This course highlights the regional anatomy of the head and anterolateral neck. In lectures and dissection labs students learn the detailed anatomy of the muscles, nerves, bones, joints, blood vessels, organs of special sense, and visceral structures of the region. The structural and functional features of the cranial nerves, the organization of the autonomic nervous system, and the innervation of the spine and paraspinal tissue are also presented. In lab all students will dissect human cadavers and study the anatomical variation in structures associated with the deep and superficial neck and head, including the cranial vault, oral and nasal cavities, pharynx, and larynx.
This course describes the process by which nutritive material is converted into cellular components. Students will identify each enzyme, cofactor, and chemical intermediate, and explain key regulation points in each metabolic pathway. Further, students will assess how defects in vitamins or enzymes influence each process. Topics in carbohydrate metabolism include glucose uptake from blood to cell, glycolysis, aerobic and anaerobic metabolism, the pentose shunt, gluconeogenesis, and glycogen metabolism. Lipid metabolism topics include the mobilization and oxidation of fatty acids, ketone body formation, fatty acid synthesis, triglyceride synthesis, phospholipid synthesis, cholesterol synthesis, and lipid transport. For amino acid metabolism, topics include urea synthesis, catabolism of amino acid carbon skeletons, and synthesis of non-essential amino acids. Topics in nucleotide metabolism are focused on the biosynthesis of purines, pyrimidines, and deoxynucleotides, as well as purine catabolism and pathogenesis of gout. As a final topic, vitamins are discussed in terms of general function, coenzyme forms, and deficiency. This course has an accompanying recitation forum that parallels the lecture material with emphasis on disorders of metabolism.

In this course students will learn the microscopic anatomy of the following organ systems: integumentary, musculoskeletal, vascular, nervous, digestive, respiratory, lymphatic, urinary, and reproductive. Intervertebral and synovial joint histology is covered. Students learn the structure, function, and location of each of the four basic tissue types (epithelium, connective tissue, muscle, nervous tissue) and how they each contribute to organ structure and function. Microscopic morphology, composition, organization, and resultant function are emphasized. In the associated labs students learn proper technique for using a microscope and thoroughly examine commercially prepared histological specimens from all relevant tissues and organs.

This course explores the range and types of chiropractic practice options. Topics include the spectrum of chiropractic examination and treatment procedures, professional practice options, the safety and public perception of chiropractic, and the profession’s political and educational organizations, responsibilities, and agendas.

This course is devoted to the study of the functional anatomy and kinematics of the spine. Other topics presented include an introduction to the biomechanics of gait, an introduction to treatment principles, and a discussion of cavitation principles.

This course is devoted to developing the foundation of body mechanics and spinal adjusting psychomotor skills that are central to the safe delivery of adjustive therapy. The course focuses on instruction in adjustive body mechanics, spinal and extremity muscle stretching and endurance training, proprioceptive training and adjustive pre-tension, and adjustive thrust (impulse) drills.

This course instructs the student in the physical assessment of spinal joint structure and function. Joint assessment procedures of static palpation, motion palpation, end feel, joint play, postural assessment, and range of motion assessment are presented.

This course is devoted to the development of the knowledge, physical exam, and psychomotor palpation skills necessary for effective chiropractic joint play assessment of joints of the upper and lower extremity.

This course is designed to develop the search skills necessary to efficiently access health care literature and resources. Efficient search skills are a prerequisite to subsequent EIP courses and a skill that will be accessed frequently throughout the chiropractic program both in the classroom and during patient care.

The identification of structures of the upper and lower extremities seen on plain film radiography is the emphasis of this course; the cranium is also reviewed. Basic anatomy of the upper and lower extremities and the cranium seen on computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging is also studied. Lectures demonstrate the most important structures to identify on various imaging modalities. Lab sessions provide opportunities for practice and self-quizzing.