Topics for Anatomy and Physiology
Find educational topics for Anatomy and Physiology aligned with the Zambian tertiary curriculum.
Tuberculous Arthritis
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Tuberculous arthritis is chronic, indolent monoarthritis caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, representing a diagnostic challenge in TB-endemic Zambia. Pathophysiology: haematogenous seeding of synovium from pulmonary (50%) or extrapulmonary focus. Chronic granulomatous synovitis → caseous necrosis → cartilage destruction → bone erosion → pannus → joint fibrosis, ankylosis. Pott's disease: spinal TB …
Chikungunya Arthritis
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Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is an alphavirus transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes, causing epidemic acute febrile illness with severe, debilitating polyarthritis. Zambia faces periodic outbreaks; recognition essential. Pathophysiology: viral synovitis, macrophage infiltration, persistent viral antigen, IL-6, TNF, IFN-α, MCP-1. Chronic arthritis: immune-mediated, viral persistence? Clinical: INCUBATION 2-6 days. SUDDEN ONSET high fever, …
Rheumatic Fever and Post-Streptococcal Arthritis
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Acute rheumatic fever (ARF) is autoimmune sequela of Group A Streptococcus pharyngitis, causing arthritis, carditis, chorea, and subcutaneous nodules. Post-streptococcal reactive arthritis (PSRA) is distinct entity. For Zambian students: ARF remains major cause of acquired heart disease; RHD burden high. Pathophysiology: molecular mimicry—M protein antibodies cross-react with cardiac myosin, sarcolemmal …
Amyloidosis
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Amyloidosis is a group of protein misfolding disorders characterized by extracellular deposition of insoluble, fibrillar amyloid protein in tissues and organs, leading to progressive organ dysfunction. For Zambian tertiary nursing and medical students, understanding amyloidosis is essential for differential diagnosis of cardiomyopathy, nephrotic syndrome, hepatomegaly, and autonomic neuropathy, as well …
Hereditary Hemochromatosis
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Hereditary hemochromatosis (HH) is an autosomal recessive disorder of iron metabolism characterized by excessive dietary iron absorption and progressive iron deposition in parenchymal cells of liver, heart, pancreas, joints, pituitary, and skin, leading to multi-organ dysfunction. For Zambian tertiary nursing and medical students, understanding HH is essential for differential diagnosis …
Wilson's Disease
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Wilson's disease (WD) is an autosomal recessive disorder of copper metabolism caused by mutations in the ATP7B gene, leading to pathological copper accumulation in the liver, brain, cornea, and other organs. For Zambian tertiary nursing and medical students, understanding WD is essential for differential diagnosis of liver disease (particularly in …
Ochronosis (Alkaptonuria)
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Alkaptonuria is a rare autosomal recessive disorder of tyrosine metabolism caused by deficiency of homogentisate 1,2-dioxygenase (HGD), leading to accumulation of homogentisic acid (HGA) and its oxidized polymer, which binds to collagen in connective tissues—ochronosis—causing progressive arthritis, cardiac valve disease, and renal stones. For Zambian students, recognition is essential as …
Relapsing Polychondritis
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Relapsing polychondritis (RP) is a rare, immune-mediated inflammatory disorder characterized by episodic, progressive inflammation and destruction of cartilaginous structures (ears, nose, larynx, tracheobronchial tree) and proteoglycan-rich tissues (eyes, heart, blood vessels). For Zambian students, recognition is critical—RP is a diagnostic challenge, frequently missed, and carries life-threatening airway and cardiovascular complications. …
Adult-Onset Still's Disease
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Adult-onset Still's disease (AOSD) is a rare systemic inflammatory disorder of unknown etiology, considered the adult counterpart of systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (sJIA). It is a classic MAS (macrophage activation syndrome) mimic and a diagnosis of exclusion. For Zambian students, recognition is critical—AOSD presents with high fever, rash, arthritis, and …