This course is intended for first-year medical students, and it is a general introduction to basic histology and cell structure. The students will be introduced to the basic structure of the human cell and its organelles and cell division, and more emphasis will be placed on the cell membrane and cytoskeleton. The general structure and functions of the cell will be related to different basic medical sciences and relevant points integrated with clinical applications. The different steps in the preparation of microscopic slides will be discussed. As research is a principal pillar of medical education, the basic principles of morphological and functional (Molecular) methods of tissues will be discussed. To keep up with advancements in new medical applications and discoveries, the basic principles of cloning and stem cells will be studied so students are encouraged to think about how to apply basic knowledge in clinical aspects.
The origin of basic tissues related to embryo development will be discussed and the histology of the four basic tissue types will be studied in detail. Relevant medical applications to each tissue type will be studied and integrated with other basic medical sciences and clinical aspects. The theory session goes hand in hand with the laboratory part, so students acquire the skills of studying and identifying different tissues based on characteristic features of each type.