Program Overview
Introduction to the University Program
The University of Genoa offers a comprehensive program in Istologia ed Embriologia Umana e Laboratorio, which is designed to provide students with a thorough understanding of human histology and embryology.
Program Details
Course Code and Credits
- CODICE: Not specified
- ANNO ACCADEMICO: 2025/2026
- CFU: 9 cfu anno 1 MEDICINA E CHIRURGIA 11887 (LM-41 R) - GENOVA
Scientific Disciplinary Sector
- SETTORE SCIENTIFICO DISCIPLINARE: BIO/17
Location
- SEDE: GENOVA
Propaedeuticity
- Propedeuticitŕ in ingresso: To take this course, students must have passed the following exams:
- MEDICINA E CHIRURGIA 11887 (coorte 2025/2026)
- BIOLOGIA A
- BIOLOGIA B
Modules
- This course is composed of:
- ISTOLOGIA E EMBRIOLOGIA
- LABORATORIO
Teaching Materials
- MATERIALE DIDATTICO: AULAWEB
Presentation
The course aims to form Medici-Chirurghi and consists of two disciplines: a) Istologia Umana and b) Embriologia Umana. For Istologia, the course provides fundamental notions related to human body tissues, their specific functions, and correlation with normal conditions and overall good health. It also covers the basics for understanding the relationship between tissue function and pathologies. For Embriologia, the course aims to provide knowledge about human embryonic development, mechanisms of regulation, malformations, and developmental defects, as well as the relationship between maintaining a differentiated state and processes that interfere with it, leading to disregulation and an undifferentiated state, which is the basis for numerous pathologies.
Objectives and Contents
Formative Objectives
- To know the main morphological and functional characteristics of tissues, with particular regard to the cells that compose them.
- To acquire skills in observing and recognizing tissues through common microscopic observation techniques.
- To understand the fundamental processes of embryonic development and the main molecular mechanisms that regulate them.
Prerequisites
- Students must know the structure and function of the cell, which are part of the Biology course.
- Specifically, students should have in-depth knowledge of the structure, function, and importance of the plasma membrane, nucleus, and cytoskeleton; know the structure and function of the main cellular organelles, such as mitochondria, smooth and rough endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus, and lysosomes. Finally, they should know the main phases of the cell cycle and cellular metabolism.
Teachers and Commissions
- ROBERTA CASTRICONI
- EMANUELA MARCENARO
- SIMONA SIVORI
- ANTONIO PUCCETTI
Examination Commission
- ROBERTA CASTRICONI
- MARIELLA DELLA CHIESA
- ALESSANDRA DONDERO
- EMANUELA MARCENARO
- SILVIA PESCE
- ANTONIO PUCCETTI
- SIMONA SIVORI (President and Coordinator of the integrated course)
Lessons
Start of Lessons
- Refer to the University's web agenda for the start date.
Lesson Schedule
- The schedule for this course can be found on the EasyAcademy portal.
Exams
Examination Method
- Practical test where the student must recognize and orally describe two histological preparations using an optical microscope.
- Oral test, which is conditional on passing the practical test, and includes 2 questions on histology and 1 question on embryology regarding the course contents.
Assessment Method
- The student must demonstrate:
- Knowledge of the main procedures for observing histological preparations under an optical microscope.
- Ability to recognize and describe the main ultrastructural patterns of sub-cellular components in relation to different tissues.
- Knowledge of the morpho-functional characteristics of various cellular components and tissues.
- Knowledge of the stages of human development (from gametogenesis to organogenesis) and the main morphogenetic processes and mechanisms.
The practical test at the optical microscope will evaluate the student's ability to correctly recognize histological preparations and describe the morphological characteristics that guided their identification. The oral exam will assess the ability to describe the main morpho-functional characteristics of cellular components and tissues, as well as the ability to make connections between different tissues to evaluate if the student has acquired an overall vision beyond the ability to make a comparative and "differential" recognition, a skill indispensable for medical practice. Finally, the ability to correctly describe the various stages of human embryonic development will be evaluated. The completeness of the exposition of the requested topics influences the composition of the final grade.
The grade is expressed in thirtieths. The exam is considered passed when the grade is greater than or equal to 18. The assignment of the maximum grade with honors (30 and praise) is expected. Praise is attributed only after the oral exam when the student demonstrates full mastery of the subject.