Short Courses for Medical Doctors

This session provides an overview of the structure and function of the skeletal neuromuscular junction. It identifies sites at which drugs and toxins interrupt signal transmission between motor nerves and the mechanism of excitation-contraction coupling.

This session describes the properties of succinylcholine, the only depolarizing muscle relaxant in clinical use in the UK.

This session reviews the structure and function of the neuromuscular junction and introduces the action of the non-depolarising muscle relaxants.

This session explores the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of the aminosteroid neuromuscular blocking agents (NMBAs). It explores: the relationship between the chemical structure of these agents, their potency and their route of elimination;

This session describes the benzylisoquinolinium neuromuscular blocking agents, including their pharmacological properties and cardiovascular side-effects.

This session reviews both the assessment of residual neuromuscular block and the mechanism of action of the chemical agents that antagonise it.

This session identifies those properties of a neuromuscular blocking agent that would make it an ideal short-acting muscle relaxant. The properties of currently available agents will be compared with those of the ideal agent using relevant clinical scenar

This session outlines the anatomical and physiological arrangements of the autonomic nervous system including receptors and transmitters involved with relevance to pharmacological agents.

This session discusses the mode and duration of action, metabolism, side-effects and the use in theatre of drugs that stimulate adrenergic receptors, including direct and indirect acting sympathomimetics.

This session discusses the endogenous catecholamines: hormones and neurotransmitters, secreted by both the adrenal gland and sympathetic neurons.