PHILADELPHIA UNIVERSITY

SCHOOL OF SCIENCE AND HEALTH

Histology BIOL-303 (Pre-requisite – BIOL-104 and junior status)

Fall Semester 2008

Histology provides students with an integrated perspective of how adaptations in physiology, biochemistry and morphology allow cellular organization into human organs and support systems. Laboratory studies will introduce students to abnormal embryology, which is the core of many aspects of disease, especially those affecting children. As well as analysis of prepared slides, students will learn to interpret and present abnormal histology/ embryology in the form of “case histories”.

Recommended Textbook: Human Histology A. Stevens and J. Lowe, Mosby Publishing Company, 3^rd Edition, 2004

Required Notes: Histology notes, required for the course, is for sale from the University Bookstore

Lectures: Chapters to be focused on each week are in the course outline. You will also receive handouts prior to classes, which represent condensed versions of the textbook chapters, which are designed to make classes easier to comprehend and to assist in study. You should bring your textbook to each class as diagrams will be referred to during the lectures.

Practical (Laboratory) Studies: Practical classes will be held beginning Tuesday September 9^th and Thursday 11^th September 2008. You are expected to be able to familiarize yourself with the cell types covered in the course as well as pathological changes which occur. Identification of tissue structure is important and will be used as part of examinations. Attendance of laboratories is mandatory. Failure to attend more than two practical sessions will result in automatic failure of this course.

Case History presentations: You will work in pairs for these assignments. Each pair will be given the case history they are to work on at least 10 days before it is due to be presented. Although only one member will be the “main presenter” both members of the pair will be expected to contribute to the way in which the work is presented. Since there will be sufficient case histories, all members of the class will be the “main presenter” eventually. The class will ask questions of the presenters and, at the end, will be asked to give their comments in writing on how they think improvements could be made.

Academic Honesty: Neither cheating on exams nor plagiarism on written assignments will be tolerated. In the case of written assignments, ideas and descriptions are to be made independently and not discussed with your fellow pupils. Students guilty of infractions face immediate action as described in the student handbook.

Attendance policy: You are expected to attend all classes and laboratories and be punctual (not late by more than 10 minutes). Chronic absence or tardiness will result in a lowering of your final semester grade by as much as a full letter grade.

Evaluation: NB your assignments and exams can not be made up. There will be four one hour exams consisting of short essay questions, multiple choice, fill in the blank, definitions and case history analyses. Your lecture grade comprises 50% and your laboratory work 50% of your final grade for the semester.          

Grades:  Your final letter grades will be assigned as follows with below 60 as failing grade.

Course outline: The topics and chapters to be covered for each week are indicated. Quiz numbers are from note packet.