Anatomy of the Head and Spine

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Anatomy of the Head and Spine

Instructors: Shanta Kapadia

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6 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

46 reviews

Beginner level

Recommended experience

2 weeks to complete

at 10 hours a week

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

6 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

46 reviews

Beginner level

Recommended experience

2 weeks to complete

at 10 hours a week

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

What you'll learn

This course covers the spine, spinal cord, vertebrae, skull, cranial nerves, brain, vasculature, CSF pathways, skull base, sinuses, oral and airway.

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Assessments

6 assignments

Taught in English

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There are 6 modules in this course

Anatomy of the Head and Spine is the part of a series of courses from Yale covering the anatomy of the entire body as well as the fundamentals of diagnostic imaging. It provides an in-depth exploration of the anatomical structures of the head and spine through a combination of theoretical instruction and virtual laboratory dissections.

Led by Professors Charles Duncan and Bill Stewart, the course begins with foundational knowledge of the spine, spinal cord, and vertebral regions, including their structural features, curvatures, and blood supply. Subsequent modules focus on the skull, cranial nerves, brain, and associated structures, emphasizing detailed dissections of the cranial vault, facial nerve, and base of the brain. Students will analyze the brain’s lobes, vasculature, and cerebrospinal fluid pathways, as well as the relationships among cranial nerves, dural folds, and venous sinuses. The course concludes with an examination of the skull base, nasal and paranasal structures, oral and pharyngeal cavities, and the upper airway, providing a comprehensive understanding of head and spine anatomy essential for advanced medical studies and clinical application.

This course teaches the anatomical structures found within the head and spine

What's included

1 video3 readings

An introduction to spine and spinal cord.

What's included

11 videos2 readings1 assignment1 plugin

11 videosTotal 85 minutes

The Spine Part 111 minutes
The Spine Part 28 minutes
Spinal Cord Part 112 minutes
Spinal Cord Part 28 minutes
Spinal Column Part 18 minutes
Spinal Column Part 211 minutes
Expose Spine3 minutes
Dorsal Brain and Spinal Cord9 minutes
Expose Ventral Spinal Cord3 minutes
Ventral Spinal Cord9 minutes
Removed Spinal Cord4 minutes

2 readingsTotal 20 minutes

Spine Introductory Discussion10 minutes
Spine Lab Guide10 minutes

1 assignmentTotal 30 minutes

Spine30 minutes

1 pluginTotal 15 minutes

Digital Practical Exam: Spine15 minutes

In this module the skull, fetal skull, parotid gland, facial nerve (VII) and brain removal with encountered structures are taught. This volume includes facial nerve (VII) dissection through the parotid gland. Emphasis is made of the cranial nerves encountered in order along skull base from olfactory (I) to hypoglossal (XII) in the course of brain removal.

What's included

8 videos2 readings1 assignment1 plugin

8 videosTotal 61 minutes

The Head Part 19 minutes
The Head Part 28 minutes
The Head Part 312 minutes
Examination of the Skull8 minutes
Disarticulated Skull6 minutes
Fetal Skull3 minutes
Parotid Gland and Facial Nerve5 minutes
Brain Removal9 minutes

2 readingsTotal 20 minutes

Head Introductory Discussion Guide10 minutes
Skull, Face and Cranium Lab Guide10 minutes

1 assignmentTotal 30 minutes

Skull, Face, and Cranium Multiple Choice Quiz30 minutes

1 pluginTotal 15 minutes

Digital Practical Exam: Skull, Face, and Cranium15 minutes

In this lab the structures of the brain are taught. Included in this guide is detailed description of base of brain along with its vascularity, lateral view of the hemispheres and posterior fossa structures and a midline dissection of brain describing the midline hemispheres, diencephalon and venous sinuses.

What's included

10 videos3 readings1 assignment1 plugin

10 videosTotal 89 minutes

Introduction to the Brain Part 1: Exterior Brain10 minutes
Introduction to the Brain Part 2: Internal Features16 minutes
Brainstem Part 18 minutes
Brainstem Part 216 minutes
Brainstem Part 3: Primary Motor Pathways5 minutes
Brainstem Part 4: Upper and Lower Motor Neurons7 minutes
Brainstem Part 5: Sensations9 minutes
Lateral Brain5 minutes
Midline Brain5 minutes
Ventral Brain7 minutes

3 readingsTotal 30 minutes

Brain Introductory Discussion Guide10 minutes
Brainstem Introductory Discussion Guide10 minutes
Brain Lab Guide10 minutes

1 assignmentTotal 30 minutes

Brain Multiple Choice Quiz30 minutes

1 pluginTotal 15 minutes

Digital Practical Exam: Brain15 minutes

In this lab structures of the skull base, cavernous sinus are taught. The trigeminal nerve branches in the middle fossa are included with the structures of cavernous sinus. The orbit and its contents are presented from superior and inferior perspectives. In situ base of the brain is taught from a complex dissection of skull base.

What's included

17 videos2 readings1 assignment1 plugin

17 videosTotal 88 minutes

Cranial Nerve Part 1: Olfactory and Optic Nerves4 minutes
Cranial Nerve Part 2: Optic Nerve (CN 3)4 minutes
Cranial Nerve Part 3: Optic Nerve (Cont.)7 minutes
Cranial Nerve Part 4: Eye Movements and Pupillary Response7 minutes
Cranial Nerve Part 5: Trigeminal Nerve (CN 5)3 minutes
Cranial Nerve Part 6: Facial Nerve (CN 7)7 minutes
Cranial Nerve Part 7: Auditory (Vestibulocochlear) Nerve (CN 8)6 minutes
Cranial Nerve Part 8: Glossopharyngeal (CN 9) and Vagus Nerve (CN 10)7 minutes
Cranial Nerve Part 9: The Accessory Nerve (CN 11)3 minutes
Cranial Nerve Part 10: The Hypoglossal Nerve (CN 12)8 minutes
Cranial Nerves at Dural Base2 minutes
Review: Ventral Brain7 minutes
Trigeminal and Cavernous Sinus3 minutes
Orbit3 minutes
Anatomy of the Eyes8 minutes
Anterior Skull Base4 minutes
Orbit 360°5 minutes

2 readingsTotal 20 minutes

Cranial Nerves Introductory Discussion Guide10 minutes
Skull Base, Cavernous Sinus and Orbit Lab Guide10 minutes

1 assignmentTotal 30 minutes

Skull Base, Cavernous Sinus Multiple Choice Quiz30 minutes

1 pluginTotal 15 minutes

Digital Practical Exam: Skull Base, Cavernous Sinus 15 minutes

In this lab the head is taught. The approach is from a midline sagittal plane dissection of these structures. Skull base, nasal sinuses, nasopharynx, oral cavity, oropharynx and upper airway are emphasized.

What's included

4 videos2 readings2 assignments1 plugin

4 videosTotal 16 minutes

Midline Head and Neck I4 minutes
Midline Head and Neck II3 minutes
Midline Head and Neck III7 minutes
Upper Airway, by William H. Rosenblatt2 minutes

2 readingsTotal 20 minutes

Midline Head and Neck Lab Guide10 minutes
Congratulations!10 minutes

2 assignmentsTotal 360 minutes

Midline Head Multiple Choice Quiz180 minutes
Final Exam180 minutes

1 pluginTotal 15 minutes

Digital Practical Exam: Midline Head15 minutes

Instructors

Instructor ratings

(15 ratings)

Shanta Kapadia

Yale University

4 Courses140,500 learners

William B. Stewart

Yale University

4 Courses174,504 learners

Charles Duncan

Yale University

4 Courses174,504 learners

Offered by

Yale University

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Reviewed on Jul 23, 2025

Good introduction to anatomy as a high school student:)

Reviewed on Mar 11, 2025

I really liked the course! Very interesting, informative, detailed for my level of knowledge.

Reviewed on Jun 24, 2025

Very comprehensive introductory course, lots of new terms

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