Get an introduction to histology – the study of anatomy at a microscopic level – and find out how it is used to identify disease. Histology is a key part of modern medicine – it helps us study cells and tissues at a microscopic level, and accurately diagnose diseases such as cancer. This online course introduces the field. It starts with the basic principles of light microscopy, before focussing on the structure and function of human tissues, and the relationships between them.
Class Deals by MOOC List - Click here and see FutureLearn's Active Discounts, Deals, and Promo Codes.
You’ll use a virtual microscope to compare normal tissues with pathological (or diseased) ones, and use histopathology to identify and diagnose each disease.
The course was produced with the kind support of Dangoor Education.
What topics will you cover?
- An introduction to histology and the role or histopathology in diagnosis of disease
- Development of skills in using a light microscope and understanding the potentials and limits of the instrument
- Description of how histological slides are produced, stained and interpreted
- Development of the ability to identify a number of cell types and tissues from their histological appearance
- Description of the structures of a number of tissues with relationship to their functions
- Description of some major pathological changes and their histological appearance
- Development of the ability to identify histopathological changes and their relationship to the underlying disease processes
What will you achieve?
By the end of the course, you'll be able to...
- Apply and understand the basic principles of microscopy
- Identify a number of the more common tissues from their histological appearance
- Assess and understand the relationship between the structure of some tissues seen under the microscope and their function
- Identify gross histological abnormalities, such as neurodegeneration, inflammation and cancer
