A Core Head, Neck, and Neuroanatomy Syllabus for Physical Therapy Student Education

Abstract

Head, neck, and neuroanatomy are essential components of physical therapy education due to their broad clinical applications. Detailed syllabi exist for medical students, yet none have been developed for physical therapy. This study aimed to produce an International Federation of Associations of Anatomists core head, neck, and neuroanatomy syllabus specifically for physical therapy students. A Delphi panel of 45 anatomists and clinicians from 18 countries reviewed 978 head, neck, and neuroanatomy items across five sections: general nervous system; bones and muscles of the head and neck; nasal and oral cavities, pharynx and larynx; the brain; cranial nerves, special senses, and neural pathways (including the autonomic nervous system). Items were rated based on the knowledge required of a minimally competent physical therapy student and categorized as core, recommended, not recommended, or not core. Of the 1001 items in the final topic list, 675 (67%) were rated as core or recommended. For the brain, 85% (311/366) of items were core/recommended, followed by the general nervous system (38/50, 75%) and cranial nerves, special senses, and neural pathways (206/272, 76%). Less than half of the items in the other two categories were considered core/recommended—bones and muscles of the head and neck (108/222, 49%) and nasal and oral cavities, pharynx and larynx (12/91, 13%). This syllabus guides anatomy and physical therapy educators and students in the study of head, neck, and neuroanatomy, emphasizing central nervous system over musculoskeletal and visceral structures.