Cytology and histology 4

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

Citology: lessons.

Histology: lessons and practical observations of tissue samples with optical microscope.

Should teaching be carried out in mixed mode or remotely, it may be necessary to introduce changes with respect to previous statements, in line with the programme planned and outlined in the syllabus.

Learning assessment may also be carried out on line, should the conditions require it.

A. CITOLOGY

• Biological characteristics of living matter.
• Chemical characteristics of living matter: water, mineral salts, carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, nucleic acids.
• Levels of organization of living matter.
• Eukariotic animal cell.
• Plasma membrane and glycocalyx. Differentiations of the plasma membrane: microvilli, cilia and flagella, cell junction, basal lamina.
• Cytoplasm: hyaloplasm; ribosomes; rough endoplasmic (RER) and smooth (REL) reticulum; Golgi apparatus; lysosomes; peroxisomes; mitochondria; cytoplasmic inclusions; pigments; cytoskeleton and its constituents; centrioles and centrosomes. Endocytosis and exocytosis.
• Nucleus and its constituents: nuclear envelope; nucleoplasm and nucleoskeleton; organization and functions of chromatin; chromosomes and chromosomes set; nucleolus.
• Cell cycle and its phases. Interkinesis: G0, G1, S, G2 phases (generality about: transcription, protein synthesis, duplication of DNA).
• Cell division: mitosis and meiosis. Gametogenesis (generality).

B. INSTRUMENTS AND METHODS OF INVESTIGATION

• Direct observation of living cells and tissues; vital stains and supravitally.
• Procedures for preparation of permanent slides.
• Main histological staining.
• General principles of cytochemistry and histochemistry.
• Optical and electronic microscopes: operating principles and their use in biology.

C. HYSTOLOGY

The animal tissue: classification and recognition.

• Epithelial tissue: general characteristics and classification.
• Glandular tissue: origin and classification of glands; characteristics of secretory cells and various types of secretion.
• Connective tissues: characteristics of the intercellular substance: ground substance and connective fibers; connective cells.
• Connective tissues proper.
• Specialized connective tissues: cartilage (hyaline, elastic, fibrous) bone and chordoid tissue. Bone development: intramembranous and endochondral ossification.
• Adipose tissues.
• Blood, plasma, and formed elements. Endothelium and blood vessels. Lymph.
• Muscle tissue: smooth muscle, striated skeletal and cardiac muscle.
• Nervous tissue: neuron or nervous cell, morphology and structure. Types of nerve fibers and their structures. Synapses and nerve endings. Neuroglia.

D. PRELIMINARY KNOWLEDGE

• Elementary knowledge of the organization of living matter, including viruses, prokaryotic, eukaryotic cell.
• General principles of physics with particular reference to the diffusion of gases and optical phenomena.
• Basic knowledge of general, inorganic and organic chemistry, with particular reference to: chemical bonds, ions, acids, bases, salts, true solutions, suspensions and colloidal solutions; main classes of organic molecules.

- Calligaro et al. Cytology and functional histology, Edi-Ermes

- Geoffrey M. Cooper and Robert E. Hausman. The Cell: a Molecular Approach. Seventh Edition. ASM press, Washington, D.C. 

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

Criteria for assigning the vote. The highest grade is assigned to the student who has demonstrated mastery of the topics, ability to relate acquired knowledge, expository skills and mastery of the disciplinary vocabulary.

Verification of learning can also be carried out electronically, should the 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.

Cell metabolism.

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