2.34801 HISTOPATHOLOGY I

This course is conducted by the Histopathology Discipline. The course is divided into two parts covering Basic Pathology and Histological Techniques. Basic Pathology - This course is designed to equip the student with the understanding of disease processes as they occur at cellular level. The response of the cell including the changes the undergoes as a result of various injuries which allow the cell to survive (reversible)or die (irreversible) will determine body function. At the end of the course, one is able to understand the cell and its responses or adaptations to injury. The student is able to define the causes (aetiology) of the disease, the mechanisms of its development (pathogenesis), structural alterations in the cells or organs of the body (morphologic) and the clinical significance. The topics to be covered will include cell injury and cell death, cell adaptations, intracellular accumulations and cell aging, acute and chronic inflammation, tissue repair, cell growth, fibrosis and would healing, haemodynamic disorders, thrombosis and shock and neoplasia.

Histological Techniques - Introduction to tissue preparation and processing including fixation, dehydration, clearing and embedding. Decalcification and other procedures for bone. Aspects of microtomy, cryotomy and theory of staining principles inclusive of routine and special staining methods. Demonstration of connective tissues, artefacts, pigments, infectious agents, and carbohydrates and mucins in the tissue sections.

1. To develop a basic understanding of the ways in which disease processes affect the structure and functions of cells and tissues enabling the diagnosis of specific diseases by histopathology.
2. To develop competence in the important laboratory techniques used in histopathology and gain an understanding of the principles and practical objectives of these techniques as they are used in the diagnostic process.

Contact hours: 6 hours per week (2 lectures, 1 tutorial, 3 practical)

Assessment: Course work (assignments, tests, practical write-up, oral presentations) 60%, final exam (theory & practical) 40%.

Reference Textbook

Bancroft, J. D., & Stevens, A., Theory and practice of histological techniques, 3rd Ed. Churchill Livingstone, Edinburgh, 1990

Coltran, R.S., Kumar, V., Collins T., Robbin's pathologic basis of diseases, 6th Ed., Harcourt Asia, 1999