37907 - Cetacean Anatomy

Academic Year 2025/2026

Learning outcomes

The course provides the basis to understand the gross anatomy and the microscopic structure of Cetacean body, and adopts a topographical and systematic approach.

Course contents

This Teaching is a component of the Integrated Course THE GREAT SEA VERTEBRATES. At the end of the course, the student is familiar with the structural organization of all Cetacean apparatuses, investigated at both macroscopic and microscopic levels.

SPECIFIC TEACHING CONTENT

Anatomy of the Locomotor Apparatus (Osteology, Arthrology and Myology) (3 hours), of the integumentary Apparatus (1 hour), of the Circulatory Apparatus (2 hours), of the Lymphoid Organs (1 hour), of the Respiratory Apparatus (3 hours), of the Digestive System (3 hours), of the Urinary System (2 hours), of the Male Genital System (2 hours), of the Female Genital System (1 hour), of the Endocrine System (1 hour), and of the Nervous System and Sense Organs (2 hours).

Readings/Bibliography

The teaching materials for this course are available on the Virtuale Learning Environment (https://virtuale.unibo.it/?lang=en ).

A. Berta e J.L. Sumich; Marine Mammal evolutionary biology, Academic press 1999.

Reynoild & Romme, Biology of marine mammal, Smithsonian press, 2002.

Anatomy of Dolphins. Insights into Body Structure and Function. Cozzi, Huggenberger, Oelschlager. Academic Press, 2017.

Course material.


Teaching methods

Lectures.


Assessment methods

This Teaching is a component of the Integrated Course THE GREAT SEA VERTEBRATES. The verification of learning consists of an oral test. The student will be asked two questions.

In evaluating the oral exam, the instructor will use the following grading scale:

- Basic understanding of only a few course topics; analysis skills emerge only with the instructor’s help; generally correct language → 18–22

- Limited knowledge of several topics; independent analysis only on procedural issues; correct language use → 23–26

- Broad knowledge of course topics; ability to make autonomous critical judgments; mastery of discipline-specific terminology → 27–29

- Comprehensive understanding of course content; fully independent critical analysis and connections; excellent command of terminology and argumentation skills → 30–30 with honors

The result of the oral exam will be communicated at the end of the session. The minimum passing grade is 18/30.

Integrated course final assessment, registration and other useful information

The exam is considered passed only if all parts are successfully completed. The final grade is determined by the average of the grades from the various parts of the exam, expressed out of 30. A minimum final grade of 18/30 is required.

Negative results are not graded numerically but recorded as “withdrawn” or “failed” in the electronic transcript on AlmaEsami, and do not affect the student’s academic record.

Grades for individual parts and the final grade will be published on the Virtuale Learning Environment (https://virtuale.unibo.it/?lang=en ) by the designated course contact within 5 working days of the exam.

Students may reject the final grade 1 time, by informing the course examiner via email within 5 working days.

The designated course contact for this course is Prof.ssa Annalisa Zaccaroni.

Students can register for exams through the AlmaEsami platform (http://almaesami.unibo.it/ ). Exams are scheduled during the designated periods in the academic calendar. Additional sessions are available for students beyond the standard program duration.

Students with learning disorders and/or temporary or permanent disabilities: please, contact the office responsible (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en/for-students ) as soon as possible so that they can propose acceptable adjustments. The request for adaptation must be submitted in advance (15 days before the exam date) to the lecturer, who will assess the appropriateness of the adjustments, taking into account the teaching objectives.

Teaching tools

PC, PowerPoint presentations, videos.

In case of difficulty understanding the course content, the instructor is available for clarification meetings, which must be scheduled via email.

Office hours

See the website of Cristiano Bombardi