This lecture and laboratory course is designed to introduce the student to the structural basics of cells, tissues, and organs. The objectives of the course are to provide an environment where students will be able to identify and understand the morphologic characteristics of cells, tissues, and organs, and to sensitize students to the intimate relationship between structure and function.

It is anticipated that the following sources will be used in microscopic anatomy:

1. Fawcett, D. W., and Jensh, R. P. Concise Histology. 2nd Ed. Arnold, London. To be published, Fall, 2001

2. CD-ROMs: Microscopic Anatomy: Tutorial, Atlas, Quizzes; Histimages; Q&A; Ultimate Microscope (See below under "Digital Library")

3. Any good atlas of microscopic anatomy is also recommended.

Material from the required text and the CD-ROM may appear on tests and quizzes. Although the required text is the "bible", accuracy of content relating to test and quiz questions and answers is determined solely by the faculty members and the course coordinator It is possible, although improbable, that our required textbook might differ by the start of the third block.

Since a good microscope is most important for successful participation in our microscopic anatomy laboratories, the following advice may be useful:

1. Only buy a modern binocular microscope which is in excellent condition.

2. It is highly advantageous to have two wide-field eye pieces (one of them with a built-in pointer), and four objectives (X4 or less, X10, X40, X100).

OBJECTIVES OF THE MICROSCOPIC ANATOMY COURSE

1. To provide an environment in which first year medical students will have the opportunity to learn about the various tissues, organs, and organ-systems of the body at the microscopic level.

2. To provide a laboratory environment where students will learn to think independently and to identify and understand the morphologic characteristics of cells, tissues, and organs throughout the body.

3. To sensitize the student to the intimate relationship between structure and function at the cell, tissue, organ, and organ-system level.

4. To ensure that each student successfully completing the histology course has the ability to identify tissues of the body and has sufficient background in normal histology to be ready to master those subjects which address disease states, such as histopathology.

COURSE GRADE REQUIREMENTS

1. Students are required to obtain a course minimum average grade of 70 to be considered to have successfully passed the histology course.

2. Students must also pass each of the 2 segments of the course (written examinations and laboratory practical examinations) with a minimum average grade of 70 IN EACH SEGMENT.

3. The final course grade is based on the average grade in the laboratory (40% of total grade) and the average grade in the didactic (written) portion (60%) of the course; within each segment, interim examinations are counted equally.

4. No make up examinations will be given, should a student miss an examination. Appropriate documentation, such as a letter from the Student Health Service, is required for a student to receive an excused absence from an examination.

5. If a student fails both the written portion and the laboratory portion of the course, he/she will obtain a failing grade for the entire course.

6. If a student fails EITHER the written OR the laboratory segment of the course, he/she will receive a failing course grade, regardless of his/her actual final course grade (Ex. Student X received a final written examination grade of 68 and a final laboratory grade of 85; the final course grade would be 78 but the student would receive a 69, indicating that he/she was unsuccessful in passing all segments of the histology course). Should a student be eligible for a re-examination (see #9), successful completion of that re-examination will result in submission of a grade of 70 for the course, regardless of the actual grade achieved on the re-examination or from examination grades achieved during the course.

7. Students have a 4 day grace period following the mailing of examination grades in which to question, challenge, or discuss the grade, after which the grade is considered permanent (exceptions may occur, the decision being the prerogative of the course coordinator or his/her designee).

8. As in any professional environment, the course coordinator reserves the right to exercise judgment in those cases of failing students who may exhibit positive learning curves.

9. Students receiving a failing grade in histology are subject to the deliberations of the medical college Promotions Committee. Should the Promotions Committee decide that re-examinations can be given, they will take place at a time to be determined by that committee.

The Laboratory:

The Laboratory Manual will be given to students during the first laboratory session. The title is:

A SELF-INSTRUCTIONAL MANUAL
FOR THE STUDY OF
MICROSCOPIC ANATOMY
IN THE LABORATORY

SYLLABUS / COURSE ACTIVITIES: See the Laboratory Manual and Required Text

TESTING:

MICROSCOPIC ANATOMY WRITTEN EXAMINATIONS

Written examinations are non-cumulative, containing only material covered since the preceding examination. Faculty have been encouraged to write new questions and not rely on previously written questions. The following topics will be covered on each examination:

WRITTEN EXAMINATIONS:

Examination I : Cell 1, 2; Epithelium; CT/Adipose Tissue; Supportive Tissue; Muscle

Examination II: Nerve 1,2; Hemopoiesis/Peripheral Blood; Circulatory; Lymphatics; Cutaneous

Examination III: Respiratory; Urinary; Eye; Ear; GI 1, 2, 3

Examination IV (Final): Endocrine 1, 2, 3; Male; Female 1, 2; CUMULATIVE EXAM

LAB QUIZZES: Quizzes are CUMULATIVE, with emphasis on material presented since the previous quiz.

Practice Quiz: Cell to and including Muscle.

Lab Quiz #1: Cell to and including Muscle.

Lab Quiz #2: Cell to and including Cutaneous.

Lab Quiz #3: Cell to and including GI.

FINAL QUIZ: Cumulative, from Cell through Female.

DIGITAL LIBRARY: Computer Based Learning Materials:

1. "Q & A": a listing of hundreds of multiple choice and fill-in questions; for review purposes.

2. "Ultimate Microscope": a digital microscope on 2 CDEs.

3. "Histimages - An atlas of microscopic anatomy photographs": 1900 photographs of all primary tissues and organ-systems of the body.

4. "Histology- a student's guide to microscopic anatomy": A complete course on CD-ROM, including text, atlas, and quizzes

PLEASE NOTE: The CD-ROMs are available in the TJU Bookstore.

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