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VET30330

Academic Year 2025/2026

Cells, Tissues, Organs and Development (VET30330)

Subject:
Veterinary Medicine
College:
Health & Agricultural Sciences
School:
Veterinary Medicine
Level:
3 (Degree)
Credits:
5
Module Coordinator:
Dr Sinead Ryan
Trimester:
Autumn
Mode of Delivery:
On Campus
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

This level three module provides graduate entrants to veterinary medicine with the skills necessary to recognise and describe the microscopic anatomy of the major tissue types of domestic animals. It requires students to integrate the principles of physiology, anatomy with histological structures. Developmental biology (including embryology) will be studied up to the end of gastrulation. Current knowledge relating to functional genomics and epigenetics will be introduced.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

Having completed this module, students will be able to:
• Identify and describe a range of normal histological tissue structures (epithelium, glands, connective tissues, cartilage, bone etc) in domestic animals.
• Give examples of major differences in these structures, where they exist, among different species of domestic animals.
• Describe and outline the development of major tissue types during embryonic development.
• Understand the molecular basis of cell biology including the basis of physiological regulation and homeostasis.
• Compare the characteristics of the innate and adaptive immune responses and describe how each system detects, recognises and responds to foreign antigen
• Describe the main innate and adaptive host defense mechanisms and the cells and molecules involved.
• Review endocrine principles and interpret the role(s) of i) adrenal glucocorticoids ii) thyroid hormones iii) growth hormone using veterinary examples.
• Describe endocrine control of metabolism (carbohydrates/lipid metabolism, tissue and bone growth and calcium balance) in domestic species.

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Specified Learning Activities

24

Autonomous Student Learning

50

Tutorial

12

Practical

24

Total

110


Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Lectures
Critical thinking
Reflective learning
Active/task based learning
Technology - virtual microscope
E-portfolio

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations
Learning Requirements:

Basic chemistry, physics, cell & molecular biology.

Learning Recommendations:

Students attending this module should have a strong foundation in biological sciences


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Co-requisite:
VET30500 - Cell metabolism and dynamics

Additional Information:
Students require either module or must demonstrate equivalent prior learning.


 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Exam (In-person): Multiple choice and short answer questions, online exam.
End of trimester
Duration:
1 hr(s)
Other No
55
Yes
Exam (In-person): Multiple choice and short answer questions online exam.
Week 6 Other No
25
No
Portfolio: Histology E-Portfolio Week 2, Week 3, Week 4, Week 5, Week 6, Week 7, Week 8, Week 9, Week 10, Week 11 Pass/Fail Grade Scale Yes
20
Yes

Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 

Resit In Terminal Exam
Spring Yes - 1 Hour
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Group/class feedback, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Not yet recorded.

Histology: A Text and Atlas - With Correlated Cell and Molecular Biology (December 2018) by Michael H. Ross, Wojciech Pawlina
Veterinary Embryology (2017) by T. A. McGeady

Name Role
Dr Daniel Crean Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Assoc Professor Annetta Zintl Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Professor Deirdre Campion Tutor
Ms Margot Labberté Tutor

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
Autumn Practical Offering 1 Week(s) - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12 Mon 11:00 - 12:50
Autumn Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - Autumn: All Weeks Thurs 11:00 - 11:50