Department of Basic Medical Sciences

The Department of Basic Medical Sciences is the largest department in the College of Medicine. It encompasses five distinct scientific disciplines: Anatomy, Pathology, Physiology, Biochemistry & Molecular Medicine, and Medical Microbiology & Immunology.

The Department of Basic Medical Sciences was established in 1445 AH through the merger of five departments that had existed since the college's founding in 1419 AH. Since its inception, the department's specializations have been dedicated to teaching, training, and providing male and female students with a scientific understanding of the fundamentals of related medical sciences.

The Anatomy specialization teaches human anatomy at both the gross (macroscopic) and microscopic levels, as well as Embryology. The Physiology specialization studies the functions of organs and biological systems in the body, and how organ systems, cells, and biomolecules carry out various processes in humans. The Pathology specialization teaches all different diseases and disorders affecting various organs, studying the causes of disease, its development, complications, and linking this to the associated clinical aspects.

Through the Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine specialization, students understand the biochemical reactions occurring in body system cells, the chemical causes leading to diseases, and how to provide and utilize biochemical analyses in diagnosing diseases and establishing scientific foundations for their treatment. The Medical Microbiology and Immunology specialization studies the basic structure and genetic makeup of bacteria, viruses, fungi, protozoa, and parasitic worms. It explains how microorganisms and parasites interact with the body's immune system, and introduces disease-causing microorganisms and parasites in humans, their life cycles, associated symptoms, methods of diagnosis, treatment, and prevention.

The department provides its educational services to male and female students in the first, second, and third years of the College of Medicine. It also trains and teaches students in the first and second years of the Colleges of Pharmacy, Dentistry, Applied Medical Sciences, Nursing, and Medical Rehabilitation Sciences through various bachelor's programs for all these colleges. Furthermore, it participates in teaching postgraduate programs at the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties, such as the Forensic Medicine Fellowship and the Preventive Medicine Fellowship.