Accepted by Department Council 04.02.

2021 Approved by
Assoc. prof. S. Novakov, MD, PhD

SYLLABUS
Lectures and laboratory seminars in Cytology, Histology and Embryology,
Ist year Medicine – summer term 2020/2021

Week Laboratory seminars - 3 h Lectures - 2 h

Prof. P. Atanassova
І week ONLINE CLASSES Introduction to Cytology,
General methods of investigation in Histology and Embryology.
08.02 - 12.02 Histology. The cell.
2021 The cell – morphology. General organelles - structural,
Cytoplasm. Cell organelles. ultrastructural and functional
Plasmalemma. characteristics.
Cell inclusions - 1. Еndoplasmatic reticulum
Lipid drops, Glycogen granules in 2. Мitochondria
hepatic cells, SDH – activity, Acid 3. Golgi complex
phosphatase activity. 4. Lysosomes
Еlectron microphotographs: Specialized organelles -
1. Rough endoplasmatic reticulum structural, ultrastructural and
2. Smooth endoplasmatic reticulum functional characteristics.
3. Ribosomes
4. Мitochondria
5. Golgi complex
6. Centrosome
7. Glycogen granules
8. Lipid drops
9. Lysosomes

ІІ week ONLINE CLASSES Nucleus in interphase and

Nucleus in interphase. Mitosis. mitosis.
15.02 - 19.02 DNA synthesis. 1. Interphase nucleus -
Cytophysiology. Cell inclusions. structural, ultrastructural and
Pigment inclusions functional characteristics.
Phagocytosis 2. Mitosis – phases.
Secretion (secretory granules)
Еlectron microphotographs:
1. Interphase nucleus
2. Cell membrane
3. Microvilli
4. Basal foldings
5. Desmosomes
6. Interdigitations
7. Protein granules
8. Secretory granules
9. Cilia – longitudinal and transverse
section
ІІІ week ATTENDANCE CLASSES The cell.
 Cytology. Cell membrane
22.02 - 26.02 The cell – morphology. (plasmalemma).
Cytoplasm. Cell organelles. Intercellular contacts.
Plasmalemma. Cell inclusions.
Microscopical preparations:
1. Nissl substance (granules)
2. Mitochondria
3. Golgi complex
4. Lipid drops
5. Glycogen granules in hepatic cells
6. SDH – activity
7. Acid phosphatase activity

ІV week ATTENDANCE CLASSES Cytoskeleton.

Nucleus in interphase. Mitosis. Structural, ultrastructural and
01.03 - 05.03 Plasmalemma. Cell inclusions. functional characteristics.
Cytophysiology. Cell inclusions.
Microscopical preparations: Cytophysiology.
1. Nucleus in interphase: Metabolism. Phagocytosis,
1.1 H-E staining Synthesis, secretion, moving.
1.2 Feulgen staining
2. DNA synthesis
(histoautoradiography)
3. Mitosis in cells of pea radix
4. Pigment inclusions
5. Phagocytosis
6. Secretion (secretory granules)
7. Mooving of cillia – demonstration

V week ONLINE CLASSES Tissues – classification,

Epithelia. Unilayered epithelia.
08.03 - 12.03 Multistratified epithelia.
properties. Epithelia.
Unilayered epithelia.
1. Histogenesis
2. General characteristics
3. Classification

VІ week ONLINE CLASSES Epithelia.

Secretory epithelia. Multistratified epithelia.
15.03 - 19.03 Fibrous connective tissue. 1. Histogenesis
Еlectron microphotographs: 2. General characteristics
1. Multilocular adipocyte 3. Classification
2. Macrophage
3. Fibroblast
4. Mast cell
5. Plasma cell
6. Collagen fibers
VІІ week ATTENDANCE CLASSES Connective tissue.
 Cytology Colloquium 1. Histogenesis
22.03 - 26.03 (preliminary examination) 2. General characteristics
1. Practical part – 20 points: 3. Classification
- 7 microscopical preparations 4. Cells
(7 x 2 points = 14 points) 5. Intercellular substance
- 6 electron microphotographs (6p.)
2. Тheoretical part - 40 points
(MCQ test)
Total - 60 points
Exemption: 90% /18p. + 36 p./

VIII week ATTENDANCE CLASSES Fibrous connective tissue

Epithelia. Connective tissue with solid
29.03 - 02.04 Connective tissue. intercellular substance.
Microscopical preparations: 1. Cartilage
1. Simple squamous epithelium 2. The bone tissue
1.1. Н-Е staining
1.2. Impregnation - demonstration
2. Simple cuboidal epithelium
3. Simple columnar epithelium
4. Unilayered (pseudostratified)
ciliated columnar epithelium
5. Henle’s epithelium
6. Stratified squamous epithelium
7. Stratified squamous keratinizing
epithelium
8. Secretory epithelia
8.1. Simple tubular glands
8.2. Serous, mucous and compound
alveolar (acinar) glands
9. Loose connective tissue
10. Collagenous fibrous tissue
11. Elastic tissue
12. Pigment connective tissue
13. White adipose tissue
13.1. Sudan III staining
13.2. H-E staining
14. Brown adipose tissue
15. Hyaline cartilage
16. Elastic cartilage
17. Compact bone – decalcinated
18. Compact bone – Schliff
19. Osteogenesis

IХ week ONLINE CLASSES Blood tissue.

Connective tissue with solid 1. Histogenesis
05.04 - 09.04 intercellular substance. 2. General characteristics
Blood tissue. 7. Classification
Еlectron microphotographs: 8. Cells
1. Оsteocyte 4.1. Еrythrocytes
 2. Оsteoclast 4.2. Leucocytes
3. Neutrophil granulocyte 4.3. Platelets
4. Еоsinophil granulocyte
5. Lymphocyte
6. Platelets

X week ONLINE CLASSES Мuscle tissue.

Мuscle tissue. 1. Histogenesis
12.04 - 16.04 Nerve tissue. 2. General characteristics
Еlectron microphotographs: 3. Classification
1. Smooth muscle cell 4. Cells
2. Myofibril – skeletal 5. Myofibers, myofibrils
3. Cardiomyocyte – myofibril
4. Intercalated disc
5. Myelinated nerve fibers
6. Myoneural synapse

ХІ week ATTENDANCE CLASSES Nerve tissue.

Blood, Muscle, Nerve tissue. 1. Histogenesis
19.04 - 23.04 Microscopical preparations: 2. General characteristics
1. Blood smear 3. Classification
2. Smooth (visceral) muscle tissue 4. Cells – neurons, neuroglia
3. Striated skeletal muscle tissue 5. Nerve fibers
4. Striated cardiac muscle tissue 6. Myoneural synapse
5. Impulse conductive cardiac muscle
tissue
6. Мultipolar neurons
7. Pear-like neurons
8. Pyramidal neurons
9. Myelinated nerve fibers
10. Fibrous astrocytes
11. Protoplasmic astrocytes

XII week
EASTER HOLIDAY
26.04 - 30.04

ХІII week ATTENDANCE CLASSES Reproductive tissue.

Reproductive tissue. 1. Histogenesis
03.05 - 07.05 Microscopical preparations: 2. General characteristics
1. Oocyte 3. Structural, ultrastructural and
2. Spermatozoa functional characteristics
3.1. Oocytes
3.2. Spermatozoa
XIV week ONLINE CLASSES Early human embryonal
Reproductive tissue. General development.
10.05 - 14.05 embryology. Early gastrulation. Fertilization
Еlectron microphotographs: Clivage
1. Oocyte Blastocyst
2. Spermatozoon Implantation
 Gastrulation
Primitive organs

ХV week ONLINE CLASSES Extra-embryonic layers.

General embryology. Late Chorion, amnion, yolk sack,
17.05 - 21.05 gastrulation. alantoic diverticulum,
Extra-embryonic layers umbilical cord, fetal sack,
placenta.

ХVI week ATTENDANCE CLASSES Twins. Anomalies in the

Test on Epithelial, Connective, human embryonal
24.05 - 28.05 Blood, Muscle and Nerve tissue. development.
1. Practical part – 20 points
(14 microscopic preparations +
6 electron microphotographs)
2. Theoretical part (MCQ test)-70p.
Total – 90 points

Reproductive tissue. General

embryology. Gastrulation.
Extra-embryonic layers.
Microscopical preparations:
1. Oocyte.
2. Spermatozoa.
3. Early gastrulation.
4. Late gastrulation.
5. Umbilical cord of 2-3 month old
human embryo
6. Umbilical cord of newborn baby
7. Placenta
8. Fetal sack

Semester tests:
1. Cytology Colloquium – 60 points
2. Test on epithelial, connective, blood, muscle and nerve tissue – 90 points
Total score points for the semester – 150
Evaluation
143 – 150 p. – 6,00 113 – 119 p. – 4,00
135 – 142 p. – 5,50 105 – 112 p. – 3,50
127 – 134 p. – 5,00 90 – 104 p. – 3,00
120 – 126 p. – 4,50 < 90 p. – 2,00

Textbooks
1. Basic Histology, I.C. Janqueira
2. Clinical and Functional Histology for Medical Students, Richard S. Snell
3. Histology, R. Henrikson
4. Histology – A Text and Atlas, M. Ross, Sixth edition
5. Human embryology, Inderbir Singh, Sixth edition
 6. Practicum Cytology, Histology and Embryology with CD, P. Atanassova, I. Koeva, E.
Petrova, N. Penkova, V. Trichkova
7. Handbook in Cytology, Histology and Embryology, I. Koeva
www.anatomy.plcnet.org

EXEMPTION
Cytology Colloquium:
Students with 90% from practical part (18 points) and 90% from MCQ test (36
points) exempt the Cytology section (practical and MCQ) from the final Cytology, Histology
and Embryology exam.

Total score points (Cytology + Histology points):

Students with 90% of the maximum semester score (135 points or more) exempt both
practical and MCQ test on Cytology, Histology and Embryology from the final exam. They
sit only for essay and oral part of the final exam.

Students with less than 90% (< 135 p.) of the maximum semester score sit for the
entrance test (practical and MCQ test) of the final exam. If they pass the practical and MCQ
test, they sit for the essay and oral part.

Prepared by:
Prof. P. Atanassova, MD, PhD
A. Fusova, MD