90316 - General Pathology Lab-based Course (B)

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course, the student will:
- know the key elements of histopathology and be able to recognise microscopic morphological changes in cells and tissues caused by pathological processes and basic defence reactions to pathogens;
- be able to describe and interpret the pathological picture of a sample by tracing it back to the specific aetiological mechanism;
- understand the limitations and diagnostic potential of histopathological investigation.

Course contents

Pre-cancerous lesions;
Benign tumors;
Epithelial and mesenchymal malignancies;
Metastasis;
Necrosis;
Infarction;
Acute inflammation;
Abscesses;
Foreign body granuloma;
Tuberculosis;
Granulation tissue
Amyloidosis;
Arteriosclerosis;
Thrombosis;

Readings/Bibliography

Slides e appunti delle lezioni

Teaching methods

The course consists of lectures and virtual microscopy.


Individual exercise topics are presented in the lecture hall by the professor and relate to corresponding topics covered in the General Pathology and Pathophysiology course.


The preparations will be visible online through the virtual microscopy platform, unibo.smartzoom.com.

Assessment methods

Exam Format and Evaluation Criteria

The exam is oral and aims to assess the Student's knowledge of the course topics, with the goal of verifying the achievement of the educational objectives. During the exam, the Student's ability to contextualize the topic in General Pathology or General Pathophysiology, and to explain it using appropriate logical-deductive connections—also in relation to specific morphological alterations—will be evaluated. The coherence of conceptual progression and the use of appropriate scientific language are additional assessment criteria.

The exam for the General Pathology and Pathophysiology course includes the oral observation and description of a microscopic slide, leading to the recognition of the specific histopathological pattern.

Final Grade Scale

• Fail: Inadequate preparation with significant and repeated conceptual errors.

• 18–19: Basic knowledge without major gaps. Overall acceptable clarity and scientific language.

• 20–24: Solid understanding of basic concepts with no significant gaps. Partial autonomy in analysis and connections. Fair exposition and use of language.

• 25–29: Good to very good preparation, or even excellent preparation with some inaccuracies that prevent the highest grade. Independent analytical and reasoning skills. Clear exposition with appropriate sequence and command of terminology.

• 30–30 with honors (30L): Thorough and accurate preparation on all topics. Prompt ability to frame the topic. Full autonomy in analysis and connections. Clear conceptual structure and full command of the specific scientific language.

Exam Structure

The exam will cover the topics discussed during lectures and will be conducted with the Professor who delivered the course. Each student will therefore take two separate exams in General Pathology and General Pathophysiology, each contributing 50% to the final grade. During one of the two sessions, the General Pathology Laboratory assessment will also take place. The final grade will be the mathematical average of the two individual exam scores, rounded up (e.g., 29.5 = 30). Honors (cum laude) will be awarded if at least one of the two Professors proposes it and the student has received a full score (30/30) in the other part.

Teaching tools

The educational materials used by the Professor for classroom presentations will be available on the “Virtual” teaching support platform.


The preparations are visible “online” through the virtual microscopy service “unibo.smartzoom.com.” The system allows you to “explore” the preparations online from your PC.

Office hours

See the website of Giulia Gallerani