Introductory description

How physiology is manifested and observed at a cellular level will be explored in this module through an introduction to the field of Anatomy and Histology.

The course is aimed primarily at those who already have A-level Biology and who are embarking on a cell- and molecularly-oriented Biology degree, and who may wish to pursue physiological and biomedical subjects in future years.

Module web page

Module aims

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

How physiology is manifested and observed at a cellular level will be explored in this module through an introduction to the field of Anatomy and Histology.

The course is aimed primarily at those who already have A-level Biology and who are embarking on a cell- and molecularly-oriented Biology degree, and who may wish to pursue physiological and biomedical subjects in future years.

The module is intended to broaden student’s biological background and to support second and third year modules

Lectures are aimed to introduce students to the anatomy of all major mammalian systems, including: Lung, Liver, pancreas, GI tract, Skeletal muscle, the heart, bone, neural tissue, skin, the ovaries and testes. Some focus on tissue development is included to show how tissues are regulated by genes.

There is a supporting computer workshop
Computer Workshop (1 x 2 hours) : Open Science Computer Laboratory on Histology

There are 2 supporting computer workshops
Laboratory Workshop: 3 x 2 hour practical workshops, including:

• Mouse dissection and identification of tissues before embedding
• Post embedding techniques and microtome demonstration for preparing paraffin-wax sections
• Achieving Kohler illumination on a compound microscope
• Staining tissue with haematoxylin and eosin
• Practicing descriptions of a number of key mammalian tissues

Open microscopy access (supervised) in the laboratories (1x3 hour) .

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

• 1. To understand the evolutionary link between extant animals and appreciate the model organisms that are currently used in biomedical research
• 2. To be able to understand the advantages and limitations of comparative anatomy
• 3. To learn and apply standard microscopy techniques
• 4. To understand the principles of histology, including material preparation, staining and visualisation
• 5. To recognise morphological and pathological differences in some tissues

Indicative reading list

Cleveland, Hickman, Integrated Principles of Zoology, Dubuque, Iowa: McGraw–Hill Education,
2014

Cui, Dongmei…[et al.], Atlas of Histology: with functional and clinical correlations, Philadelphia:
Wolters Kluwer health/Lippeincott Williams & Wilkins, 2011

Eroschenko, Victor P., DiFiore's Atlas of Histology with Functional Correlations, Baltimore MD;
London: Wolters Kluwer Health/Lippincott Williams and Williams, 2013

Hillis, David M., Sadava, David, Hill, Richard W., Price, Mary V., Principles of Life, Sunderland, MA,
U.S.A.: Sinauer Associates: Gordonsville, VA, U.S.A. : MPS/W.H. Freeman & Co, 2014

Peckham, Michelle, Histology at a Glance, [electronic resource], 2011

Ross, Michael H., Kaye Gordon I., Wojciech, Pawlina, Histology: a text and atlas, Lippincott
Williams and Wilkins, 2003

Ross, Michael H., Wojciech, Pawlina, Histology: a text and atlas: with correlated cell and
molecular biology, Wolters Kluwer/Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins Health, 2011

Young, Barbara, BSc Med Sci (Hons), PhD, MB BChir, MRCP, FRCPA, O'Dowd, Geraldine, BSc
(Hons), MBChB (Hons), FRCPath, Woodford, Phillip, MB BS, FRCPA, Wheater's Functional
Histology: a text and colour atlas, Churchill, Livingstone, Elsevier, 2014

Subject specific skills

1. To be able to understand the advantages and limitations of histology

2. To learn and understand the use of standard microscopy techniques

3. To understand the basics of histology, including material preparation, staining and visualisation

4. To be able to practically recognise pathological differences in some tissues

Transferable skills

1. Self directed learning
2. Adult learning
3. Practical skills and techniques