Course 2024-2025

Histology I and cytology [MMEDB103]

  • 6 credits
  • 39h+20h
  • 1st quarter
Language of instruction: French / Français

Learning outcomes

This course starts the teaching of histology (microscopic anatomy) for students of human medicine and is therefore part of the morphological side of the learning process. However, it privileges, from the learning of cellular morphology, the structure-function relations for all the subjects approached. Cell biology is reduced to the essentials which allows it to be introductory to histology (the study of the tissues of the human body). General Histology is the first part of learning about histology, i.e. describing the structures and functions of the five main tissues that make up the human body.

Objectives

To acquire a dynamic vision of the cell positioned in a particular context with precise roles, a vision intended to understand the microscopic images produced at the level of healthy tissues in the first instance, but also to understand the images which result from a dysfunction and which will be analysed in the following microscopic morphology courses (Histology II, Pathological anatomy).

Content

The cell and its main compartments, seen as a dynamic entity. Epithelia, connective tissue, muscle tissue, nervous tissue, and blood are studied in terms of their structures, organisation and the main functions associated with them.

Table of contents

Lining epithelia, including apical and basal specializations, as well as junctions. glandular epithelia. Connective tissues proper. Cartilage tissues. Bone tissues. Skeletal and cardiac striated muscle tissues. Smooth muscle tissue. Nervous tissue. Blood.

Exercises description

The practicals illustrate the entirety of the material thanks to histological sections observed under the microscope and available on www.histology.be


Teaching methods

The course content is explained by annotated diagrams and is simultaneously illustrated by histological or simply schematic images which are also available on webcampus. A syllabus is available covering introduction to cell biology and general histology. The syllabus sometimes provides additional information that is not part of the course material if it has not been seen during the teaching hours. Practical work illustrates the whole of the general histology subject.

Evaluations

Assessment method: If the number of students or the sanitary conditions allow it, the theoretical exam is written and consists of answering open questions, ideally using diagrams explained during the course. The exact terms of the assessment are subject to change when drawing up the exam schedules, depending on the practical constraints that the faculty administration may face, or in the event of illness/force majeure/encroachment with an internship, preventing the student from taking his exam on the date originally scheduled. Score calculation: The result of the theoretical exam gives the numerical value (X/20) which serves as the basis for calculating the final mark. This calculation depends on the result obtained during an exam on the practicals. A successful lab result (10 or more/20) at least 3 points higher than the score obtained in theory (i.e. X+3/20) increases the latter by 1 point (final score = X+1/20). A successful lab result (10 or more/20) at least 6 points higher than the score obtained in theory (i.e. X+6/20) increases the latter by 2 points (final score = X+2/20). However, a failed TP result of 9/20 penalizes the final score by 1 point (X-1/20), 8/20 penalizes it by 2 points (X-2/20), 7/20 penalizes it 3 points (X-3/20), 6/20 penalizes it by 4 points (X-4/20) and so on. Special cases and exemptions: In case of impossibility to present the examination for justified reason (force majeure, medical certificate), the student will request the holder (and the secretariat) who will convene him at a later date, within the deadlines provided by the R.E.E. The student who has not validated the credits of the Teaching Unit but who has obtained a mark equivalent to or greater than 10/20 in one or the other Learning Activity is automatically granted a partial exemption (DIPA ) for the Learning Activity concerned within the same academic year. However, the student may waive the benefit of the DIPA in order to try to improve his result by attending the Learning Activity. By taking this responsibility, if the outcome leads to a less favorable result, the student cannot claim the right to his initial grade.

Recommended readings

General Histology syllabus available on Webcampus with course illustrations and annotated slideshows during lectures. Human histology (4th edition), Stevens & Lowe, Elsevier. www.histology.be

Language of instruction

French / Français

Location for course

NAMUR

Organizer

Faculté de médecine
rue de Bruxelles
61
5000 NAMUR
P. 081724347
F. 081724327
administration-medecine@unamur.be

Degree of Reference

Undergraduate Degree
BlockCredits
Bachelier en médecine16