Course Goals:

1 . A comprehensive overview of the function and microscopic structure of the cells, tissues and organs of the human body.

2. An understanding of the subcellular organization and function of cells and how cells interact within a microenvironment. Areas of emphasis include: cell membrane structure and transport, cell-cycle and meiosis, cytoskeleton, extracellular matrix, nuclear organization, endocytosis and exocytosis, cell junctions and surface specializations, organelle structure and function, and contractile filaments. Students should be able to understand how the different components of a living cell function and interact with each other.

3. An understanding of the interaction, organization, and function of the different cell types that form tissues. Students should be able to identify at the microscopic level the different tissues of the human body and know the basic functions of the cellular components that make up the tissue and the tissue functions.

4. An understanding of the interaction, organization, and function of different tissues to form organs. Students should be able to identify at the microscopic level the different organs of the human body and how the different tissues are organized and interact to provide the organ function.

5. The understanding of the organization and function of subcellular components into cells, of cells into tissues, and of tissues into organs, will enable the student to integrate this knowledge into the organization and function of the whole body (Gross Anatomy) and other basic science disciplines (e.g. Physiology, Immunology, etc).

Specific Learning Objectives: 

The specific objectives for each lecture are listed below.  Students are also expected to learn how to identify the various cells, tissues, and organs from microscope slides and digital images and to learn the diseases and disease mechanisms associated with tissues and organs that are discussed within the course.

Cell and cell reaction

·    Learn how images used in histology/cell biology are obtained – different imaging modalities.

·    Understand how specimens are prepared for light and electron microscopy.

·    Learn major staining methods used in histology and what cell components are visualized with the different stains.

·    Learn what major cell components can be visualized in the light microscope and what components require special staining or the electron microscope to be seen.

Cell Membrane

·    Learn structure & composition of cell membrane.

·    Understand cell membrane properties & how they relate to cell functions.

Epithelium

·    What is epithelium, how is it classified, and what are the structural features?

·    Identify and know characteristics/functions and primary location of different types of epithelium.

·    Differentiate between types of gland secretion.

·    Know different mechanisms of secretion and how glands are classified.

Connective Tissue Proper and Extracellular Matrix (ECM)

·    Learn and be able to identify different types of connective tissue and CT components.

·    Learn the different components & understand the functions of ECM.

 Cell Junctions and Surface Specializations

·    Learn the different classes of cell adhesion molecules and their role in cell function

·    Learn the different classes of cell junctions and surface specializations and how they influence cell function and cell-cell interaction.

Organelles

·    Know the major functions for all organelles.

·    Be able to identify organelles or the presumed presence of organelles from histological slides or images obtained by electron microscopy or through use of special stains.

·    Understand how the different organelles interact with each other.

Nervous tissue

·    Learn the structural and functional features of nervous tissue.

·    Learn the cell types that make up nerve tissue and the structure, function, & location of each.

Nucleus

·    Know the different structural components of the nucleus and their role in nuclear function.

·    Understand how molecules and proteins are transported in and out of the nucleus.

·    Learn the basic structure and levels of organization of DNA and RNA.

·    Understand how DNA is packaged in the nucleus.

·    Understand the role of the nucleolus in protein synthesis.

Cell Cycle

·    Learn stages of cell cycle and what is occurring in the cell at each stage.

·    Understand the major control points in the cycle by cyclins and cyclin-dependent kinases.

·    Understand the role of tumor-suppressor proteins and growth factors in regulation of cell cycle.

·    Know stages of mitosis and major events that occur with each stage

 Cytoskelton

·    Know different components and functions of the cytoskeleton.

·    Learn that the types of intermediate filament within a cell can be used to determine cell origin (important in tumor diagnosis).

Endocytosis

·    Know & understand the role of the endosome & lysosome in receptor mediated endocytosis/phagocytosis & other degradative pathways.

·    Understand the process of receptor mediated endocytosis & the possible fates of different ligands internalized by this pathway.

·    Understand that there are receptor mediated endocytic pathways independent of clathrin.

·    Knowledge and understanding of factors that govern exocytosis from the cell.

Muscle and Contractile filaments

·    Know the structure, function, and distinguishing characteristics of each type of muscle (cardiac, skeletal, smooth) and be able to identify muscle types from images or histological slides.

·    Understand the relationship between thick and thin myofilaments & their structural proteins.

·    Understand differences between striated and smooth muscle with respect to contractile filaments and associated proteins.

Specialized Connective Tissue (Cartilage and Bone)

·    Understand structure and function and be able to identify the 3 different cartilage types and where they are located in the human body.

·    Understand the structural organization of bone, the different cell types and how they function to maintain bone health.

 Integument System

·    Know the layers to the skin and their respective functions and also the structure and function of associated glands (sweat, sebaceous).

·   Understand what occurs in each layer of the epidermis during cellular differentiation.

Circulatory system / Heart

·    Be able to identify elastic and muscular arteries, veins, venules, capillaries, and lymphatics and their associated tunics if present.

·    Major function of different levels of the circulatory system

·    Know the difference between the various types of capillaries and how organ location reflects capillary structure and function.

·    Be able to identify the different tunics of the heart, specialized areas or structures (valves, chordae tendinae, papillary muscles, trabeculae carnae) and modified cardiac muscle cells (Purkinje fibers).

Respiratory System

·    Describe the components of the conducting and respiratory portions of the airway.

·    Learn the different levels of the airway based upon structural features & identify the tissues & cell types present. 

·    Learn the structure/function of the blood-air barrier & identify components in an electron micrograph.

Digestive System

·    Be able to identify and describe the differences between the different regions of the digestive system (Cell types, epithelial type, and associated structures such as glands)

·    Learn the major functions of the different regions and associated cells within each region.

Liver and Pancreas

·    Understand major liver functions & also the flow of blood & bile through the liver.

·    Be able to identify structures in a slide or electron micrograph associated with the endocrine & exocrine functions of the liver. 

·    Understand models of liver organization.

·    Learn the various cells and their products of the endocrine and exocrine pancreas.

Urinary System

·    Know organs &  functions of the urinary system

·    Describe the structure and function of each component of the nephron and identify these structures in histological sections.

·    Describe juxtaglomerular apparatus function and identify components.

·    Know path of urinary filtrate flow from urinary space to exterior & know the order of the tubules & other components.

·    Be able to identify the components of the glomerular filtration barrier in a transmission electron micrograph or diagram of a renal corpuscle.

Reproductive –male

·    Describe the histological structure of testis, epididymus, accessory glands, & penis.

·    Know the cells and products (hormones and secretions) important for regulation of spermatogenesis and sperm function.

·    Understand the process of spermatogenesis and how it relates to meiosis.

Reproductive –female

·    Understand development of ovum from primordium to Graffian follicle.  Be able to identify different stages on a slide or image of ovary.

·    Identify structures listed on laboratory sheet.

·    Know the function of specialized cells/tissues and cell products important to human fertility.

·    Understand the structural and functional changes in the uterus that occur during the menstrual cycle.

Osteochondrogenesis / Joint components

·    Understand the process of intramembranous and endochondral bone formation.

·    Understand the process of cell differentiation that occurs in an epiphyseal growth plate.

·    Understand the process of bone healing following a fracture.

·    Learn the structural components of synovial joints and the function of cells that maintain joint function.

Lymphoid System

·    Learn the structural organization of the lymph nodules, lymph nodes, spleen, and thymus. Learn that different classes of cells and cell types are enriched in various regions of lymphoid organs and the functional significance of this organization.

·    Understand the flow of lymph and blood through lymph nodes and how this relates to the circulation of lymphocytes in the body.

·    Understand the flow of blood through the spleen and how this relates to antigen processing and also removal of aged blood cells.

·    Understand how T cells mature in the thymus and the relationship to autoimmune disease occurrence/prevention.

Endocrine

·    Learn the structural organization of the various endocrine organs.

·    Describe general function of each gland – especially as it relates to specialized cells or cell products.

Blood / Hemopoiesis

·    Be able to recognize the different blood cell types know the functions of each cell type. 

·    Understand which cells share a common origin (stem cell).  Learn the major structural and functional changes in blood cells as they differentiate from a stem cell to a mature circulating cell.

Tooth, Tongue, Salivary Glands

·    Identify major components of the tooth and understand the relationship of the different layers to each other.

·    Identify the different components of the tongue and understand the basis of taste.

·    Learn the different types of salivary glands and identify cell types, secretion type, and ducts.

Sensory Systems (Vision & Hearing)

  ·    Learn the structural organization of the vision and auditory organs.

  ·    Learn the specialized cells and their functions associated with vision and hearing.