Aim

Knowledge of

• The basic principles of the early and late embryonic development and the congenital craniofacial abnormalities.
• The basic histological techniques applied in the study of cell morphology on the light microscope level.
• The basic structure and function of the cells, basic tissues, and main human organ systems, as well as the correlation between the structure and function of the tissues.
• The basic structure and function of the soft and hard tissues of the face, orofacial region, and major salivary glands.

Learning outcomes

At the end of the second semester, the student is supposed to:

• Know the natural human development in utero, from fertilization to the late embryonic period, the formation of the placenta, the craniofacial development, and the formation of the oral cavity, jaws and major salivary glands.
• Describe the histological structure of tissues on the light microscopelevel, aswell asto acquire the essential knowledge regarding the four basic tissues (epithelium, connective tissue, muscle tissue, nervous tissue) and the main organ systems (circulatory, peripheral blood cells – hematopoiesis, immune system).
• Associate the histological structure of the basic tissues and the main organ systems with their function.
• Recognize, describe and develop the microscopic structure of the normal soft and hard tissues of the oral and maxillofacialarea and the major salivary glands.
• Associate the microscopic structure of the normal soft and hard tissues of the oral and maxillofacialarea, and the major salivary glands and their function.
• Associate, on an early level, the microscopic characteristics of the tissues of the oral and maxillofacial area, as well as the major salivary glands with their alterations on a clinical level.

Content

Introduction. Structure and function of the cell. Basic principles of cell development. Early development: from fertilization to gastrulation. Neuridiosis and formation of the fetal body. Somitogenesis. Late embryonic period. Placenta- development of the trophoblast. Craniofacial development- oral and facial embryology. Congenital craniofacial abnormalities. Epithelium. Connective tissue. Cartilage. Bone tissue. Muscle tissue. Nervous tissue. Blood cells and hematopoiesis. Immune system and lymphatic organs. Circulatory System. Oral mucosa and salivary glands. Bones of the jaws and the temporomandibular joint. Odontogenesis- Embryology of the tooth.Enamel and dentin. Pulp-dentin complex. Periodontal ligament and cementum. Molecular mechanisms of odontogenesis.

Educational Methods

• Lectures
• Laboratory seminars (in student groups)

Criteria of Successful Completion

• Successful completion of the laboratory requirements
• Successful final examination