ISTOLOGIA E ANATOMIA UMANA 5
Module ISTOLOGIA UMANA

Academic Year 2025/2026 - Teacher: ROSA IMBESI

Expected Learning Outcomes

Knowledge and Understanding

The student will acquire the basic cytological and histological knowledge necessary to understand the general organization of higher eukaryotic cells, their structural and functional specializations, and the cellular interactions underlying the organization of human tissues. He/she will understand the fundamental principles of histogenesis and the architecture of normal tissues, acquiring an integrated view of the relationships between microscopic structure and function.

Ability to Apply Knowledge and Understanding

The student will be able to recognize and describe the morphological characteristics of the main cell types and normal human tissues, including through observation and interpretation of histological preparations.

Making Judgments

The student will develop the ability to critically interpret the relationships between cellular structure, tissue organization, and function.

Communication Skills

The student will be able to clearly and accurately describe cellular and tissue structures, using appropriate technical and scientific language and correct cytological and histological terminology.

Learning Skills

The student will consolidate a study method useful for integrating microscopic knowledge with subsequent preclinical and clinical disciplines, developing the ability to independently update and deepen basic knowledge of the organization of the human body.

 

Course Structure

Frontal lessons.

If the teaching is given in a mixed or remote mode, the necessary changes may be introduced with respect to what was previously stated, in order to comply with the program envisaged and reported in the syllabus.

Required Prerequisites

Knowledge of cell biology.

Attendance of Lessons

Obligation to attend

Detailed Course Content

HUMAN HISTOLOGY

Methods in cytology and histology: optical and electron microscopy techniques; preparation of tissues for microscopic examination; principles of histochemistry.

EPITHELIAL TISSUES:

Embryonic derivation, general characteristics and functions.

Surfacing epithelium: Generalities - Classification - Description of the different types of epithelium: simple squamous epithelium, simple cuboidal epithelium, simple columnar epithelium, stratified squamous epithelium, stratified cuboidal and stratified columnar epithelium, pseudostratified epithelium, transitional epithelium - Lateral surface specializations – Basal surface specializations – Apical surface specializations.

Glandular epithelium: Generalities - Exocrine glands: classification, structure and function - Endocrine glands: Hormones - Target cell - Hormone-receptor link - Classification - Structure and function of some endocrine glands: pituitary, thyroid, parathyroid, epiphysis, adrenal gland.

CONNECTIVE TISSUES AND SPECIALIZED CONNECTIVE TISSUES:

Embryonic derivation, general characteristics and functions.

Connective tissue: Generalities and functions, cells, extracellular matrix, amorphous matrix, fibers - Structural and functional characteristics of the different types of connective tissue: Loose connective tissue, Dense connective tissue, Adipose tissue.

Cartilage: Structural and functional characteristics, extracellular matrix, types of cartilage, histogenesis of cartilage, perichondrium.

Bone tissue: Cells and extracellular matrix, bone lamellae and lamellar systems; compact and trabecular bone, periosteum and endosteum, ossification, bone growth and remodeling, metabolic functions of bone tissue.

MUSCLE TISSUES:

Embryonic derivation, general characteristics and functions.

Skeletal muscle: Structural and ultrastructural organization of muscle fibers; Structural organization of myofibrils; Molecular organization of myofibrils; Neuro-muscular junction, Molecular basis of muscle contraction, Control of contraction.

Cardiac muscle: Structure of myocardiocytes; Structural organization of the cardiac muscle; Intercalated disks, conducting system of the heart.

Smooth muscle: Structure of myocytes; Structural organization of smooth muscle; Smooth muscle contraction.

NERVOUS TISSUE:

Generalities - Neuron: Shape and size, Cytoplasm, Cytoskeleton, Neural processes ( axon and dendrites), Axonal transport, Nerve fiber, Myelin sheath, Impulse conduction - Synapse - Neuroglia.

 

Textbook Information

HISTOLOGY:

ISTOLOGIA di Monesi 7° ediz. di S. Adamo, M. De Felici, A. Dolfi, A. Filippini, …… E. Ziparo – Piccin

Other teaching material: pdf documents uploaded on the STUDIUM digital platform, relating to the topics presented during the lectures.


AuthorTitlePublisherYearISBN
 S. Adamo, M. De Felici, A. Dolfi, A. Filippini, …… E. ZiparoISTOLOGIA di Monesi 7° ediz.  Piccin2018 978 -88-299-2813-2

Course Planning

 SubjectsText References
1HUMAN HISTOLOGY Methods in cytology and histology: optical and electron microscopy techniques; preparation of tissues for microscopic examination; principles of histochemistry. ISTOLOGIA di Monesi 7° ediz. di S. Adamo, M. De Felici, A. Dolfi, A. Filippini, …… E. Ziparo (Piccin), Cap. 1
2EPITHELIAL TISSUES:Surfacing epithelium: Generalities - Classification - Description of the different types of epithelium: simple squamous epithelium, simple cuboidal epithelium, simple columnar epithelium, stratified squamous epithelium, stratified cuboidal and stratified columnar epithelium, pseudostratified epithelium, transitional epithelium - Lateral surface specializations – Basal surface specializations – Apical surface specializations.  ISTOLOGIA di Monesi 7° ediz. di S. Adamo, M. De Felici, A. Dolfi, A. Filippini, …… E. Ziparo (Piccin), Cap. 10
3Glandular epithelium: Generalities.Exocrine glands: classification, structure and function.  ISTOLOGIA di Monesi 7° ediz. di S. Adamo, M. De Felici, A. Dolfi, A. Filippini, …… E. Ziparo (Piccin), Cap. 11
4Endocrine glands: Hormones - Target cell - Hormone-receptor link - Classification - Structure and function of some endocrine glands: pituitary, thyroid, parathyroid, epiphysis, adrenal gland.  ISTOLOGIA di Monesi 7° ediz. di S. Adamo, M. De Felici, A. Dolfi, A. Filippini, …… E. Ziparo (Piccin), Cap. 12
5CONNECTIVE TISSUES AND SPECIALIZED CONNECTIVE TISSUES:Embryonic derivation, general characteristics and functions.  ISTOLOGIA di Monesi 7° ediz. di S. Adamo, M. De Felici, A. Dolfi, A. Filippini, …… E. Ziparo (Piccin),  Cap. 14
6Connective tissue: Generalities and functions, cells, extracellular matrix, amorphous matrix, fibers - Structural and functional characteristics of the different types of connective tissue: Loose connective tissue, Dense connective tissue, Adipose tissue.  ISTOLOGIA di Monesi 7° ediz. di S. Adamo, M. De Felici, A. Dolfi, A. Filippini, …… E. Ziparo (Piccin),  Cap. 15, Cap. 19
7Cartilage: Structural and functional characteristics, extracellular matrix, types of cartilage, histogenesis of cartilage, perichondrium.  ISTOLOGIA di Monesi 7° ediz. di S. Adamo, M. De Felici, A. Dolfi, A. Filippini, …… E. Ziparo (Piccin),  Cap. 16
8Bone tissue: Cells and extracellular matrix, bone lamellae and lamellar systems; compact and trabecular bone, periosteum and endosteum, ossification, bone growth and remodeling, metabolic functions of bone tissue.  ISTOLOGIA di Monesi 7° ediz. di S. Adamo, M. De Felici, A. Dolfi, A. Filippini, …… E. Ziparo (Piccin),  Cap. 17
9MUSCLE TISSUES:Embryonic derivation, general characteristics and functions.Skeletal muscle: Structural and ultrastructural organization of muscle fibers; Structural organization of myofibrils; Molecular organization of myofibrils; Neuro-muscular junction, Molecular basis of muscle contraction, Control of contraction.   ISTOLOGIA di Monesi 7° ediz. di S. Adamo, M. De Felici, A. Dolfi, A. Filippini, …… E. Ziparo (Piccin),  Cap. 23
10Cardiac muscle: Structure of myocardiocytes; Structural organization of the cardiac muscle; Intercalated disks, conducting system of the heart.  ISTOLOGIA di Monesi 7° ediz. di S. Adamo, M. De Felici, A. Dolfi, A. Filippini, …… E. Ziparo (Piccin),  Cap. 23
11Smooth muscle: Structure of myocytes; Structural organization of smooth muscle; Smooth muscle contraction.  ISTOLOGIA di Monesi 7° ediz. di S. Adamo, M. De Felici, A. Dolfi, A. Filippini, …… E. Ziparo (Piccin), Cap. 23
12NERVOUS TISSUE:Generalities - Neuron: Shape and size, Cytoplasm, Cytoskeleton, Neural processes ( axon and dendrites), Axonal transport, Nerve fiber, Myelin sheath, Impulse conduction - Synapse - Neuroglia.  ISTOLOGIA di Monesi 7° ediz. di S. Adamo, M. De Felici, A. Dolfi, A. Filippini, …… E. Ziparo (Piccin),  Cap. 24

Learning Assessment

Learning Assessment Procedures

Ongoing evaluation and interview

Assessment may include ongoing tests during classroom lessons, consisting of tests related to the topics covered during the lessons. The exam will be written and/or oral.


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

The test allows to verify:

i) the level of knowledge of human histology in physiological conditions of the organism.

ii) clarity of presentation.

iii) the property of medical-scientific language.

For the attribution of the final grade, the following parameters will be taken into account:

Grade 29-30 with honors: the student has a thorough knowledge of the topics discussed during the exam; he is able to promptly and correctly integrate and critically analyze the topics covered by the interview; he has excellent communication skills and masters medical-scientific language.

Grade 26-28: the student has a good knowledge of the topics discussed during the exam, he is able to integrate and analyze the topics covered by the interview in a critical and linear way and he presents the topics clearly using an appropriate medical-scientific language;

Grade 22-25: the student has a fair knowledge of the topics discussed during the exam, even if limited to the main topics; he manages to integrate and analyze in a critical but not always linear way the topics covered by the interview and he exposes the topics quite clearly with a discrete property of language;

Score 18-21: the student has minimal knowledge of the topics discussed during the exam, he has a modest ability to integrate and critically analyze the topics covered by the interview and he explains the topics in a sufficiently clear way although the language property is underdeveloped;

Failed exam: the student does not have the minimum required knowledge of the main teaching contents. The ability to use specific language is very little or absent and he is unable to independently apply the acquired knowledge.

Examples of frequently asked questions and / or exercises

English

1 What is the morphological organization of the heart muscle?

2 What is the classification of the exocrine glands?

3 Describe the cytological characteristics of the neuron

4 Describe the structural differences between cartilage and bone tissue

5 What is the myelin sheath?

6 What is the ultrastructural organization of the skeletal muscle fiber?

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