Cells, Tissues, and Organ Systems

Total Contact Hours:

139 hours

Course Director:

Larry J. Ream, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Neuroscience, Cell Biology and Physiology

Course Description:

This course introduces the foundations of cellular biology, histology, physiology, and organ systems physiology. Through presentation, laboratory exercises, and team-based learning modules, the principles of cellular structure and function are applied to clinical problems.

Course Objectives & Integration with the Educational Objectives:

By the conclusion of this course, the student will demonstrate:

K1 An understanding of normal cell structure and function, including the ability to:

• Describe the structure and function of the basic cell components, including the plasma membrane, nucleus, cytoplasm, and organelles
• Associate various intracellular accumulations such as pigments, fats, proteins, carbohydrates, minerals, and inclusions
• Distinguish the basic principles of signal transduction, including receptors and channels, second messengers, and signal transduction pathways
• Identify and describe the structure and function of the cytoskeletal elements
• Describe the roles of centrioles in mitosis and in formation of cilia and flagella
• List cell-to-cell attachment devices (e.g., tight junctions, desmosomes, gap junctions) and cell-to-extracellular matrix adhesion (e.g., hemidesmosomes)
• Describe the various types of cell motility
• Connect plasma membrane structure to active and passive transport mechanisms, including endocytosis and exocytosis
• List the mechanisms of intracellular sorting, including trafficking
• Differentiate mechanisms of cellular homeostasis, including turnover, pH maintenance, proteosome, ions, and soluble proteins
• Define the stages of the cell cycle, including mitosis, meiosis, spindle apparatus, and cell cycle regulation
• Interpret the structure and function of the extracellular matrix
• Identify various mechanisms of cell injury and necrosis
• Describe the mechanisms involved in apoptosis
• Discriminate between acidosis and alkalosis resulting from respiratory and metabolic factors
• Integrate the importance of respiratory and renal compensations to acid-base balance

K2 An understanding of normal tissue structure and function, including the ability to classify the structure and function of the four basic tissues (epithelial cells, connective tissue cells, muscle cells, and nerve cells)

K3 An understanding of bone and skeletal tissues, including the ability to:

• Describe the functional properties of the three types of cartilage tissue
• Distinguish the histology of compact and spongy bone
• Discuss the chemical composition of bone and the relative advantages conferred by the organic and inorganic components
• Contrast intramembranous ossification and endochondral ossification
• Relate the process of long bone growth that occurs at the epiphyseal plates
• Identify the locations of the osteoblasts, osteocytes, and osteoclasts
• Contrast the remodeling functions of the osteoblasts, osteocytes, and osteoclasts
• Formulate how hormones and physical stress regulate bone remodeling

K4 An understanding of the hematopoietic system, including the ability to:

• Summarize the embryonic development, fetal maturation, and perinatal changes in the bone marrow
• Associate the structure and function of the red bone marrow
• Integrate the production and function of erythrocytes, hemoglobin, oxygen and carbon dioxide transport, and transport of proteins
• Identify the production and function of the various leukocytes
• Identify the production and function of platelets
• Identify the production and function of coagulation and fibrinolytic factors

K5 An understanding of the peripheral nervous system, including the ability to:

• Explain the structural and functional divisions of the nervous system
• Define neuron, describe its important structural components, and relate each to a functional role
• Differentiate between nerve and tract, and between a nucleus and a ganglion
• Explain the importance of the myelin sheath and describe how it is formed in the peripheral nervous system
• Classify neurons structurally and functionally
• Explain the excitable properties of neurons, axons, and dendrites, including channels
• Describe the synthesis, storage, release, reuptake, and degradation of neurotransmitters
• Define resting membrane potential and describe its electrochemical basis
• Describe axonal transport
• Contrast graded and action potentials
• Explain how action potentials are generated and propagated along neurons
• Define saltatory conduction and contrast it to conduction along myelinated fibers
• Define synapse and distinguish between electrical and chemical synapses and their mechanisms of information transmission
• Distinguish between excitatory and inhibitory postsynaptic potentials

K6 An understanding of the central nervous system, including the ability to:

• List the major regions of the adult brain, and name and locate the ventricles of the brain
• List the major lobes and fissures of the cerebral cortex
• Describe the location of the diencephalon, and name its subdivisions
• Identify the three major regions of the brainstem, including cranial nerves and nuclei, and note the functions of each
• Describe how meninges, cerebrospinal fluid, and the blood-brain barrier protect the CNS
• List the glia found in the CNS
• Contrast central myelin with peripheral myelin
• Describe the gross and microscopic structure of the spinal cord, including blood supply and spinal reflexes

K7 An understanding of the autonomic nervous system, including the ability to:

• Define the autonomic nervous system and explain its relationship to the peripheral nervous system
• Compare the somatic and autonomic nervous systems relative to effectors, efferent pathways, and neurotransmitters released
• Compare and contrast the functions of the parasympathetic and sympathetic divisions
• Describe the site of CNS origin, locations of ganglia, and general fiber for the parasympathetic and sympathetic division pathways
• Define cholinergic and adrenergic fibers, and list the different types of their receptors

K8 An understanding of the special senses, including the ability to:

• Describe the structure and function of accessory eye structures, eye layers, the lens, and humors of the eye
• Explain how light is focused for distant and close vision from the perspective that traces the pathway of light through the eye to the retina
• Predict the events involved in the stimulation of photoreceptors by light, and compare and contrast the roles of rods and cones in vision
• Identify the location and structure of taste and smell receptors, and explain how each of these receptors are activated
• Associate the structure and general function of the outer, middle, and inner ears
• Relate the sound conduction pathways to the fluids of the inner ear
• Predict how the balance organs of the semicircular canals and the vestibule help maintain dynamic and static equilibrium

K9 An understanding of the muscular system, including the ability to:

• Interpret the microscopic structure and functional roles of the myofibrils, sarcoplasmic reticulum, and T tubules of skeletal muscle
• Explain the sliding filament mechanism
• Define the motor unit and explain how muscle fibers are stimulated to contract
• Define muscle twitch and describe the events occurring during its three phases
• Connect factors that influence force, velocity, and duration of skeletal muscle contraction
• Identify three types of skeletal muscle fibers and explain the relative value of each type
• Contrast the structural and functional properties of cardiac and skeletal muscle
• Explain the events of cardiac muscle cell contraction
• Contrast the microscopic anatomy of smooth muscle cells to that of striated muscle cells
• Contrast the contractile mechanisms and the means of activation of skeletal and smooth muscles
• Discriminate between unitary and multiunit smooth muscle

K10 An understanding of the cardiovascular system, including the ability to:

• Distinguish the three layers that typically form the wall of a blood vessel, and state a function of each
• Define vasoconstriction and vasodilation
• Contrast the structure and function of the three types of arteries
• Relate the structure of a capillary bed and outline factors involved in capillary dynamics
• Relate the structure and function of veins, and explain how veins differ from arteries
• Define blood flow, blood pressure, and resistance, and explain the relationships among these factors
• Describe the basic structure and function of the heart, including the three layers of the heart wall, four chambers, and valves
• List the components of the conduction system of the heart, and trace the conduction pathway
• Order the timing and events of the cardiac cycle
• Discriminate the effects of various factors regulating stroke volume and heart rate

K11 An understanding of the integumentary system, including the ability to:

• List the tissue types composing the epidermis and dermis
• Order the major layers of the epidermis and dermis as to the functions of each layer, including barrier functions and thermal regulation
• Integrate the factors that normally contribute to skin color
• Contrast the structure and locations of sweat and sebaceous glands, and compare the composition and functions of their secretions
• Contrast eccrine and apocrine glands
• List the parts of the hair follicle and explain the function of each part
• Extend the functional relationship of arrector pili muscles to the hair follicle
• Associate at least five different functions accomplished by skin

K12 An understanding of the endocrine system, including the ability to:

• Relate the general principles of hormone synthesis, secretion, action, and metabolism
• Distinguish how hormones are classified chemically, including peptide hormones, steroid hormones, thyroid hormones, catecholamine hormones, and the renin-angiotensin system
• Identify the structure and function of the hypothalamus and anterior and posterior pituitary gland, thyroid gland, parathyroid glands, adrenal cortex and medulla, pancreatic islets, and ovary and testis
• Demonstrate hormonal functions relevant to the heart, thymus, pineal gland, placenta, skin, kidney, and adipose tissue

K13 An understanding of the digestive system, including the ability to:

• Associate the anatomy and basic function of each organ and accessory organ of the alimentary canal, including liver and biliary system, salivary glands, and exocrine pancreas
• Demonstrate structural modifications of the wall of the stomach and small intestine that enhance the digestive process in these regions
• Relate the composition of gastric juice, name the cell types responsible for secreting its components, and indicate the importance of each component in stomach activity
• Predict regulation of gastric secretion and stomach motility
• Distinguish the function of intestinal hormones and paracrines
• List the enzymes involved in chemical digestion; the foodstuffs on which they act; and the end products of protein, fat, carbohydrate, and nucleic acid digestion
• Apply the process of absorption of digested foodstuffs that occurs in the small intestine
• Demonstrate the role of bile and pancreatic juice in digestion
• Describe the major functions of the large intestine
• Contrast the various motility mechanisms in the alimentary tract

K14 An understanding of the respiratory system, including the ability to:

• Associate the organs forming the airways in descending order to the alveoli, and distinguish between conducting and respiratory zone structures
• List and describe several protective mechanisms of the respiratory system
• Classify alveolar structure, including surfactant production, and relate structure to function
• Illustrate Boyle's law to events of inspiration and expiration
• Contrast the various lung volumes and capacities
• Define Dalton's law of partial pressures and Henry's law
• Illustrate Dalton's and Henry's laws to events of external and internal respiration
• Differentiate how oxygen is transported in the blood, and explain how oxygen loading and unloading is affected by temperature, pH, BPG, and pCO₂
• Describe carbon dioxide transport in the blood
• Relate the neural controls of respiration

K15 An understanding of the urinary system, including the ability to:

• Describe the basic organ structure of the kidneys, ureters, urinary bladder, and urethrae
• Trace the blood supply through the kidney
• Identify the anatomy of the nephron
• List several functions of the kidneys that help maintain body homeostasis
• Associate various functional aspects of the kidneys, including glomerular filtration and hemodynamics, tubular reabsorption and secretion, urinary concentration and dilution, renal mechanisms in acid-base balance, and body fluid homeostasis
• Identify the general location, structure, and functions of the ureters, urinary bladder, and urethrae
• Define micturition and describe its neural control

K16 An understanding of the reproductive systems, including the ability to:

• Identify the structure and function of the testes, and explain the importance of their location in the scrotum
• Associate the structure of the penis with its role in the reproductive process
• Identify the location, structure, and function of the accessory reproductive organs in the male
• Relate the sources and functions of semen
• Define meiosis, and compare and contrast meiosis to mitosis
• Summarize the events in spermatogenesis
• Connect hormonal regulation of testicular function and the physiological effects of testosterone on male reproductive anatomy
• Identify the location, structure, and function of the ovaries
• Identify the location, structure, and function of each of the organs in the female reproductive tract
• Associate the structure and function of the mammary glands
• Contrast the process of oogenesis to spermatogenesis
• Relate the ovarian cycle phases to events of oogenesis
• Connect the regulation of ovarian and uterine cycles
• Differentiate the physiological effects of estrogens and progesterone

K17 An understanding of acid-base balance, including the ability to:

• Explain the influence of the respiratory system on acid-base balance
• Explain how the kidneys regulate hydrogen and bicarbonate ion concentrations in the blood
• Distinguish between acidosis and alkalosis resulting from respiratory and metabolic factors
• Connect the importance of respiratory and renal compensations to acid-base balance

C1 The ability to work effectively in:

• Cell physiology workshops
• Light microscopic laboratories (in teams) in the areas of cells, epithelium and glands, connective tissue, peripheral blood and hematopoiesis, nervous tissue, and muscle tissue
• Team-based learning (Team-Based Learning) modules in the areas of phagocytic leukodeficiency, muscular dystrophy, malabsorption disorders, and acid-base disorders

C2 Abilities developed in team-based learning modules, including:

• Interpreting information from clinical medicine resources that directly apply to patient care
• Applying information from lecture to supplemental articles from clinical medicine that improve a care plan for the patients that are presented
• Inferring new knowledge from existing background knowledge to provide original insight in optimizing clinical applications
• Deciding among team member interpretations of new medical information which pieces are helpful for effective problem-solving

P1 Professionalism by:

• Being punctual and attending required classes and laboratories
• Being truthful
• Being courteous to staff, colleagues, faculty and other health professionals involved in the administration of this course
• Demonstrating scholarship in the form of contributing to a positive learning environment, collaborating with colleagues, and performing self-assessment ands self-directed learning

Learning Activities:

Presentations, laboratories, Team-Based Learning.

Assessment:

Three MCQ exams, laboratory practicals, Team-Based Learning.