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UWA Handbooks 2012 - Units
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UWA Handbooks 2012 - Units

Unit details

ANHB2214 Human Organs and Systems [UG]

Credit 6 points
Availability Semester 2 (see Timetable)
Details for new
undergraduate
courses 2012
  • Level 2 option in the Anatomy and Human Biology major sequence
  • Category B broadening unit for Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Design students
  • Level 2 elective
Outcomes This unit provides an extensive account of the histologic structure of human organs and how they function within human organ systems. Students understand the histology of human organs within the context of cell biology in preparation for studying pathology and advanced cell biology and molecular biology.

Cardiovascular system—students learn about the histologic organisation of the heart, arteries, capillaries, veins and lymphatic vessels and learn to identify important structural and functional differences between arteries, capillaries and veins.

Respiratory system—students learn about the histologic organisation of the air-conducting nasal cavities, nasopharynx, larynx, trachea, bronchi and bronchioles and the respiratory portions (respiratory bronchioles, alveolar ducts, alveolar sacs, and alveoli, the components of a respiratory lobule and a respiratory acinus) and learn how to identify the components of the air–blood respiratory barrier.

Oral cavity—students learn about the histologic organisation of the oral cavity, tongue and teeth, and the structure and function of taste buds to identify major structural and functional differences between the oropharynx, esophagus and stomach, about stomach mucosal and submucosal folds and the structural and functional characteristics of chief cells and parietal cells, as well as the mucous-secreting cells lining the stomach.

Alimentary canal—students are able to distinguish differences in the mucosa of the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum and the colon, which components of the small and large intestine participate in a defensive role against pathogens ingested in food and how the diffuse system of enteroendocrine cells assist in digestive functions, marvelling at the extent of the myenteric nerve plexus.

Digestive glands—students learn how the oral salivary glands differ histologically from each other, about the histological organisation of the exocrine pancreas, and about the structural and functional components of the hepatic lobule.

Bone marrow—students learn about the differentiation between pathways for each of the blood cells.

Immune-lymphatic system—students learn about the histologic organisation of the lymph node, the structure and function of the thymus and its role in preventing auto-immune diseases. They appreciate that the spleen has a dual function—as an immune protective function and as an aid in the removal of aged or fragile red blood cells—and learn about the gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT) in the form of the tonsils, appendix and Peyer's patches.

Neuroendocrine system—students learn about the histologic organisation of the hypophysis (pituitary gland) and the components of the hypothalamic-hypophyseal pathways for hormone secretion and control of some activities of the anterior pituitary by the hypothalamus.

Endocrine system—students learn about the cellular features of polypeptide and steroid-secreting cells and the basic principles of cell signalling, the histologic organisation of the thyroid gland, parathyroid gland, adrenal gland and endocrine pancreas, and that hormones of the anterior pituitary regulate the endocrine activity of these endocrine organs.

Male reproductive system—students learn about the histologic organisation of the testis and the excurrent duct system, identify important structural and functional differences in the spermatogenic cells, learn about the hormonal regulation of testis function and how the prostate gland is organised into distinct regions linked to prostate cancers, and how seminal vesicles contribute nutrients to semen.

Female reproductive system—students learn about the histologic organisation of the ovary, uterine tube, uterus, cervix and vagina, identify important structural and functional differences in the developing ovarian follicles, learn about the development, structure and function of the corpus luteum, understand hormonal regulation of ovarian function and integration of folliculogenesis with the events of the menstrual cycle, and understand how the cervix is organised into distinct regions linked to cancer of the cervix.

Urinary system—students learn about how the vascularisation of the kidney dictates the organisation of the parenchyma of the kidney, discuss the structure and function of the uriniferous tubule, learn that the nephron is a major component of the uriniferous tubule, are able to identify the components of the glomerular filtration barrier, learn to integrate structure and function and learn about the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system.
Content This unit covers the cardiovascular system; respiratory system; oral cavity; teeth and gingiva; alimentary canal; digestive glands; bone marrow; lymphatic and immune system; endocrine organs; male reproductive organs; female reproductive organs; and urinary system.
Assessment This comprises a three-hour examination. Section A (30 per cent) is a short-answer section filling in one-word answers to complete sentences about the structure and function of cells/tissues/organs. Section B (30 per cent) requires students to identify cells/tissues/organs from images provided or state functional roles of these cells/tissue/organs. Section C (40 per cent) requires students to identify 25 separate histological sections of tissues/organs using a microscope.

Supplementary assessment is not available in this unit except in the case of a bachelor's pass degree student who has obtained a mark of 45 to 49 and is currently enrolled in this unit, and it is the only remaining unit that the student must pass in order to complete their course.
Unit Coordinator(s) Professor Geoff Meyer
Location UWA (Crawley)
Mode on-campus
Unit rules
Prerequisites: six points from ANHB1101 Human Biology I: Becoming Human, ANHB1102 Human Biology II: Being Human, BIOL1130 Core Concepts in Biology, BIOL1131 Plant and Animal Biology or SCIE1106 Molecular Biology of the Cell
Advisable prior study: ANHB2212 Human Structure and Development strongly recommended
Contact hours—lectures: 2 hrs per week; labs: 3 hrs per week
Unit web page http://histology-online.com/
[Some unit web pages are still under construction and will be available in 2012.]


  • The availability of units in Semester 1, 2, etc. was correct at the time of going to press but may be subject to change.
  • Assistance with study skills, including English language skills, is available free of charge from Student Services for all enrolled students (see http://www.studentservices.uwa.edu.au/ss/learning). Student Services location: First Floor, Social Sciences South Building; telephone: 6488 2423.
  • Books and other materials wherever listed may be subject to change. Book lists relating to 'Preliminary Reading', 'Recommended Reading' and 'Textbooks' are, in most cases, available at the University Co-operative Bookshop (from early January) and appropriate administrative offices for students to consult. See the Bookshop Text List Search page at http://www.coop-bookshop.com.au/bookshop/action/DataSubjSelect. Where texts are listed in the unit description above, an asterisk (*) indicates that the book is available in paperback.
 

UWA Handbooks 2012 - Units

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Wednesday, 2 November, 2011 at 10:38 AM
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