School: Medical and Health Sciences

This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.

  • Unit Title

    Histopathology and Applied Histotechniques
  • Unit Code

    MMS3115
  • Year

    2024
  • Enrolment Period

    1
  • Version

    2
  • Credit Points

    15
  • Full Year Unit

    N
  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus
  • Unit Coordinator

    Miss Emily WONG

Description

This unit provides the concepts and skills needed for a biomedical scientist to work within a functioning histopathology laboratory. Students will learn the theory and practice of the key procedures necessary to process tissue. This includes tissue sampling, relevant fixation processes, tissue sectioning, appropriate staining techniques and microscopic diagnosis. Theoretical and practical analysis of tissue samples from commonly occurring diseases will also be examined.

Prerequisite Rule

Students are required to complete MMS2200

Equivalent Rule

Unit previously coded as MMS3107

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Explain the underlying principles of microtomy and be able to apply them.
  2. Apply the correct stains to enhance particular cellular and tissue structures for examination.
  3. Justify when to use cryopreservation to preserve tissue and how a cryostat functions.
  4. Critically analyse the process of tissue fixation and apply the correct procedures for the appropriate tissue.
  5. Explain the underlying principles of tissue processing, embedding and apply these appropriately.
  6. Determine the features of common diseases under the microscope using the systems described above.

Unit Content

  1. Cryopreservation and introductory cryostat techniques.
  2. Principles and application of tissue fixation for general microscopy.
  3. General histopathological examination of the nervous, endocrine, cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, integumentary and reproductive systems.
  4. General tissue processing and embedding procedures for histopathological examination.
  5. General staining methods for histopathological analysis.
  6. Microtome techniques for general histopathology.

Learning Experience

Students will attend on campus classes as well as engage in learning activities through ECU's LMS

JoondalupMount LawleySouth West (Bunbury)
Semester 213 x 2 hour labNot OfferedNot Offered
Semester 213 x 1.5 hour lectureNot OfferedNot Offered

For more information see the Semester Timetable

Additional Learning Experience Information

This unit comprises lectures, interactive tutorials, research seminars and laboratory sessions. Laboratory work requires that students work as a team to contribute to safe laboratory practices. An understanding of the theoretical underpinnings of the discipline will be developed through a review of relevant scientific literature. Students will undertake a literature Blackboard will be utilised to convey appropriate information to students.

Assessment

GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant School Progression Panel.

ON CAMPUS
TypeDescriptionValue
Literature ReviewLiterature review on histopathology and applied histotechniques30%
Laboratory WorkLaboratory practical assessments30%
TestOnline tests40%

Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005)

For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Access and Inclusion website.

Assessment

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. Informal vivas may be conducted as part of an assessment task, where staff require further information to confirm the learning outcomes have been met. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant School Progression Panel.

Academic Integrity

Integrity is a core value at Edith Cowan University, and it is expected that ECU students complete their assessment tasks honestly and with acknowledgement of other people's work as well as any generative artificial intelligence tools that may have been used. This means that assessment tasks must be completed individually (unless it is an authorised group assessment task) and any sources used must be referenced.

Breaches of academic integrity can include:

Plagiarism

Copying the words, ideas or creative works of other people or generative artificial intelligence tools, without referencing in accordance with stated University requirements. Students need to seek approval from the Unit Coordinator within the first week of study if they intend to use some of their previous work in an assessment task (self-plagiarism).

Unauthorised collaboration (collusion)

Working with other students and submitting the same or substantially similar work or portions of work when an individual submission was required. This includes students knowingly providing others with copies of their own work to use in the same or similar assessment task(s).

Contract cheating

Organising a friend, a family member, another student or an external person or organisation (e.g. through an online website) to complete or substantially edit or refine part or all of an assessment task(s) on their behalf.

Cheating in an exam

Using or having access to unauthorised materials in an exam or test.

Serious outcomes may be imposed if a student is found to have committed one of these breaches, up to and including expulsion from the University for repeated or serious acts.

ECU's policies and more information about academic integrity can be found on the student academic integrity website.

All commencing ECU students are required to complete the Academic Integrity Module.

Assessment Extension

In some circumstances, Students may apply to their Unit Coordinator to extend the due date of their Assessment Task(s) in accordance with ECU's Assessment, Examination and Moderation Procedures - for more information visit https://askus2.ecu.edu.au/s/article/000001386.

Special Consideration

Students may apply for Special Consideration in respect of a final unit grade, where their achievement was affected by Exceptional Circumstances as set out in the Assessment, Examination and Moderation Procedures - for more information visit https://askus2.ecu.edu.au/s/article/000003318.

MMS3115|2|1

School: Medical and Health Sciences

This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.

  • Unit Title

    Histopathology and Applied Histotechniques
  • Unit Code

    MMS3115
  • Year

    2024
  • Enrolment Period

    2
  • Version

    2
  • Credit Points

    15
  • Full Year Unit

    N
  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus
  • Unit Coordinator

    Miss Emily WONG

Description

This unit provides the concepts and skills needed for a biomedical scientist to work within a functioning histopathology laboratory. Students will learn the theory and practice of the key procedures necessary to process tissue. This includes tissue sampling, relevant fixation processes, tissue sectioning, appropriate staining techniques and microscopic diagnosis. Theoretical and practical analysis of tissue samples from commonly occurring diseases will also be examined.

Prerequisite Rule

Students are required to complete MMS2200

Equivalent Rule

Unit previously coded as MMS3107

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Explain the underlying principles of microtomy and be able to apply them.
  2. Apply the correct stains to enhance particular cellular and tissue structures for examination.
  3. Justify when to use cryopreservation to preserve tissue and how a cryostat functions.
  4. Critically analyse the process of tissue fixation and apply the correct procedures for the appropriate tissue.
  5. Explain the underlying principles of tissue processing, embedding and apply these appropriately.
  6. Determine the features of common diseases under the microscope using the systems described above.

Unit Content

  1. Cryopreservation and introductory cryostat techniques.
  2. Principles and application of tissue fixation for general microscopy.
  3. General histopathological examination of the nervous, endocrine, cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, integumentary and reproductive systems.
  4. General tissue processing and embedding procedures for histopathological examination.
  5. General staining methods for histopathological analysis.
  6. Microtome techniques for general histopathology.

Learning Experience

Students will attend on campus classes as well as engage in learning activities through ECU's LMS

JoondalupMount LawleySouth West (Bunbury)
Semester 213 x 2 hour labNot OfferedNot Offered
Semester 213 x 1.5 hour lectureNot OfferedNot Offered

For more information see the Semester Timetable

Additional Learning Experience Information

This unit comprises lectures, interactive tutorials, research seminars and laboratory sessions. Laboratory work requires that students work as a team to contribute to safe laboratory practices. An understanding of the theoretical underpinnings of the discipline will be developed through a review of relevant scientific literature. Students will undertake a literature Blackboard will be utilised to convey appropriate information to students.

Assessment

GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant School Progression Panel.

ON CAMPUS
TypeDescriptionValue
Literature ReviewLiterature review on histopathology and applied histotechniques30%
Laboratory WorkLaboratory practical assessments30%
TestOnline tests40%

Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005)

For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Access and Inclusion website.

Assessment

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. Informal vivas may be conducted as part of an assessment task, where staff require further information to confirm the learning outcomes have been met. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant School Progression Panel.

Academic Integrity

Integrity is a core value at Edith Cowan University, and it is expected that ECU students complete their assessment tasks honestly and with acknowledgement of other people's work as well as any generative artificial intelligence tools that may have been used. This means that assessment tasks must be completed individually (unless it is an authorised group assessment task) and any sources used must be referenced.

Breaches of academic integrity can include:

Plagiarism

Copying the words, ideas or creative works of other people or generative artificial intelligence tools, without referencing in accordance with stated University requirements. Students need to seek approval from the Unit Coordinator within the first week of study if they intend to use some of their previous work in an assessment task (self-plagiarism).

Unauthorised collaboration (collusion)

Working with other students and submitting the same or substantially similar work or portions of work when an individual submission was required. This includes students knowingly providing others with copies of their own work to use in the same or similar assessment task(s).

Contract cheating

Organising a friend, a family member, another student or an external person or organisation (e.g. through an online website) to complete or substantially edit or refine part or all of an assessment task(s) on their behalf.

Cheating in an exam

Using or having access to unauthorised materials in an exam or test.

Serious outcomes may be imposed if a student is found to have committed one of these breaches, up to and including expulsion from the University for repeated or serious acts.

ECU's policies and more information about academic integrity can be found on the student academic integrity website.

All commencing ECU students are required to complete the Academic Integrity Module.

Assessment Extension

In some circumstances, Students may apply to their Unit Coordinator to extend the due date of their Assessment Task(s) in accordance with ECU's Assessment, Examination and Moderation Procedures - for more information visit https://askus2.ecu.edu.au/s/article/000001386.

Special Consideration

Students may apply for Special Consideration in respect of a final unit grade, where their achievement was affected by Exceptional Circumstances as set out in the Assessment, Examination and Moderation Procedures - for more information visit https://askus2.ecu.edu.au/s/article/000003318.

MMS3115|2|2