AIMS AND CONTENT

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

General knowledge of the methods for cytological, histological and embryological analyses.
Familiarity with the appropriate terminology. 
Knowledge of subcellular structures, cells and human tissues. 
Knowledge of the mechanisms by which the different structures of the human body organize themselves during embryonic development.
Information on human ontogeny for the understanding of alterations in development.
Understanding of the morphological features, microscopic and sub-microscopic organization, as well as the basic function of human cells, cell components, tissue and organs.

Capability to recognize and properly describe a histological arrangement based on its cell organization. Integrating knowledge of the mechanisms of cell differentiation, cell-cell interactions and histogenesis with functional and clinical-related features.

Acquired skills are an important foundation for understanding human anatomy, physiology and pathophysiology.

TEACHING METHODS

The integrated course provides 8 credits of teaching lectures on topics of human histology and embryology.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

HISTOLOGY

-       Lining epithelia: organization and classification; structural surface differentiations of epithelial cells (microvilli, stereocilia, cilia); lateral domain specializations (intercellular junctions); specializations of the basal domain and the basal lamina.

• Sensory and highly differentiated epithelia.

-       Exocrine glands: structure, classification and function. Endocrine glands: structure, classification and function.

-       Connective Tissue: organization and classification; extracellular matrix (fibers and ground substance), resident and mobile connective tissue cells. Adipose connective tissue and the concept of adipose organ. White, brown, beige and pink adipose tissue and related trans-differentiation processes. Their function, regulation and endocrine action.

-       Cartilaginous tissue: cartilaginous matrix and cells. Perichondrium. Classification and function of the various types of cartilage: hyaline cartilage, elastic cartilage, fibrous cartilage. Chondrogenesis, cartilage growth and repair.

-       Bone tissue: bone matrix and cells. Periosteum, endosteum. Non-lamellar and lamellar bone tissue. Compact and spongy bone tissue. Direct and indirect ossification, mantle ossification, mineralization process, and bone repair. Long bone growth: the epiphyseal disc.

-       Blood: plasma and figurative elements. Erythrocytes. Platelets. Leukocytes: granulocytes; monocytes; lymphocytes. Hematopoiesis.

-       Lymphoid tissue: primary lymphoid organs (bone marrow and thymus). Secondary lymphoid organs (lymph nodes, spleen, mucosa associated lymphoid tissue). Innate and adaptive immune system cells.

-       Muscle tissue: overview and classification of muscle tissue. Skeletal muscle tissue: Structural and molecular organization of skeletal muscle fiber. Skeletal muscle contraction process. Cardiac striated muscle tissue: Structural and molecular organization of cardiac muscle fiber. Specific conduction tissue. Smooth muscle tissue: Structural and molecular organization of smooth muscle cells. Smooth muscle tissue contraction mechanism. Single-unit and multi-unit smooth muscles.

-       Nervous tissue: overview and composition of nervous tissue. Organization of central (CNS) and peripheral (PNS) nervous system. Neurons: morphology, function and classification. ⁠Neuroglial cells: classification and functions in the CNS and PNS. Nerve fibers: structure and function of myelinated and unmyelinated fibers. Nerve impulse trasmission. Electrical and chemical synapses.

-       All Histology must be studied from the perspective of functioning and regulation and of the mechanisms that lead to dysregulation and pathologies: for each tissue, the main pathologies deriving from the failure to function or morphological alteration are indicated.

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GENERAL EMBRIOLOGY

-       Gametogenesis: Spermatogenesis and its hormonal control mechanisms. Sertoli cells. Blood-testicular barrier. Oogenesis and its hormonal control mechanisms. Ovarian cycle (follicular phase, ovulation, luteinic phase). Uterine cycle.

-       Fertilization: sperm path in the female genital tract. Sperm activation: capacitation and acrosomal reaction. Molecular mechanisms that regulate these phases. Overcoming the barriers of the egg cell: corona radiata and zona pellucida. Penetration of sperm into the egg cell. Egg cell reactions to fertilization: completion of meiosis and cortical reaction.

-       First week of development. Segmentation: blastomeres and totipotency. Characteristics of the cell cycle of blastomeres. Morula. Blastocyst. Mechanisms that regulate the implantation of the blastocyst. Ectopic implants.

-       Second week of development: full implantation, formation of syncytiotrophoblast and its function, hCG, formation of amniotic cavity, formation of the chorionic cavity and yolk sac, decidual reaction, formation of bilaminar embryonic disc, uteroplacental circulatory system.

-       Third week of development: gastrulation, primitive line, Hensen's knot, mesenchymal epithelial transition and invagination of the epiblast, formation of the trilaminar embryo, formation of the notochord, establishment of body axes, neural plate formation. Clinical Correlates: Holoprosencephaly, situs inversus, caudal regeression syndrome.

-       Fourth week of development: Embryo folding, neurulation, neural crests, somite differentiation.

-       Development of placenta: Primitive placenta. Chorionic villi development. Definitive placenta: leafy and basal deciduous chorion. Placental circulation. Extravillous cytotrophoblast cells. Immunity and development of the embryo. Maternal-fetal compatibility/incompatibility. Clinical correlate: preeclampsia, placenta previa.

ORGANOGENESIS

• Evolution of the mesoderm: somites, intermediate mesoderm, lateral mesoderm and their definitive derivatives.
• Development of the male and female urinary and genital systems.
• Evolution of the endoderm: formation of the primitive intestine and its differentiation. Cloaca and its derivations. Outline and development of the respiratory system.
• Pharyngeal system and its derivatives: arches, grooves and gill pockets. Development of the face.
• Formation of the bones of the skull, trunk and limbs.
• Formation of striated and smooth muscles.
• Formation of the four-cavity heart and blood vessels. Serous cavities.
• Development of the embryonic appendages. Nutrition of the embryo: fetal membranes and placenta.
• Developmental defects and malformations of all the systems and apparatuses.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Histology:

Adamo e coll. – Istologia di Monesi (7^ edizione) - Piccin Editore

Maraldi, Tacchetti - Istologia medica - Edi-Ermes

Ross M.H., Pawlina W.- Istologia. Testo e Atlante - Casa Editrice Ambrosiana

Young, Heath- Atlante: Istologia e Anatomia microscopica - Casa Editrice Ambrosiana

Atlante on-line (accesso libero): http://www.istologia.unige.it

Embriology:
De Felici e coll.- Embriologia umana (3^ edizione)- Piccin Editore

Barbieri, Carinci – Embriologia – Casa Editrice Ambrosiana

Moore, Persaud, Torchia - Embriologia L'essenziale, Before we are born - 10^ Edizione - Edizione italiana- Piccin Editore

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

LESSONS

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy