90316 - General Pathology Lab-based Course

Learning outcomes

The students will study the morphological changes caused by the disease processes and the basic reactions to etiologic agents in cells and tissues, together with the pathogenetic mechanism of their development. This educational laboratory will enable the student to recognize the microscopic alterations in cells and tissues characteristic of the pathologic processes, by the study of general histopathology which will be hold in parallel to the course of General Pathology and Physiopathology.

Course contents

1. Cellular and extracellular pathology: reversible cell injury and fatty change, amyloidosis, necrosis and infarction.

2. Neoplastic transformation: benign tumors, malignant tumors, metastases.

3. Inflammatoryand reparative response: acute inflammation, chronic nonspecific and granulomatous inflammation, granulation tissue, sclerosis, cirrhosis.

4. Vascular disease: medial calcific artheriosclerosis, atherosclerosis, thrombosis.

Readings/Bibliography

Web site: https://unibo.smartzoom.com/

Kumar, Abbas, Aster - . “Robbins e Cotran - Le basi patologiche delle malattie”, X edizione, 2021, Casa editrice Edra S.p.A., Milano

Lecture slides available at https://virtuale.unibo.it/

Teaching methods

This course is included in the Teaching Innovation Project of University of Bologna (blended learning).

Lessons will be held in blended teaching mode:

- 22 hours of lessons in lecture hall for the analysis of digitized histopathological slides under the guidance of the teacher and the tutor, who will addrss the study and provide all the necessary explanations.

- 12 hours of on-line lessons, using Teams, Virtual and the digital platforms for managing virtual slides (Smartzoom and Olyvia). Students will have to recognize the histopathological features of the virtual slides in flipped-classroom (problem solving).

- Students will have access h 24 to the Digital Microscopy platform Smartzoom.

Assessment methods

Assessment and Evaluation Methods

The assessment of learning takes place at the end of the course and includes:

Oral examination, structured in two parts:

• A theoretical discussion covering various topics from the course, with particular attention to logical coherence and the use of scientific terminology;

• Observation and description of a microscopic specimen, with identification of the pathological pattern and correlation with the underlying etiopathogenetic mechanisms.

Evaluation criteria include:

• Completeness and accuracy of theoretical knowledge;

• Ability to perform morphological analysis and etiopathogenetic reasoning;

• Clarity of expression and command of scientific terminology.

Grading scale:

• 18–20: Minimal understanding of fundamental concepts; acceptable exposition.

• 21–25: Good knowledge of course content; partially autonomous analytical ability.

• 26–29: Solid preparation; independent analysis; clear exposition with minor inaccuracies.

• 30–30 with honors: Excellent and thorough preparation; fluent and rigorous exposition; full autonomy in analysis and conceptual connections.

The final grade will be determined collectively by the faculty members of the Integrated Course of General Pathology and Physiology.

Teaching tools

Smartzoom platform (digital microscopy)
Microsoft Teams and Virtual (blended learning)
Teaching slides and materials will be made available at Unibo e-learning website virtuale.unibo.it

Office hours

See the website of Massimo Bortolotti