1.

Stem Cells
1.1. 1.2. 1.3. 1.4. 1.5. 1.6. 1.7. What are stem cells? Describe their role in normal development and how they might help to treat disease. What are stem cells, what role do they play in the maintenance and turnover of tissues in the adult and how might they be used to treat disease? What are stem cells? Discuss how these cells play a role in normal development and turnover of tissues. What are stem cells? How might stem cells be used to treat disease? Discuss the process of cell differentiation and its control. Under what conditions might this process be reversible and how is this of medical significance? Write an essay on Differentiation. Using specific examples, discuss the role of differentiation during development and in adult life. Discuss the process of differentiation, how it is regulated and whether it is reversible. What is the biomedical significance of understanding this process?

2.

Spine - Goes with DR on 27/11

2.1. 2.2. 2.3. 2.4. 2.5. Discuss the development, structure and function of the vertebral column. Discuss the development, structure and function of the vertebral column. Write an essay on the way in which structure is related to function using the vertebral column for your illustrative examples. How does the adult structure of the spine reflect its development? Discuss the development, structure and function of the spine. To what extent is this structure well adapted for bipedal function?

3.

Bone - Goes with DR on 30/10

3.1. 3.2. 3.3. 3.4. 3.5. 3.6. 3.7. 3.8. Discuss the roles of different cells in producing the physiological attributes of bone tissue. Discuss how the functions of bone and cartilage are reflected in their structure. Explain how the structural organisation of bone is suited to its functions, commenting on the differences between long bones and vertebrae. How do long bones grow? How is this process controlled and what abnormalities occur when this process is defective? Discuss how long bones develop and grow. How are these processes regulated and what abnormalities are observed when this regulation is defective? How does the femur grow to its adult size and what can affect this growth? How do long bones grow as a child matures? How might the cause of stunted growth in a child be investigated to determine the cause? Discuss the ways in which bones may grow. How do hormones control this process?

4.

Joints - Goes with DR on 6/11

4.1. How does the knee joint provide both stability and mobility?

4.2. 4.3. 4.4. 4.5.

4.6. 4.7.

Discuss the principles of design of synovial joints with reference to named examples from both the upper and lower limbs. Discuss the relationship between mobility and stability in synovial joints using at least two named joints as examples. What different classes of joint are found in the human body? How are these different types of joint adapted to their function? Discuss how the balance between mobility and stability is achieved in EITHER the shoulder joint OR the knee joint, and explain why this balance is functionally important. Discuss the relationship between mobility and stability in synovial joints using a named joint for the majority of your examples. Discuss the differences between the joints of the upper and lower limbs in relation to the human upright posture.

5.

Limb Movement and Locomotion - Goes with DR on 13/11 and 20/11

5.1. 5.2. Discuss the organisation and function of the peripheral nerve supply to the upper limb. Describe the anatomy of the nerves and muscles that are responsible for the different types of movement at the hip joint. How are these movements affected by hip fracture? Write an essay on the muscles and nerves that control movements and stability of the shoulder. How is the peripheral nervous system organized in the limbs? How is this arrangement set up during development? Discuss the development and organisation of the peripheral nervous system in the limbs. How is the lower limb adapted to bipedal walking?

5.3. 5.4. 5.5. 5.6.

6.

Skeletal Muscle
6.1. 6.2. Write an essay on the cell biology of skeletal muscle. Discuss the anatomical, cellular and molecular mechanisms which enable force generated by skeletal muscle contraction to be exerted on elements of the skeleton. How is the structure of skeletal muscle adapted to produce a rapid contraction? How are skeletal muscle cells adapted to their functions? How does aberrant cell structure and function in skeletal muscle lead to disease? Using examples discuss how increased understanding of the structure and innervation of skeletal muscle cells has enhanced our understanding of their function in health and disease.

6.3. 6.4. 6.5.

7.

All Muscle

7.1. 7.2. 7.3. 7.4.

Compare and contrast the structural and functional relationships between nerve and muscle in skeletal and smooth muscle What cellular specializations contribute to the unique properties of different muscle types? Compare and contrast the cellular specialisations found in different muscle types. Compare and contrast the structure of skeletal, cardiac and smooth muscle in relation to their innervations and functions.

8.

Cardiac and Smooth Muscle

8.1. 8.2. Compare and contrast how both the structure and control of cardiac and smooth muscle are adapted to function. With reference to at least two organs describe the function and control of smooth muscle.

9.

Nervous System
9.1. 9.2. Discuss the organization of the autonomic nervous system and relate this to its development. Describe the cellular organisation of peripheral nerves explaining how the constituent cells are specialised to fulfil their various functions. To what extent are such nerves capable of regeneration following injury and how does this contrast with CNS? How are different cells in the peripheral nervous system adapted to their functions? Describe the cellular composition of the peripheral nervous system. How does the peripheral nervous system arise during development?

9.3. 9.4.

10.

Extracellular Matrix and Connective Tissue

10.1. 10.2. 10.3. 10.4. 10.5. What is the extracellular matrix and how does it influence tissue structure and function in health and disease? What is the role of the extracellular matrix in tissue structure and function? How can changes in the extracellular matrix lead to disease? How does the extracellular matrix influence tissue structure and function? How can changes in the extracellular matrix lead to disease? Compare the structure and function of loose and dense connective tissue. How might their functions be compromised by disease? Using specific examples, discuss the importance of cell-cell and tissue-tissue interactions in controlling normal development.

11.

Epithelium
11.1. What roles do the various elements of the cytoskeleton play in epithelial cells and neurons? What structural features allow different epithelia to perform their highly specialised functions? Discuss the statement that polarity is an essential property of epithelial cells. Relate structure to function in different types of epithelia.

11.2. 11.3.

12.

Examples of Epithelia
12.1. 12.2. Discuss the structure and function of epithelia with reference to named examples from the respiratory and/or gastrointestinal tracts. How are the cells of the epithelium lining the upper respiratory tract adapted and specialised for their functions? Include in your discussion examples in which cellular dysfunction might lead to disease. What cell types are found in bronchial and in alveolar epithelia? What are their differing structural features and how do these relate to their functions? The small intestine has several layers of cells. How are the cells in each layer adapted to help with the process of digestion? How are the cells of blood vessel walls specialized to fulfill their functions? How do the structures of particular types of blood vessels reflect their specialised functions?

12.3. 12.4. 12.5. 12.6.

13.

Cell Junctions
13.1. 13.2. 13.3. How do cell-to-cell junctions contribute to the structure and function of epithelia? How might cell junctions be compromised in disease? How do intercellular junctions affect the properties and functions of epithelia and other tissues? What are the functions of cell-to-matrix and cell-to-cell junctions in epithelia? How have these functions and molecules involved in junction formation been revealed through the study of human disease? Write an essay on intercellular junctions and their role in epithelia and one other named tissue. With reference to specific cells, discuss the roles of cell-cell and cell-matrix junctions?

13.4. 13.5.

14.

Cell Cycle
14.1. 14.2. 14.3. 14.4. 14.5. What is the cell cycle and how is it regulated? How is knowledge of this process relevant to our understanding of both development and disease? Discuss the importance of cell death in normal development and disease. Describe the regulation of the cell cycle. How can disruption of normal regulation lead to neoplasia? How is the cell cycle controlled? Describe the normal cell cycle and how it is disordered in altered in neoplasia.

15.

Cell Growth and Proliferation

15.1. What do we know of the mechanisms by which tissue growth is regulated in normal individuals? Illustrate your answer with specific examples of growthrelated disease. Outline the cellular events underlying cell growth and proliferation. Discuss how these events are regulated in healthy adults, and in disease.

15.2.

15.3. 15.4.

Write an essay on the control of normal cell proliferation. What do we know of the causes of abnormal cell proliferation? How is cell growth and division regulated in healthy individuals? How can disruption of these normal processes lead to disease?

16.

Development of Limbs
16.1. 16.2. How do the limbs develop? What do we know of the molecular control of this process and what anomalies might arise if it is defective? How is the limb patterned during development? What experimental models and methods have been valuable for gaining an understanding of the molecular control of this process? How do the limbs develop? What abnormalities can arise when this developmental process is defective? Compare and contrast the development of the upper and lower limbs.

16.3. 16.4.

17.

Embryology
17.1. 17.2. 17.3. 17.4. 17.5. How does a blastula implant and what consequent changes occur in the uterine wall? How are the structures derived from the first pharyngeal arch formed during development? Describe the structural changes that take place during maturation of the ovarian follicle. How are these changes controlled? What is gastrulation? Explain the subsequent development of one mesodermal and one ectodermal cell type. Implantation of the blastocyst in the uterine lining markedly affects the structure of this tissue. Contrast the changes that take place with those that will occur if implantation does not occur and relate these to function. What events take place between fertilisation and implantation? What defects can occur when these events fail to take place normally? Give an account of the development of an ovulatory ovarian follicle. What do we know of controls on this process? Give an account of the various structures that are derived from the embryonic foregut. Note some of the anomalies that can occur and their functional consequences. Write an essay on the factors involved in the origin of developmental disorders. What is gastrulation? Explain the subsequent development of one mesodermal and one ectodermal cell type. Describe the events that lead from ovulation to implantation.

17.6. 17.7. 17.8.

17.9. 17.10. 17.11.

18.

Cytoskeleton
18.1. 18.2. What structures make up the cytoskeleton? What do we know of the functions of its various components? How do components of the cytoskeleton contribute to cell organisation and intracellular transport?

19.

Cell Biology
19.1. What functions do the membrane-bound compartments of the endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus, endosomes and lysosomes perform? How do these functions influence the phenotypes of different cell types?

20.

Microscopy
20.1. How are different types of microscopy, such as transmission and scanning electron microscopy, light microscopy and fluorescence microscopy employed to study cell structure and function?