Syllabus

UNE Summer Session

DEN 342: Head and Neck Anatomy – 12 Week – Summer 2025

Credits - 2

Description

The purpose of the course is to familiarize the dental hygiene student with the anatomy of the head and neck. This will include detailed study of skeletal landmarks, musculature, vasculature, innervation, and lymphatics. The interrelationship of structure and function of the oro-facial complex will be emphasized to enhance clinical understanding.

Materials

Learning Objectives and Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:

1. Identify the surface anatomy of the head and neck.
2. Identify the skeletal, muscular, lymphatic, glandular, neurovascular, and associated nomenclature components of the head and neck.
3. Examine and locate these structures and systems within a diagram of the head and neck.
4. Describe the interrelationships between structures/systems and their functions.
5. Identify the components of the temporomandibular joint and list deviations from normal.
6. Utilize course content in clinical situations for intra- and extra-oral examinations, and consideration of oral infection and disease aligned with high-quality patient care.

1.0 Essential Knowledge

DH 1.1 Apply the knowledge in the following sciences during the dental hygiene process of care: microbiology, human anatomy and physiology, human cellular biology, chemistry, biochemistry, immunology and pathology, nutrition, and pharmacokinetics.

2.1 Assessment

DH 2.1.3 Identify predisposing, etiologic, environmental, and social risk factors for person-centered care.

2.2 Dental Hygiene Diagnosis

DH 2.2.1 Analyze comprehensive medical, dental, and social health history.

DH 2.2.2 Integrate observational and diagnostic data as part of the dental hygiene diagnosis.

2.4 Implementation

DH 2.4.2 Execute individualized treatment based on the patient’s dental hygiene diagnosis.

DH 2.4.3 Integrate educational, preventive, and therapeutic services to provide comprehensive person-centered care.

DH 2.4.4 Use specialized skills and evidence-based technology to promote dental and periodontal health.

2.5 Evaluation and Documentation

DH 2.5.3 Modify dental hygiene care plans as necessary to meet goals of patient and clinician.

DH 2.5.4 Identify necessary referrals for success of treatment outcomes, including intraprofessional and interprofessional health-care providers, supporting professions, and patient advocates.

DH 2.5.5 Accurately document assessment findings and data, dental hygiene diagnosis and care plan, implementation, outcome evaluation, and any communication between professionals and patient (or others in the circle of care).

Assignments

Reading & Practice

Students are expected to stay up to date in reading and reviewing course material by the start of the week in which it is assigned. Reading assignments are listed in the course calendar and in the weekly modules. The assigned reading is the ultimate  basis for all content delivered in the course.

Additionally, optional (though recommended) practice assignments will be made available to supplement your studies. Where available, any such materials will be pointed out by announcement or within [designated] modules.

Quizzes

Each week, an assigned quiz composed of multiple choice and true/false questions will be assigned for you to express and test your knowledge on the week’s topic. Quizzes will cover specific chapter topics (as laid out in the course calendar and weekly modules).  Quizzes are due Fridays, unless otherwise noted.

Quiz material is essential as a semi-formative learning experience in preparation for summative exams. Students will receive two attempts at each quiz (where the highest score is kept), such that incorrect questions can be identified for further study..

Furthermore, quiz questions will help to form the basis of Discussion assignments (see below).

Discussions

An important facet of online learning is to maintain a sense of community and shared learning experience. It is helpful for students to have a space to share ideas, be heard, and receive feedback from the instructor and from each other (most learning is done when students see/hear/read the thoughts of their fellow students!). As mentioned above, Discussions will largely (though not exclusively) revolve around the previous week’s quiz (as in, students will be required to bring forth at least one quiz question to analyze, explain, or troubleshoot, and we will all then discuss as a group. 

 Where listed in the course calendar, discussion posts are due; there are two due-dates per discussion assignment: an initial posting due on Mondays, and at least two follow-up postings due by Thursday. See each weekly module for further details regarding due dates and topics.

All discussions will be evaluated using a Discussion Rubric.

Assignments

Throughout the semester there will be five (5) homework assignments of various natures (see due dates in calendar and in weekly course modules). In contrast to standard quizzes and exams, homework assignments offer either a written or visual option in expressing your knowledge on the topics given, and provide an outlet for personalized approaches to problem-solving.

Homework assignments will be evaluated using an assignment-specific rubric.

Exams

There will be three (3) summative exams in this course, spread at logical intervals  across the semester. Exams will contain multiple choice and true/false questions. Exams will open at the beginning of the week in which they are scheduled, and due on that Thursday.

Due to the nature of academic Anatomy, each exam will be of a cumulative nature (however, emphasis will be placed on the recent material leading up to an exam). In learning Anatomy, we are building a big picture, but we have to start one piece at a time; therefore, it is essential to layer all new material over all prior material until the picture is complete. Hence, as we progress, each exam necessitates preparing from a cumulative approach.

Assignments/Assessments Summary

Weekly Discussions (10)

• Discussions are in lieu of class time, and therefore are a critical learning component 
• one initial posting is required every Monday (unless otherwise noted)
• follow up postings are due every Thursday (unless otherwise noted)
  • includes by a minimum of one peer reply, and one reply to the instructor 
  • See rubric for grading

Weekly Quizzes (9):

• Weekly Quizzes assess our knowledge of the material as we go
• Quizzes will consist of multiple choice and T/F questions
• 2 attempts per Quiz (highest score is kept)
• Quizzes are due on Fridays, unless otherwise noted

Assignments (5):

• Assignments are unique from each other, and offer both written and visual expression
• Assignments are due on Fridays, unless otherwise noted
• See rubric for grading (where applicable)

Exams (3):

• The course is divided into three intervals, with each new topic building upon previous topics
• There is one exam per interval, each of a “cumulative” nature 
• Exams will follow the same format as quizzes (multiple choice & T/F)
• Only one attempt is allowed
• Exams require HonorLock proctoring
• Exams open at the beginning of the week in which they occur, and are due that Thursday

Grading Policy

Your grade in this course will be determined by the following criteria:

Grade Breakdown

Assignments	Point Value	Percentage of Grade
Quizzes (9)	10	10%
Discussion (10)	25	25%
Assignments (5)	25	25%
Exams (3)	40	40%
Total	100	100%

Grade Scale

Grade	Points Grade	Point Average (GPA)
A	94 – 100%	4.00
A-	90 – 93%	3.75
B+	87 – 89%	3.50
B	84 – 86%	3.00
B-	80 – 83%	2.75
C+	77 – 79%	2.50
C	74 – 76%	2.00
C-	70 – 73%	1.75
D	64 – 69%	1.00
F	00 – 63%	0.00