Standard

 

R State Standard         £ Institutionally Developed          College: N/A

 

PTA 205 – Pathology II

Course Description

Surveys a variety of diseases commonly treated by physical therapist assistants with emphasis on neurological conditions. Deals with adjustments to physical and psycho-social aspects of illness and injury. Topics include: review of neurology; neurological disorders and diseases; traumatic head injury; spinal cord injuries and peripheral nerve injuries; tumors; respiratory system; circulatory systems disorders; and endocrine disorders.

 

Competency Areas

Hours

Review of Neurology    

Class

2

Neurological Disorders and Diseases

D. Lab

4

Traumatic Head Injury

P. Lab/O.B.I.

3

Spinal Cord Injuries and Peripheral Nerve Injuries

Credit

5

Tumors

 

 

Circulatory System Disorders Respiratory System

 

 

Endocrine Disorders

 

 

 

Prerequisite:

PTA 201, PTA 202, PTA 203, PTA 204

Corequisite:

PTA 206, PTA 209

 

Course Guide

 

Competency

After completing this section, the student will be able to:

Hours

Class

D.Lab

P.Lab/

O.B.I.

Review of Neurology       

2

3

0

Functions and structure

Explain the structure and function of the nervous system.

 

 

 

Examine the function, formation, and circulation of cerebrospinal fluid.

 

 

 

Neurological Disorders and Diseases

5

7

5

Diseases

Identify and describe the meninges of the brain and spinal cord.

 

 

 

Discuss the types of meningeal hemorrhages.

 

 

 

Define meningitis.

 

 

 

Identify etiology, symptoms, and clinical picture of poliomyelitis, encephalitis, herpes, syphilis of the nervous system, and Parkinson's disease.

 

 

 

Disorders

Identify etiology, symptoms, and clinical pictures of multiple sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and cerebrovascular accidents.

 

 

 

Neuromuscular disorders

Identify etiology, symptoms, and clinical picture of cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophies, and other conditions.

 

 

 

Identify various neuromuscular conditions with regards to incidence, etiology, prognosis, and treatment.

 

 

 

Traumatic Head Injury

5

8

10

 

Describe the epidemiology and pathophysiology of traumatic head injury.

 

 

 

 

Define the difference between local and diffuse injuries to the brain.

 

 

 

 

Describe acute complications associated with head injury.

 

 

 

 

List three different clinical rating scales used to define recovery from traumatic head injury.

 

 

 

 

Describe different functional outcomes of a severe head injury.

 

 

 

 

Discuss significant factors that should be considered when assessing and treating individuals with head injury.

 

 

 

 

Discuss the impact of cognitive deficits on the patient, the physical therapist, and physical therapist assistant.

 

 

 

 

Describe the role of physical therapy in head injury rehabilitation.

 

 

 

Spinal Cord Injuries and Peripheral Nerve Injuries

3

8

10

 

 

 

 

 

Spinal cord injuries

Explain the functional significance of spinal cord lesion levels.

 

 

 

Describe the loss of bowel, bladder, and sexual function as related to spinal cord involvement.

 

 

 

Examine the psychological problems with spinal cord injured patients.

 

 

 

Identify bladder disorders which might result from spinal cord injury.

 

 

 

Peripheral nerve injuries

Compare central nervous lesions to peripheral nerve lesions

 

 

 

Explain peripheral nerve injuries, including anatomy, mechanism of injury, pathology, regeneration and degeneration, recovery, and treatment.

 

 

 

Describe the significance of injury to individual nerves.

 

 

 

Describe median, ulnar, and combined nerve injuries.

 

 

 

Diagram the brachial plexus.

 

 

 

Identify the motor and sensory distribution of nerves in the brachial and lumbar plexuses.

 

 

 

Identify the motor and sensory distribution of nerve roots.

 

 

 

Tumors

2

5

0

Major groupings

Explain benign tumors versus malignant tumors.

 

 

 

Define metastasis.

 

 

 

Classifications

Describe and classify specific tumors which affect various parts of the body including spinal, low back, hip, knee, ankle, foot, shoulder, and neck.

 

 

 

Circulatory System Disorders Respiratory System

2

6

5

Anatomy of heart and arteries

Describe the anatomy of the heart and explain how blood is circulated throughout the body.

 

 

 

Discuss the anatomy of arteries and veins.

 

 

 

Describe the coronary artery supply to the heart.

 

 

 

Explain the structure and function of blood.

 

 

 

Lymphatic circulation

Explain the function and structure of lymph nodes and vessels.

 

 

 

Arterial conditions and diseases

Describe symptoms of cardiac disease and heart block.

 

 

 

Explain causes of heart disease.

 

 

 

Identify forms of heart disease.

 

 

 

Explain essential and secondary hypertension.

 

 

 

Identify forms of arteritis.

 

 

 

Describe aneurysms and explain etiology and treatment.

 

 

 

Explain the purpose of a transfusion.

 

 

 

Discuss varicose veins and hemorrhoids.

 

 

 

Identify the etiology and symptoms of phlebitis, anemia, hemophilia, leukemia, lymphosarcoma, sickle cell anemia, Hodgkin's disease, and infectious mononucleosis.

 

 

 

Endocrine Disorders

1

3

0

Function

Explain the function of the endocrine system.

 

 

 

Disorder

Discuss the location, structure, function, and consequence of malfunction of the pituitary gland, thyroid gland, parathyroid glands, Islets of Langerhans, and adrenal gland.

 

 

 

 

Suggested Resources

 

Media
(print/audio/
visual/www/
other)

Author

Year

Title: Subtitle

Edition

Location

Publisher/
Publication

pp.

Print

Sullivan, S. B. & Schmitz, J. J.

1991

Physical of rehabilitation: Assessment and treatment. 

2nd ed.

Philadelphia

F. A. Davis

683

Posted: 09/24/08