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VET-10001 - Module Specification
Harper and Keele Veterinary School
Faculty of Natural Sciences

For academic year: 2025/26 Last Updated: 04 December 2025

VET-10001 - Veterinary Anatomy & Physiology
Coordinator: Zoe Davies Room: N/A
Lecture Time: See Timetable...
Level: Level 4
Credits: 45
Study Hours: 450
School Office: 01782 733928

Programme/Approved Electives for 2025/26

None

Available as a Free Standing Elective

No

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2025/26

This module provides knowledge of normal animal body structure, function and regulation. Understanding normal biology is essential for identifying abnormal structure and function, as well as devising, and monitoring success of, treatments. Underpinning scientific principles will be clearly linked to clinical relevance throughout and assessed via case-based assignments. Immunology will be introduced in this module, and expanded upon in Comparative Anatomy & Physiology and Veterinary Pathology.
This module addresses the following RCVS competencies:
1- Act professionally, as informed by the RCVS Code of Professional Conduct
11- Demonstrate a commitment to learning and professional development, including recording and reflecting on professional experience and other learning aimed at improving performance and competence.
12- Engage with self audit and peer-group review processes in order to improve performance
14- Adapt knowledge and skills to varied scenarios and contexts
This module addresses the following RCVS underpinning knowledge:
The structure, function and behaviour of animals and their physiological needs.

Aims
The aims of this module are to:
1. Develop understanding of normal mammalian body structure, function and regulation to the level required for veterinary clinical practice.
2. Explore the clinically significant differences in body structure, function and regulation across selected species.
3. Establish the clinical relevance of sound knowledge of the normal animal body.

Talis Aspire Reading List
Any reading lists will be provided by the start of the course.
http://lists.lib.keele.ac.uk/modules/vet-10001/lists

Intended Learning Outcomes

Define the most common veterinary and anatomical descriptors that are used in veterinary medicine and practice: 1,2
Recognise cellular components and function, including description of organelles, and describe the different types of cellular replication and tissue growth: 1,2
List cell types and tissue types and state the function of the different tissue types and how they form body systems: 1,2
Describe the structure and function of the cardiovascular system in relation to oxygen and nutrient homeostasis of tissues, to include haematopoietic system, lymphatic system and immune systems: 1,2
Describe the structure and function of the renal and endocrine systems in relation to fluid and electrolyte balance, to include endocrine glands and positive and negative feedback loops: 1,2
Describe structure and function of the nervous system and the special senses: 1,2
Describe the structure and function of the respiratory system to include the defences of the respiratory system: 1,2
Describe the structure and function of integument and accessory glands: 1,2
Describe the structure and function of the musculoskeletal system: 1,2
Describe the structure and function of the gastrointestinal tract to include introduction to nutrients and basic nutrition: 1,2
Describe the structure and function of the male and female reproductive tracts to include introduction to hormonal regulation: 1,2

Study hours

Lectures: 108 hours
Practicals: 108 hours
Tutorials: 36 hours
Independent Study: 198 hours

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment

1: Exam weighted 50%
Spot tests (1 hour)
Students will complete two 1 hour electronic spot tests to assess their understanding of anatomy and physiology. Questions will require identification and explanation of basic function of anatomical structures. There will be one formative spot test during the autumn term followed by two summative spots tests, one during the autumn term and one during the spring term. The two summative spot tests will be aggregated with equal weighting to generate the final grading for this unit of assessment.

2: Exam weighted 50%
Examination (2 hours)
Closed book, fixed-time (2 hour) examination comprising Multiple Choice (MCQ) and Short Answer (SAQ) Questions, totaling 100 marks. Sampling knowledge and understanding of all indicative content sections.

The University undertakes a continuous review of its teaching and research provision to ensure programmes are of a high quality and changes may be made to modules where it is necessary and reasonable to do so. Please be aware that minor changes to modules, such as a change to an individual assessment, can occur up until enrolment, although we endeavour to give you as much notice as possible of any changes. Details about the circumstance in which changes are made to programmes can be found in the Student Agreement, available at: https://www.keele.ac.uk/legalgovernancecompliance/governance/actcharterstatutesordinancesandregulations/studenttermsconditions/

Last Updated: 04 December 2025