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Unit of study_
ANAT2008: Anatomy and Histology of the Vital Signs
2025 unit information
This unit of study covers the principles of cell biology and examines the structure of cells, tissues and organ systems at the light and electron microscopic levels. The focus is on human systems. Histology, also known as microscopic anatomy, is the scientific study of the microscopic structure of organs and tissues in the body. This branch of science involves examining tissues with light and electron microscopes to gather details that are invisible to the naked eye. Students will gain an understanding of the microanatomy of cells, tissues and organs and be able to relate this structure to the function of these systems. This course begins with an introduction to cell biology and moves through a description of the four major tissue types in the body - epithelium, connective tissue, muscle and nervous tissue. Some simple body systems are also introduced and investigated histologically. This unit provides students with practical experience in histology, where they will use microscopes to examine specimens that have been sectioned, stained and mounted on glass slides. Modern practical applications of histology, including molecular and cell biology, and their utility for research are also discussed.
Unit details and rules
Managing faculty or University school:
Medicine and Health
| Study level | Undergraduate |
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| Academic unit | Department of Medical Sciences |
| Credit points | 6 |
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Prerequisites:
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24 credit points of 1000 level units |
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Corequisites:
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None |
| Prohibitions:
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None |
| Assumed knowledge:
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BIOL1XX8 |
At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:
- LO1. To demonstrate competence in the setup and use of the light microscope.
- LO2. To demonstrate knowledge of histological features, utilising them to identify and classify various tissues.
- LO3. To interpret electron microscope images to identify ultrastructural details related to cell/tissue function.
- LO4. To understand the 4 basic tissue types and their organisation into organs and tissues.
- LO5. To recognise 2-dimensional histological structures and relate them to the 3-dimensional structure of organs and tissues.
- LO6. To recognise key features of histological structures and relate these to the function of organs and tissues.
- LO7. To illustrate key cellular and histological features by constructing visual diagrams and explanations.
Unit availability
This section lists the session, attendance modes and locations the unit is available in. There is a unit outline for each of the unit availabilities, which gives you information about the unit including assessment details and a schedule of weekly activities.
The outline is published 2 weeks before the first day of teaching. You can look at previous outlines for a guide to the details of a unit.
| Session | MoA ? | Location | Outline ? |
|---|---|---|---|
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Semester 1 2025
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Normal day | Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney |
Outline unavailable
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Modes of attendance (MoA)
This refers to the Mode of attendance (MoA) for the unit as it appears when you’re selecting your units in Sydney Student. Find more information about modes of attendance on our website.
