Course Overview
This course introduces the histological principles, instrumentation and procedures required in the clinical Anatomical Pathology laboratory. Students will study human microscopic tissue recognition (microanatomy), grossing, fixation, tissue processing, decalcification, paraffin embedding, microtomy, histology safety and histology quality management. Laboratory activities will include microscopic evaluation of digital tissue sections, grossing, embedding, microtomy, and methods for routine morphological assessment, quality control, quality assurance and troubleshooting. Evaluation methods include assessment of knowledge via quizzes and exams and performance of practical skills via skills assessments.
Prerequisite(s)
- All Term 2 courses
Credits
5.0
- Not offered this term
- This course is not offered this term. Notify me to receive email notifications when the course opens for registration next term.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Recognize a variety of surgical or procedural specimens received in a diagnostic Anatomical Pathology laboratory.
- Understand the basic procedures of grossing a variety of tissues based on tissue type and structural differences.
- Correctly gross a variety of tissue types following protocols for different anatomical structures.
- Correctly orient and embed a variety of human tissues in paraffin wax for microtomy sectioning.
- Explain the theories of tissue recognition, grossing, fixation, tissue processing, microtomy, embedding, frozen sections, and decalcification.
- Assess the quality of fixation, tissue processing and microtomy and recommend corrective actions for recognized issues.
- Operate and maintain a rotary microtome to correctly produce 10 diagnostically acceptable sections from 10 different blocks in one hour.
- Recognize and state the causes and corrections for all common microtomy artifacts.
- Apply general laboratory safety rules and considerations specific to Anatomical Pathology with the ability to recognize, describe, and prevent safety hazards.
- Correctly recognize gross and microscopic sections, including specific cellular details, of normal basic tissue types including muscle, epithelium, connective tissue, nervous tissue, bone, cartilage, respiratory tissue, circulatory tissue, and skin.
- Understand and discuss the role of quality control and quality assurance within a quality management system in an Anatomical Pathology laboratory.
Effective as of Fall 2025
Related Programs
Histology 1 (MLSC 2330) is offered as a part of the following programs:
School of Health Sciences
- Medical Laboratory Science
Diploma Full-time
Programs and courses are subject to change without notice. Find out more about BCIT course cancellations.