This course will help you identify the positions of the organs within the abdomen, as well as becoming acquainted with common anatomical terminology used to talk about organs and structures and their position relative to each other.

During the two weeks you’ll look at the anterior (front) abdominal wall, exploring how the ‘abs’ are considered in relation to health and beauty. You’ll then move on to look at the composition of the gastrointestinal tract. Focussing on common problems that can occur in this tract, you’ll hear from an abdominal surgeon about the work he does to treat and cure such problems.

Note for students

This course is part of a collection from the University of Leeds which have been specifically designed for those studying at school or college. All of the courses will help to enrich and extend your knowledge in a specific topic and develop your transferable skills. These courses will help you with making decisions about which subject to study at university and will give you examples and evidence when developing your university application.

Throughout the course you will join a community of online learners, providing an opportunity for interactive learning with other students both in the UK and internationally.

Each course is designed to complement your existing studies and aims to:

provide evidence for UCAS applications and prepare you for university
help you to gain new skills, think critically and learn independently
encourage online / social learning
develop collaboration and analytical skills
embed current research into your online learning

For information about degrees available at the University of Leeds, please visit our course finder website.

Note for teachers

Aimed at prospective Undergraduate students both in the UK and internationally, our online courses provide a ‘taster’ of Undergraduate study at the University of Leeds.

Our courses benefit from being shaped by the latest research from the University of Leeds and are presented by leading academics who are actively engaged in pioneering research. They will inspire your students to think critically and develop their knowledge and analytical skills.

The course can be used as a wider classroom or enrichment resource or can be used independently by students to discover more about the subject area. Each course provides flexible study and benefits from online discussions with other learners.

If you would like to know more about this course or the range of courses from the University of Leeds designed specifically for schools and colleges, please visit our teachers’ pages for further information and resources.

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Skip to 0 minutes and 6 seconds Knowing more about our bodies and how they work is a fascinating topic. This short course provides the facts. Whether you are interested in studying medicine or biological sciences, or you are just interested in knowing more, this course will introduce you to the anatomy of the abdomen. Through videos, activities, and quizzes, you will become familiar with anatomical terminology used by medical practitioners. And we will start off by looking at the abdominal wall, and then move on to explore the organs of the gastrointestinal tract, before closing with a real-life case study from a surgeon at a local Leeds hospital. Along the way, you’ll have plenty of opportunity to research and discuss topics with learners from around the world.

Skip to 0 minutes and 51 seconds Sign up now to Anatomy: Know Your Abdomen.

What topics will you cover?

The positions of organs within the abdomen
Common anatomical terminology relating to organs and their position relative to each other
The anterior abdominal wall: how ‘abs’ are considered in relation to health and beauty
The structure of the gastrointestinal tract
Common gastrointestinal problems and the work done to treat or cure them

When would you like to start?

Start straight away and join a global classroom of learners. If the course hasn’t started yet you’ll see the future date listed below.

Available now
22 Apr 2024

Learning on this course

On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...

Identify where the organs of the abdomen are located.
Identify key anatomical terminology by referring to the glossary.
Explore the basic features and muscles of the anterior abdominal wall.
Discuss the diverse range of functions carried out by the anterior abdominal wall musculature.
Research and discuss how the abdomen is referred to in the media.
Discuss your learning regarding the basic position and function of the gastrointestinal tract, from the oesophagus to the rectum.
Identify the position of the gastrointestinal tract and relate it to neighbouring organs.
Explore common gastrointestinal problems and how they are treated.
Research and discuss facts about the gastrointestinal tract.

Who is the course for?

No previous knowledge is required, just an interest in exploring anatomy and specifically looking at the human abdomen. If you are new to learning online you will find it helpful to join Learning Online: Learning and Collaborating prior to joining this course.

Who will you learn with?

James Pickering

I am an Associate Professor in Anatomy at the University of Leeds and the lead educator for Exploring anatomy: the human abdomen. Happy to help.

Who developed the course?

University of Leeds

As one of the UK’s largest research-based universities, the University of Leeds is a member of the prestigious Russell Group and a centre of excellence for teaching.

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