Ateneo - UPO

HISTOLOGY: Main histology methods: fixation and staining. Description of the tissues of the human body in their morphological, localization and functional aspect. Description of the main cell types.
EMBRYOLOGY: Study of the formation of gametes, fertilization and the first periods of human embryonic development. Brief description of animal models used for the study of developmental biology.

Wheater: Istologia e Anatomia microscopica
CEA Stevens-Lowe: Istologia Umana
Antony L. Mescher: JUNQEUIRA - Istologia - Testo e Atlante
Monesi: Istologia – Piccin
MH Ross – Istologia – Testo e Atlante - CEA

Zanichelli Barbieri-Carinci: Embriologia, III ed. CEA
De Felici et al.: Embriologia Umana. Piccin

At the end of the course the student must have acquired deep knowledge of:
1) the different tissues of the body and the link between their structure and function;
2) the main cells found in the different tissues
3) embryonic development and morphogenesis of tissues and organs of the human organism under normal conditions
4) some animal models used for the study of developmental biology, useful for understanding the mechanisms that regulate the development of the human body.

Basic knowledge of cell biology is required

Classroom lessons and Power Point presentations (uploaded to DIR)
Observation in class of histological slides

Students with physical disabilities, Learning Disabilities or Special Education Needs can request specific services and tools via the Staff Sviluppo e Coordinamento Carriere e Servizi alle Studentesse e agli Studenti, consulting the University webpage: https://uniupo.it/en/services/services-students-physical-or-learning-disabilities. Students with disabilities, learning disabilities or special education needs, once they have contacted the University Staff, can refer to the tutor in charge of the course to define the examination modalities, concerning academic aspects.

The exam consists of a written test (40-45 multiple choice questions, of which only one is correct). Registration for the exam is mandatory through the UPO website. For the purpose of voting, only the correct answers are considered.

- Introduction to histological preparations: dehydration, fixation, cutting and staining
- Epithelial tissues. Cellular polarization. Cytoplasmic and surface specializations, related to protective, mechanical, barrier and transport functions.
- Classification, structure. Cytoskeleton, cell junctions, basement membrane.
- Tegumentary system
- Exocrine glandular epithelia. Structure and classification. Specializations of secretory functions. Histology of salivary glands, Brunner’s glands, exocrine pancreas
- Endocrine glandular epithelia. Hormonal signals and tissue homeostasis. Hypothalamo-hypophyseal axis. Histology of thyroid, adrenal gland, pancreatic islets, Leydig’s cells
- Connective tissues: components and functions of the extracellular matrix. Cells and their relationships with the matrix. Classification of connective tissues.
- Blood: plasma, serum, cells. Cell structure, life span, and function, leukocyte formula.
- Hemopoiesis. Multipotent stem cells and precursors. Hemocateresis. Histology of bone marrow
- Lymphatic tissues: structure and organization of the lymphatic system. Classification of lymphocytes, membrane markers. Lymphopoiesis and lymphocyte maturation. Histology of thymus, spleen and lymph nodes
- Cartilage and bone tissue. Mechanical functions and metabolic homeostasis. Ossification, growth, remodeling.
- White and brown adipose tissue
- Muscular tissue: skeletal, smooth, cardiac. Membrane, cytoskeletal and metabolic structure and specializations. Mechanism and regulation of muscle contraction.
- Blood vessels: structure. Capillaries and sinusoids.
- Nervous tissue. Ultrastructural specializations of neurons. Axonal transport. Electrical properties of the membrane. Synapses and neuro-muscular junction. Myelination. Gray matter and white matter. Description of glial cells
- Tissue homeostasis: General information on differentiation, maintenance and renewal of tissues: adult stem cells.
- Gametogenesis. Histology of the female and male genital system. Maturation of germline cells. Ovarian cycle, uterine cycle and their hormonal control. Spermatogenesis
- Capacitation - Fertilization. Zygote and embryo segmentation. Blastocyst and its implant. Bilaminar and trilaminar embryo (gastrulation). The embryonic foldings. Neurulation and mesodermal development. Placenta development. Cardiogenesis
- Concept of potential. Determination and differentiation. Concept of the position.
- Development of the body: segmentation genes. Homeotic genes and identity of body segments.
- Notes on animal models used in the study of developmental biology: Drosophila melanogaster (body development plan, homeotic genes); Caernorhabditis elegans and asymmetric division (body development plan and example of organogenesis); Zebrafish (epiboly - heart formation - embryonic hematopoiesis)

Ability to recognize a tissue when observing a histological preparation, with a description of the morphology of the cells and their function.
Knowledge of the formation of male and female gametes, of the events of fertilization and of the first events of human embryonic development