Cytology and histology 2

Knowledge of the biological and chemical characteristics of living matter and its levels of organization. Acquisition of basic knowledge on the structural organization of the eukaryotic cell, the functional significance and the relationships between the different cellular organelles. Acquisition of knowledge relating to the morphological and functional organization of animal tissues such as to allow students a sufficient capacity for critical analysis and interpretation of optical and electronic microscopy preparations.

The cytology lessons will be frontal; the histology lessons will be carried out both frontally (describing the general characteristics of the tissues) and with practical exercises relating to the observation and recognition of histological preparations under the optical microscope.

If the teaching is taught in mixed or remote mode, the necessary variations may be introduced with respect to what was previously declared, in order to respect the planned program and reported in the syllabus.

Knowledge of the elementary organization of living matter: virus, prokaryotic cell, eukaryotic cell; of the general principles of Physics with particular reference to: diffusion of gases and optical phenomena; of general and inorganic and organic chemistry, with particular reference to: chemical bonds, ions, acids, bases, salts, true solutions and colloidal solutions, main classes of organic molecules.

Attendance at lectures is strongly recommended, particularly for histology exercises.

A) CYTOLOGY (CFU 6) Biological characteristics of living matter. Chemical composition of living matter: water, mineral salts, carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, nucleic acids. Notes on the levels of organization of living matter. The animal eukaryotic cell. The plasma membrane and its outer coverings. The differentiations of the plasma membrane: microvilli, cilia and flagella, junction systems, basal lamina. The cytoplasm: hyaloplasm; ribosomes; rough (RER) and smooth (REL) endoplasmic reticulum; Golgi apparatus; lysosomes; peroxisomes; mitochondria; cytoplasmic inclusions; reserve substances; pigments; the cytoskeleton and its constituents; the sphere apparatus. Endocytosis and exocytosis. The nucleus and its constituents: the nuclear wall; nucleoplasm and nucleoskeleton; organization and functions of chromatin; chromosomes and chromosomal complement; nucleolus. The cell cycle and its phases. Interkinesis: G0, G1, S, G2 phase (notes on: transcription, protein synthesis, DNA duplication). Cell division: mitosis and meiosis.

B) METHODS AND TOOLS OF INVESTIGATION (CFU 1) Direct observation of living cells and tissues; vital and supra-vital colours. Procedures for preparing permanent preparations. The main histological stains. General principles of cytochemistry and histochemistry. Optical and electronic microscopes: operating principles and their use in biology.

C) HISTOLOGY (CFU 1 + 1) Animal tissues: classification and recognition. The lining epithelial tissues: general characteristics and classification. Glandular epithelia: origin and classification of glands; characteristics of secreting cells and various types of secretion. Connective tissues: the characteristics of the intercellular substance: amorphous part or fundamental substance and connective fibres; connective cells. Connective tissues proper. Supporting connectives: cartilaginous tissue, chordoid and chondroid tissue, bone tissue; ossification processes. Adipose tissue. Blood: plasma and figurative elements. Endothelium and blood vessels. Lymph. Muscle tissues: smooth muscle tissue, skeletal striatum and cardiac striatum. Nervous tissue: the neuron or nerve cell, morphology and structure. Neuron envelopes. Nerve fibres. Synapses and nerve endings. Neuroglia.

Oral examination and recognition of histological preparations under the optical microscope.

Grade assignment criteria. The maximum mark is assigned to the student who has demonstrated mastery of the topics, ability to relate the knowledge acquired, presentation skills and mastery of the disciplinary vocabulary.

Verification of learning can also be carried out electronically, should conditions require it.

Biological macromolecules and their role: proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, nucleic acids.

The plasma membrane: structure and functions.

Cytoplasmic organelles: morphology and functions.

Cell cycle and cell division.

DNA duplication and transcription.

Protein synthesis.

Cytoskeleton.

Cellular metabolism.

Tissues: recognition under the optical microscope and their functional organization.