Course content

Modern biological medicine is largely based on the understanding of the cell as basic unit in all living organisms. Knowledge about the normal microscopic appearance of cells and tissues is at the core of morphology. Abnormalities which accompany disease will be presented, on the macroscopic and microscopic level, and demonstrations will be given to show how examination of organs and tissues may be used in medical diagnostics.
The course provides an overview of different methods for the study of tissue and cell structure, emphasising the respective advantages and limitations of different preparative procedures for light and electron microscopic visualisation. A theoretical and practical introduction will be given to various staining methods for light microscopy, immunohistochemistry, fluorescence in-situ hybridisation, confocal microscopy, microdissection, and morphometry. Different methods for scanning and transmission electron microscopy will be presented in lectures and demonstrations.

Learning outcome

Having completed the course the student should be able to:
- describe the building-up of an ordinary, compound microscope, and name the constituting parts
- describe the path of the light through the microscope and explain in detail the overall function of the microscope and that of its parts
- make efficient use of an ordinary light microscope, including necessary adjustments
- explain the main principles of fluorescence, phase contrast, differential intereference contrast, dark field, and confocal microscopy
- describe the main principles of preparation of cells and tissues for light and electron microscopy
- describe the most important artefacts which may occur when applying various preparatory methods for light and electron microscopy, and explain the underlying mechanisms
- describe the different tissues of a mammalian organism, indicate their main functions, and describe how the structure is adapted to the functional tasks
- identify mammalian organs from their macroscopic appearance, and recognize gross pathological changes
- identify and characterize different cell and tissue types in microscopic preparations, and recognize the organ of origin
- recognize large deviations from normal light microscopic appearance of cells and tissues, and suggest underlying mechanisms and possible causes
- define the term morphometry and explain the main principles of stereological morphometry
- discuss advantages and limitations of various quantitative methods in morphology

Learning methods and activities

Lectures, practical training sessions, and demonstrations. The examination may change to an oral exam if few students register.

Specific conditions

Required previous knowledge

Basic course in cell biology, basic skills in use of the light microscope.

Credit reductions