ILOs

• Identify the 3 layers of the heart wall and discuss their structure, including specialised features/cells e.g. smooth endothelium, purkinje fibres.
• Identify the main histological features of arteries and veins, including the 3 tunics and external and internal elastic lamina, and describe the main histological differences between arteries and veins.
• Describe the typical “respiratory epithelium”, identify key histological features (columnar cells, goblet cells, cilia), and discuss their function in the respiratory system.
• Identify key histological features visible in lung tissue (bronchi, blood vessels, alveolar ducts, alveolar sacs).
• Discuss the structure of alveoli (simple squamous epithelium) in relation to gas exchange, and describe the function of Type I and Type II pneumocytes

Part 1: Introduction & Respiratory Histology

• Why is histology important?
• What are the functions of the respiratory System?
• What are the anatomical divisions of the respiratory System?
• What are the functional divisions of the respiratory System?
• What does the conduction zone include?
• What is the histology of the conduction zone?
• What role does the respiratory epithelium play in the conduction zone?
• What role does the mucocillary escalator play in the conduction zone?
• What does the respiratory zone include?
• What is the histology of the respiratory zone?
• What happens in Cystic fibrosis?
• What role does the Trachea play in the respiratory System?
• What are the Layers of the trachea?
• What role does the respiratory tree play in the respiratory System?
• What is the structure of the secondary bronchi?
• What is the structure of the tertiary bronchi?
• What is the structure of the bronchioles?
• What is the structure of the terminal bronchiole?
• What do the respiratory bronchioles indicate?
• What are Alveoli and where can they be found?
• What are type 1 pneumocytes and what do they do?
• What are type 2 pneumocytes and what do they do?
• What is a blood air barrier?
• How is a BAB different in a fibrotic lung?

Part 2: Coronary & Cardiovascular Histology

• What are the similarities between the heart and the blood vessels?
• What role does the external pericardium play in the circulatory System?
• What is the pericardial sac made of?
• What does the pericardial cavity contain and why?
• What are the layers of the heart?
• What is the histological structure of the Epicardium?
• What is the histological structure of the Myocardium
• What are cardiac myocytes?
• What are node cells?
• What are Purkinje fibres?
• What is the difference between Punkinje and cardimyocytes?
• What is the histological structure of the Endocardium

Part 3: Blood Vessel Histology

• What are the layers of the blood vessel walls?
• What are Elastic Arteries?
• What are Muscular Arteries?
• What is the difference between an artery and a vein?