99007 - ANATOMIA COMPARATA (8 CFU)

Learning outcomes

This course provides students with the basic knowledge in vertebrate anatomy and biology from both functional and evolutionary points of view. Students also gain knowledge about fundamental steps in vertebrate development from fertilization to organogenesis. The students will be able to describe the vertebrate structures and relate morphology, funcion and evolution.

Course contents

Prerequisites

Knowledge of the main morpho-functional characteristics of vertebrate tissues constitutes an important prerequisite for a better understanding of the topics covered in the course. This prerequisite is provided through the Cytology and Histology course.

Program

• Course introduction: functional and evolutionary comparative anatomy approach.
• Systematic biology and comparative interpretation: phylogeny and classification, homology and homoplasy.
• Phylogenetic relationships of chordates and craniotes with description of the main anatomical synapomorphies of the various taxa.
• Diversity and phylogenetic history of craniotes.
• Early development and comparative embryology.
• Comparison of the organization of anatomical systems within vertebrate diversity: description of anatomical and functional modifications during the evolution of vertebrates.
• The integument.
• Form and function.
• The skeleton of the skull.
• Postcranial skeleton: The axial skeleton.
• Postcranial skeleton: The skeleton of the appendages.
• Nervous system: organization, spinal cord and peripheral nerves.
• Nervous system: the brain.
• The digestive system.
• The respiratory system.
• The circulatory system.
• The excretory system.
• The reproductive system.
• Examples of justified recognition and discussion of teaching laboratory preparations.

Laboratory:

Recognition and description of preparations relating to embryonic development, to specimens of adult vertebrates, and the various systems treated.

Readings/Bibliography

KF Liem, WE Bemis, WF Walker e L Grande, Anatomia Comparata dei Vertebrati. Una visione funzionale ed evolutiva, EdiSES, Napoli, 2011

Teaching resources may be downloaded from Virtuale.

Teaching methods

The teaching consists of 8 CFU of which 7 CFU of frontal lessons and 1 CFU, corresponding to 12 hours, of practical activities in the laboratory.

The practical lessons are carried out in the "Esercitazioni di Anatomia Comparata" room where the collection of teaching preparations is kept. The objective of the practical lessons in the laboratory is to develop in the student the ability to recognize the main characteristics of the embryology and anatomy of vertebrates, as described during the frontal lessons.

Assessment methods

The final exam aims to verify the acquisition of the knowledge required by the course objectives and concerns all the topics covered during the course (frontal lessons and laboratory). The exam includes a written test and an oral test. The use of support material such as textbooks, notes, and electronic media is not allowed during the tests.

The written test includes questions on topics addressed during the course. The grade is expressed in 30ies. A grade of at least 18/30 is required to pass the written text.

The oral test consists in the justified recognition of macroscopic preparations and has the purpose of verifying the candidate's ability to recognize embryonic and anatomical structures of vertebrates, as described during the course. Justified recognition requires the description of the characteristics of the preparation based on which the identification was carried out, with in-depth discussion of the topic.

To take the exam, online registration via the AlmaEsami service is required in observance of the established deadlines. Those who fail to enroll by the scheduled date are required to promptly notify the problem to the student secretariat (in any case before the official closure of the enrollment list).

Those not admitted to the oral exam can view the corrected written assignment immediately after the communication of the outcome of the test. For those admitted to the oral test, examination of the corrected written assignment is foreseen at the beginning of the oral exam itself.

Teaching tools

PC and video projector for lesson presentations.

Anatomical and embryological preparations deposited in the Comparative Anatomy didactic collection are used as teaching resources in laboratory lessons.

Office hours

See the website of Liliana Milani

See the website of Giovanni Piccinini