| Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Unit Convenor
Dr Mirjana Strkalj
Level 1, 75 Talavera Rd, Macquarie University.
Consultation hours: By appointment
Unit co-convenor
A/Prof Irina Dedova
Consultation hours: By appointment
Course Director Bachelor of Clinical Sciences
A/Prof Mark Butlin
Consultation hours: By appointment
|
|---|---|
| Credit points |
Credit points
10
|
| Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
40cp at 1000 level or above including (ANAT1001 OR
MHHS1002)
|
| Corequisites |
Corequisites
|
| Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
|
| Unit description |
Unit description
This unit delves into the musculoskeletal anatomy and physiology of the upper and lower limbs, as well as the trunk. Through practical classes featuring prosected cadavers, anatomical models, medical imaging, surface anatomy, and clinical case studies, you will apply your theoretical knowledge in a hands-on environment. By adopting an integrated, clinically-based teaching approach that includes relevant gross and radiological anatomy, histology, and embryology, you will gain a comprehensive understanding of the human musculoskeletal system. |
Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
Grade descriptors and other information concerning grading are contained in the Macquarie University Assessment Policy.
All final grades are determined by a grading committee, in accordance with the Macquarie University Assessment Policy, and are not the sole responsibility of the Unit Convenor.
Students will be awarded a final grade and a mark, which must correspond to the grade descriptors specified in the Assessment Procedure.
To pass this unit, you must demonstrate sufficient evidence of achievement of the learning outcomes, meet any ungraded requirements, and achieve a final mark of 50 or better.
Further details for each assessment task will be available on iLearn.
The Assessment Task table lists which assessments are eligible for a Short Extension. You can only apply for a Short Extension before the assessment due date. No reason or evidence is required. It will extend the due date by an additional 3 calendar days. You can only receive one Short Extension for each eligible assessment task. Short Extensions are not available if you have already received an IEAP Extension or Special Consideration for that assessment task.
If you are unable to complete an assessment task on or by the specified date due to circumstances that are unexpected, unavoidable, significantly disruptive and beyond your control, you may apply for special consideration in accordance with the Special Consideration Policy. Applications for special consideration must be supported by appropriate evidence and submitted via connect.mq.edu.au.
A 5% penalty (OF THE TOTAL POSSIBLE MARK) will be applied each day a written assessment is not submitted, up to the 7th day (including weekends). After the 7th day, a grade of ‘0’ will be awarded even if the assessment is submitted. Submission time for all written assessments is set at 11.55 pm. A 1-hour grace period is provided to students who experience a technical concern. Submission of assessments after 7 days can be accepted at the discretion of the unit convenor and may be taken into account in determining whether you have met the learning outcomes of the unit to support passing the unit. Days late will be calculated from the date listed in the Assessment Tasks table, or from the extended due date if a Short Extension or Special Consideration application is accepted.
For example:
|
Number of days (hours) late |
Total Possible Marks |
Deduction |
Raw mark |
Final mark |
|
1 day (1-24 hours) |
100 |
5 |
75 |
70 |
|
2 days (24-48 hours) |
100 |
10 |
75 |
65 |
|
3 days (48-72 hours) |
100 |
15 |
75 |
60 |
|
7 days (144-168 hours) |
100 |
35 |
75 |
40 |
|
>7 days (>168 hours) |
100 |
— |
75 |
0 |
| Name | Weighting | Hurdle | Due | Groupwork/Individual | Short Extension | AI Approach |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Group presentation | 20% | No | 18/09/2026 | Group | No | Open |
| Anatomy practical assessment | 30% | No | Week 10 | Individual | No | Observed |
| End of session examination | 50% | No | Exam Period | Individual | No | Observed |
Assessment Type 1: Presentation task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 15 hours
Due: 18/09/2026
Weighting: 20%
Groupwork/Individual: Group
Short extension 3: No
AI Approach: Open
You will contribute to a group presentation explaining the structural and functional basis of different movements of the limbs and back.
Assessment Type 1: Practice-based task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: Week 10
Weighting: 30%
Groupwork/Individual: Individual
Short extension 3: No
AI Approach: Observed
You will demonstrate knowledge and application of gross anatomy, surface anatomy and medical imaging of the musculoskeletal system, including the use of anatomical and cadaveric models.
Assessment Type 1: Examination
Indicative Time on Task 2: 30 hours
Due: Exam Period
Weighting: 50%
Groupwork/Individual: Individual
Short extension 3: No
AI Approach: Observed
You will complete a formal exam that uses a combination of question types assessing content delivered across the session. You will complete this assessment under examination conditions during the University examination period.
1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:
2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation.
3 An automatic short extension is available for some assessments. Apply through the Service Connect Portal.
As a student enrolled in this unit, you will engage in a range of online and face-to-face learning activities, including readings, online modules, videos, lectures, and practicals. Details can be found on the iLearn site for this unit.
We recommend the following textbooks to supplement your MEDI2100 studies:
Anatomy: Gray’s Anatomy for Students (4th Edition)
Anatomy Atlas: Abrahams's and McMinn's Clinical Atlas of Human Anatomy (8th Edition)
Embryology: The Developing Human: Clinically Oriented Embryology (11th Edition)
Physiology: Human Physiology: An Integrated Approach (8th Edition)
Active participation in the learning activities throughout the unit will require students to have access to a tablet, laptop or similar device. Students who do not own their own laptop computer may borrow one from the university library.
Please note that electronic devices are PROHIBITED to use in practical classes.
|
Week (start) |
Lecture |
anatomy practical |
tutorial |
|
1 (27/7) |
|
No practical Connected Curriculum (online): Histology of bone and cartilage |
No tutorial Introduction to musculoskeletal system (Revision module) complete at your own time |
|
2 (3/8) |
|
Lab 1: Shoulder, arm |
Tutorial 1: Shoulder, arm, physiology |
|
3 (10/8) |
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Lab 2: Elbow, forearm |
Tutorial 2: Elbow, forearm, physiology |
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4 (17/8) |
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Lab 3: Wrist and hand, |
Tutorial 3: Wrist, hand |
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5 (24/8) |
|
Lab 4: Upper limb neurovasculature Revision |
Tutorial 4: Upper limb neurovasculature |
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6 (31/8) |
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Lab 5: Hip joint, gluteal region, posterior thigh |
Tutorial 5: Hip joint, gluteal region |
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7 (7/9) |
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Lab 6: Thigh, knee joint, |
Tutorial 6: Thigh, knee joint |
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8 (14/9) |
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Lab 7: Leg, ankle joint, foot Submit video |
Tutorial 7: Leg, ankle joint, foot |
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Break |
21/9 - 2/9 |
|
|
|
9 (5/10) Public Holiday |
|
Lab 8: Lower limb neurovasculature Limb anatomy REVISION |
Tutorial 8 online: Lower limb neurovasculature, physiology |
|
|
|
|
|
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10 (12/10) |
|
Limb anatomy PRACTICAL TEST |
No tutorial |
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11 (19/10) |
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Lab 9: Vertebral column, bones and joints |
Tutorial 9: Back (part 1) |
|
12 (26/10) |
|
Lab 10: Back muscles REVISION |
Tutorial 10: Back (part 2), Revision |
|
13 (2/11) |
No lectures |
Supplementary Practical Test |
Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:
Students seeking more policy resources can visit Student Policies (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/policies). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.
To find other policies relating to Teaching and Learning, visit Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au) and use the search tool.
Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/student-conduct
Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit connect.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au
At Macquarie, we believe academic integrity – honesty, respect, trust, responsibility, fairness and courage – is at the core of learning, teaching and research. We recognise that meeting the expectations required to complete your assessments can be challenging. So, we offer you a range of resources and services to help you reach your potential, including free online writing and maths support, academic skills development and wellbeing consultations.
Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/
Academic Success provides resources to develop your English language proficiency, academic writing, and communication skills.
The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources.
Macquarie University offers a range of Student Support Services including:
Got a question? Ask us via the Service Connect Portal, or contact Service Connect.
For help with University computer systems and technology, visit https://students.mq.edu.au/support/technology/service-desk.
When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.
This is the first offering of this new unit, following the discontinuation of MEDI2100 Musculoskeletal System.
Macquarie University recognises that artificial intelligence (AI), especially generative AI, is rapidly reshaping education and the modern workplace. As AI becomes increasingly accessible, the University and your teaching staff are committed to preparing you to use these tools effectively, ethically, and with strong professional judgment. Rather than restricting technology, the emphasis is on helping you understand when and how AI can be used to enhance productivity, support learning, and reflect real-world professional practice. Across your degree, we will support you to develop the critical thinking, adaptability, and values-based decision-making skills required to navigate evolving AI tools responsibly, including acknowledging their use appropriately. You should always appropriately acknowledge when you have used AI tools within assessment tasks, including which AI tools you have used and how you have used them.
To provide clarity, Macquarie University uses a simple, two-tiered approach to AI in assessment:
Across both categories, the goal is to ensure you build foundational knowledge, exercise sound judgment, and engage with AI in ways that uphold ethical, cultural, and university values.
Social inclusion at Macquarie University is about giving everyone who has the potential to benefit from higher education the opportunity to study at university, participate in campus life and flourish in their chosen field. The University has made significant moves to promote an equitable, diverse and exciting campus community for the benefit of staff and students. It is your responsibility to contribute towards the development of an inclusive culture and practice in the areas of learning and teaching, research, and service orientation and delivery. As a member of the Macquarie University community, you must not discriminate against or harass others based on their sex, gender, race, marital status, carers' responsibilities, disability, sexual orientation, age, political conviction or religious belief. All staff and students are expected to display appropriate behaviour that is conducive to a healthy learning environment for everyone.
In the Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, professionalism is a key capability embedded in all our courses.
As part of developing professionalism, students are expected to attend all small group interactive sessions, including clinical, practical, laboratory, work-integrated learning (e.g., PACE placements), and team-based learning activities. Some learning activities are recorded (e.g., face-to-face lectures), however you are encouraged to avoid relying upon such material as they do not recreate the whole learning experience and technical issues can and do occur. As an adult learner, we respect your decision to choose how you engage with your learning, but we would remind you that the learning opportunities we create for you have been done so to enable your success, and that by not engaging you may impact your ability to successfully complete this unit. We equally expect that you show respect for the academic staff who have worked hard to develop meaningful activities and prioritise your learning by communicating with them in advance if you are unable to attend a small group interactive session.
Another dimension of professionalism is having respect for your peers. It is the right of every student to learn in an environment that is free of disruption and distraction. Please arrive to all learning activities on time, and if you are unavoidably detained, please join activity as quietly as possible to minimise disruption. Phones and other electronic devices that produce noise and other distractions must be turned off prior to entering class. Where your own device (e.g., laptop) is being used for class-related activities, you are asked to close down all other applications to avoid distraction to you and others. Please treat your fellow students with the utmost respect. If you are uncomfortable participating in any specific activity, please let the relevant academic know.
The study of human anatomy at Macquarie University is governed by the Anatomy Act (1977) and students are admitted to the anatomy laboratories on the proviso that they comply with all relevant legislation.
It is important that this includes respect and professionalism in your dealings with human material and your interactions with your colleagues and members of the public. Donating one's body to science is an act of selflessness and generosity that contributes greatly to advancing medical research and education. It behoves us all, therefore, to treat the donations with outmost care, respect and professionalism. Failure to do so not only can result in serious reputational consequences for you and the University, but can result in suspension, expulsion and possible imprisonment.
Please behave professionally at all times and treat our valuable human anatomy teaching resources with utmost care and respect. Thank you.
Unit information based on version 2026.03 of the Handbook