Students will learn the processes and mechanisms behind human gametogenesis and the first weeks of embryo development. Additionally, they will learn the bases of tissue differentiation and organogenesis.
Course Prerequisites
Basic knowledge of cytology, histology and anatomy as well as general biology and genetics.
Teaching Methods
Frontal lectures and seminars on specific topics, for example on IVF techniques and cryobiology.
Assessment Methods
The learning assessment is structured as follows: 1. **Written Test**: This is a multiple-choice test consisting of 30 questions that cover three parts of the course: Cytology, Histology, and Embryology. The questions are equally distributed according to the credits assigned to each part in the Curriculum Studiorum. To pass the exam, a student must correctly answer at least 18 questions. The final grade will reflect the total number of correct answers. 2. **Exam Feedback**: During the exam session, the lecturer will inform the student of their results. Afterward, students will have a brief interview to discuss the correctness of their written test answers and to verify the content. 3. **Oral Assessment**: Students who score 26/30 or higher on the written test will have the option to take an oral assessment immediately after receiving their results. This oral evaluation may adjust the final grade from the written test. 4. **Microscopic Assessment**: The oral assessment will involve analyzing and discussing a histological slide under the microscope, which the student will have studied during the institutional lessons. The discussion will include in-depth topics related to cytology, histology, and embryology. 5. **Impact on Grades**: The lecturer's assessment through microscopy may either improve or lower the grade obtained from the written test. If the microscopic assessment is found to be seriously insufficient, the student will need to retake the entire exam (including the written portion) in a subsequent session.
Texts
The following books may be used to study for the exam: - K.L. Moore, T.V.N. Persaud: “Lo sviluppo prenatale dell'uomo”. - E. Casasco “Embriologia Generale”. - T.W. Sadler “Embriologia Medica (di Langman)”. - ROCCO L. (a cura di) “Biologia e Tecniche della Riproduzione”. Edi. Ermes - ESHRE “ATLAS OF HUMAN EMBRYOLOGY: from Oocytes to Preimplantation Embryos” (https://atlas.eshre.eu/)
Contents
Introduction to human embryology. Meiosis. Male and female gametogenesis. Fertilization, embryo development and implantation. Gastrulation and neurulation, the three embryonic derivatives. Embryonic appendages. Mechanisms of organogenesis up to the 8th week of post-implanted embryo development.