AN3009: ARCHITECTURE OF LIFE (2022-2023)

Last modified: 31 Jul 2023 11:19

Course Overview

this course will equip you with key micro-anatomical principles and concepts that underpin human form and function;
you will study the intricacies of cellular and extracellular components; how these combine structurally and functionally to form a coherent organ, and how they are altered in disease;
you will learn through structured practical classes, which form the core element of this course, lectures, tutorials and online histology packages;
the course will equip you with key generic microscopical, analytical, problem-solving and transferable skills, aimed at developing graduate attributes, to provide a solid foundation for further study in the biomedical sciences

Course Details

Study Type	Undergraduate	Level	3
Term	First Term	Credit Points	15 credits (7.5 ECTS credits)
Campus	Aberdeen	Sustained Study	No
Co-ordinators	Dr Bahgat Sami

Qualification Prerequisites

Either Programme Level 3 or Programme Level 4

What courses & programmes must have been taken before this course?

Any Undergraduate Programme
Either Programme Level 3 or Programme Level 4
Either BI20B2 Physiology of Human Cells (Passed) or BI25B2 Physiology of Human Organ Systems (Passed)

What other courses must be taken with this course?

None.

What courses cannot be taken with this course?

None.

Are there a limited number of places available?

Course Description

Course Aims

To study the relationship between structure and function in the organisation of body tissues.
To understand how the anatomy of tissues/cells differs in the healthy and abnormal states.
To deepen students' knowledge and understanding of the specialties of histology and pathology.
To help students understand how histology and pathology can help us prevent, screen for, diagnose and treat disease/injury.
To help students adopt an integrated and broader approach to the study of human cells and tissues.
To introduce students' to the research and healthcare applications of histology and pathology, and what potential career opportunities there may be in these fields.
To enhance students' practical skills relating to histology/pathology/imaging and the use of human specimens/samples.
To enhance students' problem-solving skills and confidence in dealing with complex information and imagery.

Main Learning Outcomes

Students should have an understanding of tissue/cellular organisation in a variety of body locations and how these relate to function. They should be able to:

- explain how cellular and extracellular components combine to form a cohesive structural and function tissue organisation

- describe and discuss a variety of structural formats within the human body.

- explain how variations to the structural formats of body surfaces, tubes and musculoskeletal structural components are modified from a basic format and the functional effects of such structural variations in normal and disease situations.

- use the skills necessary to interpret microscopic slides, anatomical specimens and models and the output from other imaging procedures.

- use the skills necessary to interpret histological and pathological images and use their findings to solve problems.

- use the skills of relating structural information and functional activity.

Content

The course will include lectures on the features of a variety of human tissues - in states of normality and abnormality.

Further lectures will examine the way that these tissues change during disease states and injury.

Practicals will offer demonstrations of traditional and modern methods of analysing structure/appearance of human tissues with practical experience of the analysis of data produced by such methodologies.

Students will also undertake several problem-based learning sessions where they will have to use the knowledge they learn to interpret histological and pathological images and data.

Contact Teaching Time

Information on contact teaching time is available from the course guide.

Teaching Breakdown

More Information about Week Numbers

Details, including assessments, may be subject to change until 30 August 2024 for 1st term courses and 20 December 2024 for 2nd term courses.

Summative Assessments

Alternative Assessment

25% In-course Assessment 1

25% In-course Assessment 2

25% In-course Assessment 3

25% Online Poster Presentation

Alternative Resit Assessment

Online Exam

Formative Assessment

There are no assessments for this course.

Course Learning Outcomes

Knowledge Level	Thinking Skill	Outcome
Factual	Remember	ILO’s for this course are available in the course guide.