The Cell (Overview) - Lecture

Upon completion of study of this section the student will be ble to:

• Perceive the inseparability of structure and function in living organisms.
• Know the names and functions of the various structural components (organelles and cellular inclusions) of cells.
• Know the important subunits of each cellular component and the relationship of each subunit to the component's function.
• Name the general and specialized functions of cells, and know the role of the various cellular components in each function.
• Recognize a cell's structural components in a light or electron photomicrograph and from this predict the cell's function(s).
• Predict which structures will be present in a cell from its function.
• Predict the functional deficits that would occur in a cell as a result of specific structural aberrations.
• Predict the cell component(s) most likely to be involved in a particular functional deficit.
• Understand and give examples of cell differentiation.

 

Cell - Structural Aspects - Lecture

• Discuss the structure and function of the plasma membrane
• Describe the structure of cellular organelles and their integrative function in cells
• List and compare the structural components of the cytoskeleton
• Describe the structure and function of the nucleus
• Distinguish different cell types and their function by organelle structure and content

 

Cell- Functional Aspects  - Lecture

• Describe cellular synthetic and secretory mechanisms
• List different types of intercellular signaling and intercellular junctions
• Describe the components involved in cellular motility
• List the stages and histological features of the cell cycle
• Describe two mechanisms of cell death

 

Epithelium and Glands - Lecture

Upon completion of this study the student will be able to:

• List six characteristic of epithelia.
• Describe the four basic function of the epithelium.
• Compare and/or contrast plasmalemma structure and function to that of epithelial junctions: occluding, adherens, and gap
• Identify the junctions in electronmicrographs and illustrate their structural organization with labeled cytological components.
• Draw the four basic morphologies that an epithelial cell can express.
• Provide examples of epithelial, both simple and stratified, containing each cell type.
• List tissue example for each of specialized cell types found in the epithelium: goblet, myoepithelial, ciliated, microvilli, keratinized, stereocilia containing cells, facet (dome).
• Structurally and functionally differentiate the unicellular, endocrine, and exocrine (simple, compound and mixed types) glands.
• List four types of epithelial secretions and identify the epithelial cytology for each secretory type. (compare merocrine (eccrine), apocrine, holocrine secretions)

 

Epithelium - Laboratory

At the completion of this section the student will be able to:

• Identify every epithelium present in any tissue section.
• Differentiate between mucus and serous secreting epithelia.
• Identify single-celled glands, endocrine glands and the various types of exocrine gland organizations.

 

Fundamental Tissues - Laboratory

At the completion of this section the student will be able to:

• Set‑up and adjust the microscope for optimal resolution in observing tissue sections.
• Know the steps involved in tissue processing and discuss the different types of microscopy.
• lnterpret the cytological significance of differential staining produced by hematoxylin and eosin (H&E).
• Recognize and identify cells in microscopic tissue preparations.
• Understand that morphology reflects the function of cells.

 

Connective Tissue - Lecture

At the completion of this section the student will be able to:

• Describe and identify the composition (cells, fiber and matrix) of connective tissues
• Explain the role of connective tissues in health and disease
• Classify the types of connective tissues in the body

 

Connective Tissue Proper - Laboratory

At the completion of this section the student will be able to:

• Describe each type of connective tissue (CT) and explain where they are found.
• List the types of cells, fibers and other extracellular matrix components found in connective tissues.
• Relate the functions of each connective tissue to their structural organization.

 

Cartilage and Bone - Lecture

At the completion of this section the student will be able to:

Cartilage:

• Know the differences and similarities among the three types cartilage.
• Know the functions of the three types of cartilage and relate them to their structural characteristics and location in the body.
• Recognize the type of cartilage present and identify its components (eg. chondrocytes, perichondrium, etc.) in a photomicrograph or slide of a tissue or organ.

BONE:

• Describe bone as a connective tissue in terms of its cells, fibers and ground substance.
• Compare the two processes of bone tissue formation in terms of embryonic tissue of origin and location in the body.
• Compare growth in length with growth in girth of bones.
• Know the alternations in tissue structure that occur during bone remodeling.
• Recognize the type of bone, the cell types, the named structures of bone (eg. periosteum, spicules, Haversian canals) in a photomicrograph or slide of bone tissue

Cartilage & Bone - Laboratory

At the completion of this section the student will be able to:

• Histologically identify and functionally characterize each of the various forms of supporting connective tissue
• Recognize the structure and characterize the function of the cells, fibers and ground substance components of each of the supporting connective tissues examined.
• Describe the cellular mechanisms that provide for intramembranous and endochondrial bone development.
• Compare and contrast the structure and function of compact and spongy bone. 

 

Nervous System - Lecture

To be able to organize and discuss basic information about:

• Classification of nervous system
• Neuronal structure, classification and function
• Microarchitecture patterns of cerebral and cerebellar cortices
• Functional histology of neuroglia
• Cerebrospinal fluid, meninges and ependyma
• Autonomic and spinal ganglia

 

Nervous Tissue - Laboratory

At the completion of this section the student will be able to:

• Describe the components of a neuron; correlate neuronal structural differences with their functions (e.g. compare large motor neurons and Purkinje cells).
• Distinguish between the cerebrum, the cerebellum and the spinal cord in the light microscope.  Identify the components of the grey and white matter; identify the choroid plexus by its structure and location within the brain.
• Recognize peripheral nerves and identify their structural components (in longitudinal and transverse sections); understand the structural and functional difference between myelinated and unmyelinated fibers in both the central and peripheral nervous systems with both light and electron micrographs.
• Identify and describe the structure of the autonomic nervous system; distinguish between sections of parasympathetic and sensory ganglia and relate their structures to their locations and functions.

 

Muscle Tissue - Lecture

At the completion of this section the student will be able to:

• Know the three major types of muscle tissue and compare them in terms of structure, function, and location in the body.
• Know the function of muscle tissue.
• Know the relationships between muscle fascicles (bundles) muscle  fibers,  myofibrils, and myofilaments.
• Explain the role of T-tubules and the sarcoplasmic reticulum in striated muscle function.
• Describe the mechanism of skeletal muscle stimulation, contraction, and relaxation at the molecular, cellular and tissue level.
• Recognize the type of muscle tissue present in a slide or photomicrograph of  an organ and describe its probable function.  

 

Muscle Tissue - Laboratory

At the completion of this section the student will be able to:

• Histologically identify and functionally characterize each of the three types of muscle tissue.
• Describe the organization of the sarcomere as seen in the light microscope.
• Identify the endomysium, perimysium and epimysium CT sleeves in muscle.
• Relate the function of the three muscle cell types to the functions of microfilaments in the cytoskeleton.

 

Digestive System 1: Alimentary Canal - Lecture

At the completion of this section the student will be able to:

• Understand the general layout of the alimentary canal
• Explain the morphological peculiarities of segments of the GIT to their functions

 

Digestive System - Laboratory

At the completion of this section the student will be able to:

• Name the parts of the digestive tract.
• Identify the four layers that form the walls of the tubular organs of the digestive tract and the tissue types found in each layer.
• Identify and know the distinguishing structural features of the various regions of each of the tubular organs of the digestive tract.
• Identify the organ region, cell type present, and type of section (i.e., transverse or longitudinal) from a slide or photomicrograph of a section of any part of the digestive tract.

 

Digestive System II: Glands - Lecture

Upon completion of study of this section the student will be able to:

• Describe the liver’s double blood supply.
• Describe the complex structure of a hepatocyte and relate its structure to its many functions.
• Describe the classic liver lobule, the portal lobule, and the hepatic acinus (of Rappaport).
• List several endocrine secretory products of liver.
• List the functions of the gall bladder.
• Compare the wall of the gall bladder with that of the small intestine.
• Identify the gall bladder from a slide or photomicrograph and distinguish it from a similar section of small intestine.
• In a slide or photomicrograph of a section of a digestive gland, identify the type of gland; identify the different types of duct, cells, and other named substructures (e.g., demilune, central vein, bile duct, sinusoid.
• Know the accessory glands attached, by their ducts, to the digestive tract.
• Compare the structure and function of the 3 major types of salivary glands.
• Compare the serous and mucous secretory cells of salivary glands.
• Compare the structures of the parotid gland and pancreas.

 

Digestive System II - Laboratory

Upon completion of study of this section the student will be able to:

• Distinguish between the parotid, submaxillary and sublingual salivary glands.
• Compare and contrast the structures of the parotid and pancreas glands
• Characterize the structural organization of the liver and relate it to a classic lobule, portal lobule and hepatic acinus.
• Identify the gall bladder and describe the functions of each layer in it’s wall.

 

Cardiovascular System - Lecture

Upon completion of study of this section the student will be able to:

• Define the gross components and primary functions of the cardiovascular system.
• Describe the structures and functions of the arteries and veins.
• List the 3 layers of the vessel walls and describe their components.
• Describe the structures and functions of each of the 3 types of capillaries.
• Distinguish between muscular, elastic and lymphatic vessels.
• Describe the cells and structures involved in atherosclerosis.

 

Cardiovascular System - Laboratory

At the completion of this section the student will be able to:

• Identify elastic and  muscular arteries, arterioles, capillaries, venules and veins.
• Describe the intima, media and adventitia of all vessels.
• Compare the structure of the heart to that of a muscular artery.

 

Blood and Haemopoiesis - Lecture

At the completion of this section the student will be able to:

• Understand composition of blood as a tissue
• Identify the cellular elements of blood
• Describe the function of each blood cell type(s)
• Describe the formation of blood cells

Peripheral Blood & Hematopoiesis  - Laboratory

At the completion of this section the student will be able to:

• Examine a blood smear and distinguish each of the formed elements.
• Describe the functions of the granulocytes, agranulocytes, platelets and erythrocytes.
• Know the relative cell counts for each of the formed elements in the blood.
• Describe the normal development of red and white blood cells.

 

Lymphoid Tissue - Lecture

At the completion of this section the student will be able to:

• Describe the differences between cellular and humoral immunity, and between diffuse and dense lymphoid tissues
• Name the 3 types of tonsils and describe their distinguishing features
• Describe the structure and function of the thymus: understand how epithelial reticular cells (ERCs) contribute tot the blood-thymus barrier and to Hassalls  thymic corpuscles
• Relate the functions of lymph nodes to their locations and structure.  Make a schematic drawing of a lymph node including the capsule, hilum, afferent and efferent lymphatic vessels, trabeculae, sinuses, cortex, medulla, nodules, medullary cords and paracortical zone
• Describe the structure and functions of the spleen.  Compare the white and red pulp.  Trace the blood flow from the splenic artery to the sinusoids and to the splenic vein.  Explain the open and closed theories of splenic circulation.

 

Lymphoid Tissue - Laboratory

Upon completion of study of this section the student will be able to:

• Describe the structural organization of lymphoid tissue in general and of the thymus, lymph nodes, lymph nodules (follicles) and spleen.
• Detail how antigens are removed from the lymph and the blood via the sinuses and reticular cells of the lymph nodes and the spleen.
• Trace the movements of lymphocytes, from both the Lymph and peripheral blood, through the lymph node; and trace the flow of lymphocytes through the spleen, including pathways through the marginal zone and the red pulp.
• Distinguish among splenic white pulp, PALS, PWP, germinal centers, marginal zone, red pulp and red pulp sinuses. What cells comprise each structure and what is the specific activity associated with each structure?

 

Endocrine System - Lecture

Upon completion of study of this section, the student will be able to:

• Name the cells present in the 3 histological regions of the pituitary; know the hormones produced by each cell and their targets and functions
• Understand the role of the hypothalamus in regulation of endocrine glands
• Describe the pineal gland and pinealocytes: describe their main product and its functions
• Describe the structural organization of the adrenal (suprarenal) gland: know the hormones produced in each region and their actions
• Know the cells involved in the synthesis and secretion of thyroid hormones
• In the parathyroid, compare the morphology and functions of chief and oxyphil cells; understand the regulation of blood calcium levels
• Describe the islets of Langerhans and their products; describe the diffuse Neuroendocrine system (DNES)

 

Endocrine System - Laboratory

Upon completion of study of this section, the student will be able to:

• Distinguish between the posterior pituitary and the anterior pituitary and identify the cell types present and their function.
• Identify thyroid follicles, follicular cells, colloid, capillaries and parafollicular cells.
• Identify the capsule, chief cells and oxyphil cells in the parathyroid gland.
• Identify the capsule, cortex, zona glomerulosa, zona fasciculata, zona reticularis, medulla and chromaffin cells in the adrenal gland.  Describe the function of the parenchymal cells in the adrenal.
• Identify the pinealocytes and concretions in the pineal gland.
• Identify the islets of Langerhans in the pancreas and the function of the cells.

 

Female Reproductive System - Lecture

At the completion of this section, the student will be able to:

• Describe the epithelial and stromal components of the ovary; trace the fate of a primordial germ cell to its ovulation from a Graafian follicle
• Identify the roles of GnRH, FSH, estrogen, LH and progesterone in the menstrual and ovarian cycles; and relate these to morphological changes
• Relate the structures of the oviduct, cervix, vagina and external genitalia to their functions; understand significance of vaginal smears
• Describe the changes in the mammary glands during pregnancy and lactation
• Know the location, structure and function of the placental chorionic villi

 

Female Reproductive System - Laboratory

At the completion of this section, the student will be able to:

• Identify the tissues of the ovary, and distinguish between primordial, primary, secondary, tertiary and atretic follicles.
• Describe the three layers of the uterine tube and compare the structure in the different regions along its length.
• Describe the three layers of the uterus.  Understand the morphological changes in the endometrium and myometrium during the normal menstrual cycle and during pregnancy.
• Compare the structures and functions of the mammary gland at different stages.
• Identify the three layers of the cervix and the vagina.
• Identify the villi and intervillous space in the placenta. Relate these structures with placental function.

 

Urinary System - Lecture

Upon completion of study of this section the student should be able to:

• List the parts and function of the urinary system and describe the roles of each organ.
• Identify and describe the substructures of the kidney as seen grossly in frontal section.
• Compare the kidney cortex and medulla in terms of structure and function.
• Name the components and describe the function of the juxtaglomerular apparatus.
• Trace the circulation of blood through the kidney.
• Describe the ultrastructure of the filtration  barrier of the renal corpuscle.
• Trace the flow of fluid from Bowman’s space to a minor calyx, naming, in order, the tubules through which it flows and describing any changes in fluid composition that occur in each tubule segment.
• Describe the structure of the walls of the calyces, renal pelvis, ureters, and urinary bladder.
• Name the parts of the male urethra and the epithelium found lining each part.
• Compare the urethras of males and females.
• Differentiate between cortex and medulla and identify all of the vascular and tubular components as well as the components of the renal corpuscles and juxtaglomerular apparatus in a slide or photomicrograph of the kidney.
• Identify the components of the glomerular filtration barrier in a diagram or electron micrograph of a renal corpuscle.
• Identify the ureter, urinary bladder, and the parts of the urethra in histologic sections.

 

Urinary System- Laboratory

Upon completion of study of this section the student will be able to:

• Describe the structure of the kidney lobe and distinguish between cortical and medullary organization.
• Identify the regions of the nephron tubule and distinguish convoluted portions from the loops of Henle.
• Trace blood flow through the kidney and differentiate between vascular pathwaysassociated with cortical and juxtamedullary nephrons.
• Describe the structural organization of the ureter and urinary bladder.

 

Male Reproductive System - Lecture

Upon completion of the study of this section the student will be able to:

• List the exocrine functions of the testes.
• Describe the three stages of spermatogenesis and expand upon the phases of spermiogenesis.
• Discuss the four functional roles of Sertoli cells, include their relationship to the blood-testes barrier.
• Review the endocrine functions of the testes, include the activities of both sustentacular (sertoli) and interstitial (Leydig) cells.
• Trace the path of a sperm from it’s release by the Sertoli cell through it’s ejaculation.
• List and describe the function of the three accessory genital glands.
• Contrast the sites of action for FSH and LH.

Male Reproductive System - Laboratory

Upon completion of study of this section the student will be able to:

• Identify the endocrine and exocrine subdivisions of the testes.
• Distinguish the cells of the spermatogenic cell lineage.
• Identify and distinguish among epididymis, vas deferens, urethra, seminal vesicles  
  and the prostate gland.
• Describe the structure of the penis and indicate how it becomes tumescent.