecture, classes

    CW29

    knows the definition and pathophysiology of shock, with particular emphasis on differentiation of shock causes, and multi-organ failure

    Lecture, classes

    CW30

    knows the etiology of hemodynamic disturbances, retrograde and progressive changes

    Lecture, classes

    CW33

    lists external and internal, modifiable and non-modifiable pathogens

    Lecture, classes

    CW34

    knows and understands the clinical forms of the most common diseases of individual systems and organs, metabolic diseases and water-electrolyte, hormonal and acid-base disorders

    Lecture, classes

    CW47

    knows and understands the influence of oxidative stress on cells and its meaning in the pathogenesis of diseases and ageing processes;

    Lecture, practical classes

    CW48

    knows and understands the consequences of vitamin or mineral deficiency and their excess in the body;

    Lecture, classes

    CW.50

    knows and understands the consequences of improper nutrition, including prolonged starvation, taking too many meals and using an unbalanced diet and disorders of digestion and absorption of digestion products

    Lecture, classes

    Skills

    CU12

    Analyse the reactive, defensive and adaptive phenomena and dysregulation caused by the etiological agent

    Classes

    Summarising methods, e.g.:

    - design, presentation

     

    Formative methods, e.g.

    - assessment of activity during classes

    - evaluation of preparation for classes

    - discussion during classes

    - partial assessment

     

    CU20

    is able to describe changes in bodily functions when homeostasis is disturbed, in particular, the integrated response to exercise, exposure to heat or cold, loss of blood or water, sudden standing upright state, and transition from sleep to wakefulness.

    BU13

    plans and executes a simple scientific study, interprets its results, and draws conclusions

    Social competences

    K1

    respects medical confidentiality and patient rights

    Lecture, classes

    Summarising methods, e.g.:

    - continuous assessment by the teacher (observation)

     

    Formative methods, e.g.

    - discussion during classes

    K2

    is able to establish and maintain a deep and respectful contact with patients, as well as show understanding for world-view and cultural differences

    K3

    is guided by the welfare of the patient

    K4

    perceives and recognises own limitations and makes self-assessments of deficits and learning needs

    K7

    uses objective sources of information

    K8

    formulates conclusions from own measurements or observations

    K11

    accept responsibility for decisions made in the course of his professional activities, including his own safety and that of others

         

     

    ECTS credits

    7

    Student workload

    Form of activity

    Number of hours to complete the activity

    Activities requiring participation of the tutor:

    1. Course completion: lectures (according to the study plan)

    20

    1. Course completion: practical classes (according to the study plan)

    50

    1. Course completion: seminars (according to the study plan)

    10

    1. Course completion: optional classes

     

    1. Participation in consultations

     

     

    total hours: 80

    Independent student work:

    1. Self-preparation for theoretical and practical classes (making a project, documentation, case description, etc.)

     

    1. Self-preparation for assessments/tests

     

    1. Self-preparation for the final examination/assessment

     

     

    hours total:

       

                                                                                                  

    Learning content of the course

    Learning outcomes

    (symbol and number)

    Subject

    1. BW25, BU7, CU12

    Health and disease: causes and mechanisms involved in the onset, development and course of disease, adaptive processes.

    2. BW17, BW18, CW28, CU12

    Molecular mechanisms of the inflammatory process.

    3. BW17, BW18, CW28, CU12

    Mechanisms of cell damage and death, mechanisms of tissue regeneration.

    4. BW25, BU7, CU12

    Nutritional disorders. Thermoregulation disorders

    5. BW17, CW27, CU12

    Etiopathogenesis of cancer.

    6. BW17, CW27, CU12

    Molecular mechanisms of carcinogenesis.

    7. BW17, CW27, CU12

    Pathomechanism of the pain response.

    8. BW25, CW33, CU12

    Pathogenic effects of environmental factors.

    9. BW25, CW34, CU12

    Pathophysiology of selected diseases of the central
    and the peripheral nervous system.

    10. BW25, CW34, CU12

    Endocrine system dysfunction.

    11. BW25, CW34, CU12

    Pathophysiology of the digestive system: gastroesophageal reflux disease, gastric and duodenal diseases, intestinal diseases, and malabsorption.

    12. BW25, CW34, CU12

    Pathophysiology of liver and pancreatic diseases.

    13. BW25, CW34, CU12

    Pathophysiology of respiratory system diseases.

    14. BW25, CW34, CU12

    Pathophysiology of cardiovascular diseases: coronary artery disease, cardiac arrhythmias, cardiomopathies. Pathogenesis of hypertension.

    15. BW25, CW29, CU12

    Pathophysiology of shock, differentiation of causes of shock and multi-organ failure.

    16. BW25, CW34, CU12

    Pathophysiology of selected immune-mediated diseases.

    17. BW25, CW34, CU12

    Pathophysiology of diseases of the excretory system.

    18. BW25, CW34, CU12

    Pathophysiology of haemostasis.

    19. BW25, CW34, CU12

    Disorders of water-electrolyte balance.

    20. BW25, CW34, CU12

    Disorders of acid-base balance.

     

    Obligatory literature:

    1. Porth's Pathophysiology - Concepts of Altered Health States, 10th International Edition, Wolters Kluwer, 2018.
    2. Color Atlas of Pathophysiology - Stefan Silbernagl, Florian Lang, Thieme; 3rd Edition, 2016.

    Supplementary literature:

    1. Pathophysiology of Disease, McPhee SJ & Hammer GD, McGraw Hill, 6th Ed. 2010.

    2. Clinical application of pathophysiology. An evidence-based approach. Brashers. VL, Mosby Elsevier, 3rd Ed., 2011.  

     

    Criteria for the assessment of the achieved learning outcomes and the form and conditions of obtaining credit for the course:

    Students are required to prepare for classes by using the required textbooks and to participate in class actively. A written test (in the form of a quiz or essay) may be conducted during each class.
    For outstanding activity in each class within a given module, 1 point can be awarded, which will be added to the score obtained in the partial test, resulting in the final score for that partial test.
    Students who are unable to make up for missed classes will be tested on the exercise material (a written test and possibly three oral questions) only during the consultations preceding the next partial test.
    Partial Tests (written tests of knowledge from exercises and lectures in the form of a quiz - 20 questions) are held according to the presented class schedule. The duration of the partial test is 25 minutes. The maximum number of points that can be obtained from each test is 20.
    Students who were absent from the partial test, after justifying their absence, take the partial test on a designated date. Failure to justify absence from the partial test results in receiving zero points and prevents the student from taking the pre-exam and final exam.
    Obtaining the maximum number of points from the partial test (20 points) entitles one to receive two bonus points, and obtaining 18-19 points from the partial test entitles one to receive one bonus point, added to the score of the first-date final exam.
    Obtaining at least 76 points from all partial tests (≥95% of the total points) entitles the student to be exempt from the exam with a very good grade.

    Students who do not meet the following conditions cannot be admitted to the final exam.
    To qualify for the final exam, students must meet all the following conditions:
    - earn at least 48 points (60%) from the four tests,
    - attend a minimum of 13 classes, including seminars,
    - pass at least 14 classes, including seminars,
    - attend at least 8 lectures.
    Pre-Exam: Students who have not obtained the required minimum number of points (48 points), after meeting the other conditions, will be admitted to the final exam after passing the pre-exam (10 test questions, graded 1 point for each correct answer, and 10 open-ended questions, each worth a maximum of 2 points). The pre-exam covers all the material, including exercises (80% of questions) and lectures (20%). The pre-exam lasts 60 minutes. A minimum of 18 points (60%) is required to pass the pre-exam.

    Final exam: The course ends with a written exam based on 50 multiple-choice questions (including 10 questions on the lecture material). The exam lasts 60 minutes. To pass the final exam, you must obtain a minimum of 30 points (60% correct answers).
    Exam grading scale:
    5.0 - very good (48-50 points)                  4.5 - better than good (44-47 points)
    4.0 - good (39-43 points)                          3.5 - better than satisfactory (34-38 points)
    3.0 - satisfactory (30-33 points)                2.0 - unsatisfactory (<30 points)

    Retake exams: Students are entitled to two retake exams (in the summer exam session, until September 15 of the current academic year). Each retake exam is conducted in the same form as the initial exam. The condition for passing a retake exam is to obtain a minimum of 30 points (60% correct answers).

    The unit sets the exam dates (basic and two retakes) in consultation with the student representative. It is permissible to set one additional date for all persons who have justified their absence on any of the dates. This date will be in September (no later than September 15). No additional exam dates will be scheduled beyond those listed above.

    Failure to show up for a test/exam/retake exam without justification will result in a failing grade.

     

     

    dr hab. n. med. Tomasz Andrzej Bonda

    ……………………………………………………..…………………………..

    (date and signature of the head of the teaching unit or the course coordinator)