Histology and Cell Biology 2011 – University of Texas Medical School at Houston
Welcome to Histology and Cell Biology. In this course, rather than just identifying tissues and cells, we
teach “functional histology”, instructing you on various aspects of cell and tissue function(s) and the
structure of target tissues of synthesized products and outcomes. This is reflected in the exam questions
which, rather than asking “What is this tissue”, are more likely to ask “The product from this tissues
causes which of the following to happen?” followed by multiple choice answers (All exam questions are
MULTIPLE CHOICE FORMAT). Histology might be described as ‘Normal Pathology’, and serves as
a prerequisite for Pathology in your second year. The Functional aspect of this course is to enable you to
link your studies in Biochemistry, Immunology and Physiology with types of cells and tissues that you
have seen in Histology, and to give you an understanding of what cells and tissues you are dissecting in
Gross Anatomy.
The Syllabus - The full syllabus is available on both Blackboard (https://bb.uth.tmc.edu/index3.html) and
on the histology web page (http://www.uth.tmc.edu/pathology/histology/index.html), so you can print
appropriate sections as needed. Glance through the objectives and key words prior to the lecture and
laboratory session and you will have a quick idea of where the lecturer is headed as the lecture progresses.
The material in the syllabus is followed for the most part in each lecture BUT, the lecturer might insert
something of interest from another source during the presentation. Be aware that questions for the
exam come from the syllabus, the lectures, the post-lab sessions, the reviews AND the two (2)
required textbooks (Gartner and Hiatt and Klein and McKenzie Pre Test). Hot spot/hyperlinks are
available in certain versions (maybe all of them) to allow you to link written details to images and
diagrams
Lectures - Lectures are usually presented in Lecture Theater 2.006. Changes will be noted on
Blackboard, which you should check daily. Lectures last about 50 minutes. Occasionally a subject
requires two (2) lectures. Lectures are followed by a Laboratory Session and then a Post-Lab.
Laboratory Sessions - Labs are held in one of the four teaching laboratories (See map). Each lab has a
lab leader who is a member of the Pathology faculty. Get to recognize this person. Each PAIR of students
will be assigned a locker, a microscope and a slide set. Occasionally there will be a demonstration slide
that is NOT in your slide set. Lab is the best time to ‘corner’ a faculty member to ask questions. No
question is trivial. Lab sessions finish when you have finished. That is, if you are confident that you can
achieve all the objectives listed for that topic you can leave. If you need more time, then return to the lab
after Post-Lab and a faculty member will be available to assist you.
Post-Labs - Following each laboratory session is a brief Post-Lab review in the lecture theater. These are
Power Point presentations consisting of approximately 12-20 pertinent images, which are discussed. This
is a great time to ask questions. The Post-labs last 20-30 minutes. Post Labs are placed on Blackboard to
help with your revision. At the end of each Post Lab session a short clinical correlation will be
discussed. Questions from these correlations might appear on the exams!
Quizzes - Short quizzes for topics are available on Blackboard (https://bb.uth.tmc.edu/index2.html) and
the Histology page on the DPALM website (http://pathology.uth.tmc.edu/). Quizzes are shown in the
form of the Block and Final Exams to give you some familiarity with what is to come. There are many
quizzes via the links provided.
Reviews - At the end of each block of study (There are three blocks) there is an exam. Prior to the exam
there is a comprehensive Review session in the lecture theater consisting of up to 100 slides with
appropriate questions and information. These Review Sessions are posted on Blackboard to help in your
revision (They are not taped). The post-block 3session will be immediately followed by a brief (50 slide)
revisit of Blocks 1 and 2.
Exams - Exams consist of two (2) parts, and all exams are held in the lecture theaters. Part 1 is the
written portion, consisting of fifty five (55) multiple choice questions. One (1) point is awarded for each
correct answer. Ninety (90) minutes is allotted for this portion of each exam. Part 2 is the practical
portion and consists of twenty (20) multiple choice slide questions of tissues and cells. Each correct
answer is worth two (2) points. Approx. 1½ minutes is allotted for each question. There will be a 15
minute break between Part 1 and Part 2. Should you complete the written exam before 90 minutes have
elapsed, you will be permitted to leave. Remember, NO ONE is allowed to leave the exam site with their
answer sheet at ANY TIME. This action will result in a score of ZERO for the student.
The remaining 15 points of your final grade will be from a MANDATORY ATTENDANCE TEAM
BASED LEARNING exercise, one per block. Teams will be formed from students per bench. Failure to
attend these lab sessions will result in a score of ZERO, NADA, ZILCH being awarded. Make sure you
check your calendar. Grading will be via a Group Readiness Assessment Test (GRAT).
Health Education Office - Located between labs 2.129 and 2.131 (See map). Here you will find the
course co-coordinator Ms. Linda Dalton. She is the one that has all the information regarding test ID
numbers, locker numbers, exam dates/times, etc, etc. If you have a problem, go to HEO first.
Lecturers - The lecturers are part of this course because of past excellent evaluations, their knowledge of
particular topics, their longevity in teaching this material, and for being experts in particular areas. They
are diverse, but approachable; they want to help and love to teach. If you think you are having problems,
contact a member of faculty, and it is NEVER too early.
Other important information
Course Director – Roger J. Bick, PhD, MMEd, MBS, FAHA, CBiol. Medical School bldg. 2.288 713500-5406; Roger.J.Bick@uth.tmc.edu, Department of Pathology
Student Affairs, Counseling, Educational help, etc;
http://med.uth.tmc.edu/administration/stud_affairs/index.html
REQUIRED TEXT BOOKS
Gartner and Hiatt – Color Atlas of Histology with CD, Lippincott, Williams and Wilkins
Klein and McKenzie Pre Test Histology and Cell Biology, McGraw Hill
Other Recommended texts
**Ross and Pawlina – HISTOLOGY - A TEXT AND ATLAS, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins
**Junqueira and Carneiro – Basic Histology text and atlas, McGraw-Hill
Cormack – Essential Histology, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins
Gartner, Hiatt and Strum, Lipincott, Williams and Wilkins. BOARD REVIEW SERIES-Cell Biology and
Histology
Stevens and Lowe – Human Histology, Elsevier-Mosby
Web Resources
Recommended
Virtual Slidebox -http://www.path.uiowa.edu/virtualslidebox/
UF College of Medicine Histology Tutorial http://medinfo.ufl.edu/year1/histo/
Blue Histology http://www.lab.anhb.uwa.edu.au/mb140/
These are for revision, but don’t go to too many places. UT resources are best
http://msjensen.cehd.umn.edu/webanatomy/histology/default.html
http://www.gwc.maricopa.edu/class/bio201/histoprc/prac1q.htm
http://www.med-ed.virginia.edu/courses/cell/links.cfm
EVALUATION AND GRADING POLICY
Three exams are given during the Histology course, one at the end of each block The third block exam
includes questions that require knowledge from 2 blocks 1 and 2. Grades are cumulative i.e., your grade
from Exam 1 is combined with your grade from Exam 2 and Exam 3 and averaged. Grades ARE
rounded up. So, 64.49% is an F; 64.5% is a Marginal Performance; 89.49 is a High Pass, 89.51 is
Honors. Please be aware of this!
Grades:-There are five available; 90-100% = HONORS; 80-89.99% = High Pass; 70-79.99% = Pass; 6569.99% = Marginal Performance; <65 % = Fail. NO EXCEPTIONS!
Remediation Policy
Upon APPROVAL by the STUDENT EVALUATION AND PROMOTIONS COMMITTEE,
students who earn Marginal Performance as a final grade can and must perform remedial work during
the summer. Students who earn a grade of FAIL must retake a Histology course at UTMSH (If offered)
or elsewhere. IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE STUDENT TO INITIATE AND ARRANGE
FOR REMEDIAL WORK!
Exam Challenges-Reviews - Challenges to exam answers are accepted via e-mail
(Roger.J.Bick@uth.tmc.edu; Course Director), as announced at exams or by HEO via e-mail and on
Blackboard. Please be aware, the contents of the syllabus, required texts, clinical correlates, TBL session,
post labs and lectures will take precedence. Make sure that the answer you feel to be correct is the BEST
answer (i.e. not partially correct) before submitting a challenge.
Grievance Policy
A student with grievances regarding the Histology and Cell Biology Course should contact the following
individuals in the order listed:
1. Course Director; Roger J. Bick, MSB 2.288 (500-5406)
2. Chairman of Pathology; Dr. Robert Hunter, MD, PhD, MSB 2.126 (500-5301)
3. Associate Dean for Educational Programs: Dr Patricia Butler MD, JJL 304J (500-5140)
Videotaping - As the syllabus, lectures, images and post-lab presentations are all available on Blackboard
and the Histology web site, videotaping is NOT permitted, and this includes taping of review sessions.
Course Evaluation -To continually improve the course, students are asked to take the time to evaluate
the lecturers, course content and course structure on Blackboard.
UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS MEDICAL SCHOOL POLICY FOR REQUESTING AN EXCUSED
ABSENCE FROM AN EXAMINATION

A student requiring an excused absence from a histology examination must notify the Course
Director (Roger J. Bick, MSB 2.288, 713-500-5406) in person or by e-mail, NO LATER than 48 hours
prior to the exam.

The student MUST ALSO NOTIFY the Office of Student Affairs (OSA; Dr. Margaret
McNeese, Assoc. Dean for Student Affairs, 500-5160, MSB G.400)

The OSA will consider each request and inform both the student and the course director of the
outcome and the eligibility to re-sit the examination and have his/her absence excused. Failure to notify
the course director and OSA in a timely manner will result in a grade of zero being assessed for that
exam.

THEREFORE, please do NOT plan vacations, weddings, etc during scheduled examination
times which can be found in the syllabus, on Blackboard, on the medical school site, via HEO or on
the Histology web site. Arrive for the exam in a timely manner at the assigned location. Seating
assignments will be posted outside the lecture theaters and HEO. Extra time will NOT be given
should you arrive late!! Therefore, set your alarm; check your tires, oil, etc. A make up exam will
NOT be given and a score of zero will be assessed.
UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS MEDICAL SCHOOL GUIDELINES FOR THE PREVENTION OF
ACADEMIC DISHONESTY - Students must arrive ON TIME for each exam. Only required items, i.e.
multiple pencils, are to be in the possession of each student during exams. No books, backpacks, caps,
hats, purses, etc must accompany the student to his/her assigned seat. ALL CELL PHONES MUST BE
TURNED OFF!! During each exam an honor pledge (which accompanies the exam) MUST be signed
and turned in. Students wishing to leave the exam to go to the restroom MUST leave all items pertaining
to the exam with the faculty proctor. Should the student wish to visit the restroom during the Practical
portion of the exam, he/she must be aware that no extension or re-visitation of questions will be
permitted. No food or drink is allowed in the examination. Multiple versions of the written exam are
given. Exams may NOT be kept by the student. Students may not converse during the exam or practice
any other action that is deemed to be disturbing to the other students. ANY STUDENT FOUND IN
VIOLATION OF THESE GUIDELINES WILL BE SUBJECT TO DISCIPLINARY ACTION –
Student Committee for Academic Integrity and Professionalism http://med.uth.tmc.edu/studentscurrent/SCAIP/index.html