This course aims to integrate into pharmacist training the essential and up-to-date knowledge of cellular and tissue structures necessary for understanding the functions of organs and tissues.
The course is subdivided into two parts:
Prerequisites are the first-year (BAC1) courses in biology, chemistry, and physics.
To know and understand the organization and functioning of a cell, its organelles, and the main cellular processes that allow it to interact with its environment.
To know and understand the organization and structure of the main tissues of the human body.
To know and understand the roles of tissues — and therefore of the cells that compose them — in building and maintaining the organs involved in five key systems particularly relevant to the absorption, metabolism, and elimination of pharmaceutical substances: the circulatory, integumentary (skin), digestive, respiratory, and urinary systems. The same goes for the ovary, which is relevant through the use of oral contraceptive medications by the general population.
This course, both theoretical and practical, focuses on the workings of the cell, and the description and organisation of human cells and tissues. It includes notions of anatomy, cellular physiology and histophysiology. Special attention will be paid to the study of tissues and organs involved in the absorption and elimination of drugs. The practical work (15 hours) is complementary to the histology part of the course; in this way, the course diagrams are directly linked to the preparations that the student can examine during the practical work or on the website www.histology.be
A self-assessment test in cytology is available on Webcampus.
(Fictitious grade, not included in the final grade weighting; unlimited attempts.)
The website http://www.histology.be is available to everyone for practicing the recognition of structures seen in lectures and lab sessions using light microscopy slides.
Sutdents may also follow @histo.embryo on Instagram. This account, managed by the CHEC (with whom we collaborate), regularly posts histology and embryology exercises.
(Some exercises may go beyond the material covered in class.)
The course is produced using diagrams to help visualise the structures studied. It is further illustrated by images available on webcampus and annotated on a slide show.
Assessment Method:
The theoretical exam is oral and covers both cytology and histology, which are assessed together. However, each part is graded separately. The theoretical exam is based on a broad question in cytology and histology related to a system (or part of a system). Ideally, answers should include complete, annotated, and properly explained diagrams, without excessive written content. Understanding and knowledge will be evaluated through a discussion based on the student's answers, which may extend to the entire course content.
The practical exam (histology component) is conducted using a double-headed microscope or via a computer screen (responsible: Mr. Nicolas Halloin).
The exact assessment procedures are subject to change during the scheduling of exams, depending on practical constraints faced by the faculty administration, or in the event of illness/force majeure/conflict with an internship preventing the student from taking the exam on the originally scheduled date.
Grade Calculation:
The final grade for the course unit (UE) is based on the weighted arithmetic average of the grades obtained in cytology (A) and histology (B) evaluations:
A - Cytology:
B - Histology:
If either the TP or theory grade is less than or equal to 7/20, the average is not calculated, and that grade alone becomes the final histology grade (B) (absorbing grade rule).
If either the cytology (A) or histology (B) grade is less than or equal to 7/20, the average is not calculated, and that grade alone becomes the final grade of the course unit (UE) (absorbing grade rule).
Attendance and Absences:
Special Cases and Exemptions/Deferrals:
In the event that a student is unable to take the exam for a justified reason (force majeure, medical certificate), they must inform the course coordinator and faculty administration, who will reschedule the exam at a later date, within the timeframe defined by the R.E.E., and subject to approval by the Dean or Vice-Dean.
For the cytology part: Molecular Biology of the Cell, 6th edition (Alberts et al, 2015) et Molecular Cell Biology (Lodish et al.)
For the histology part : Human Histology, 4th edition (Stevens & Lowe, 2015), Elsevier
Reference textbooks can be accessed through the library (BUMP)
| Training | Study programme | Block | Credits | Mandatory |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor in Pharmacy | Standard | 0 | 5 | |
| Bachelor in Pharmacy | Standard | 2 | 5 |