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VET20040

Academic Year 2024/2025

Introduction to fluids: blood plasma, urine and milk with an emphasis on basic pharmacokinetics (VET20040)

Subject:
Veterinary Medicine
College:
Health & Agricultural Sciences
School:
Veterinary Medicine
Level:
2 (Intermediate)
Credits:
5
Module Coordinator:
Professor David Brayden
Trimester:
Autumn
Mode of Delivery:
On Campus
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

This is a 2nd year core module for the MVB degree. This is the first time students will be exposed to pharmacological concepts in detail, specifically pharmacokinetics. The module integrates and develops understanding of the distribution of water, solutes, and drugs in animals of veterinary significance. Students learn that plasma is composed of water, ions, organic molecules and dissolved gases. Fluid and electrolyte homeostasis requires integration among multiple systems. How kidney function contributes to water balance and regulation of urine concentration is examined. Regulation of (whole body) acid/base balance is described. How body fluids including blood, urine and milk (histology of mammary gland) are used diagnostic purposes is introduced in practical classes. Factors influencing the uptake, distribution and elimination of drugs between compartments (pharmacokinetics) are introduced as part of a discussion of dosing concepts in species. An introduction to diuretics and their mechanism of action is presented based on student knowledge of kidney structure (histology) and function.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

On successful completion of this module students should be able to:
- Understand basic pharmacokinetics of drugs in body compartments
- Explain the significance of fluid composition in intra- and extra-cellular body compartments.
- Recognize the significance of cellular and non-cellular components of blood, urine and milk.
- Relate milk production to mammary gland structure
- Recognize how renal transport processes are integrated to effect water and salt balance
- Work out diuretic mechanisms of action in the nephron
- Illustrate the concept of the kidney as an endocrine organ.
- Distinguish renal and ventilatory systems contribution to acid-base balance.
- Understand kidney and mammary gland anatomy

Indicative Module Content:

See learning outcomes related to topics above

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

22
Practical

6
Autonomous Student Learning

50
Online Learning

28
Total

106

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
-Laboratory-based biochemical assays
-Q & A in lectures and tutorials
-Use of veterinary histology slides to learn mammary gland and kidney anatomy related to function
-Calculation examples for pharmacokinetic terms, including Hendersson-Hasslebalch equation, and acid-base balance
-Private reading of flagged pages in texts and pdfs on Brightspace

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations
Learning Requirements:

Core modules of 1st year MVB.

Learning Recommendations:

Core modules of the 1st year MVB. For non-veterinarian attendees, basic cell physiology is needed in order to understand concepts.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Pre-requisite:
VET10150 - Basic structure & function

Incompatibles:
VNUR20330 - Vet Applied Pharmacology


 

Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Exam (Online): Mid-term MCQ End of trimester
Duration:
1 hr(s)
 Other No

20

 No
Exam (In-person): End of Semester MCQ End of trimester
Duration:
1 hr(s)
 Other No

20

 No
Exam (In-person): In person written exam. End of trimester
Duration:
2 hr(s)
 Other No

60

 No

Carry forward of passed components
No
 

Resit In Terminal Exam
Spring Yes - 2 Hour
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Feedback to be given on mid-term MCQ. Feedback to individual students following grade publication following exam board

Rang & Dale's Pharmacology, 10th Edition, (2023)

Other texts to be added.

Name Role
Dr Alison Reynolds Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Professor Deirdre Campion Tutor
Dr Gina Duggan Tutor
Ms Margot Labberté Tutor
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