Learning objectives and responsibility for material in the notes
These notes are required readings for VETM*3120 and VETM*3450, and are intended to develop your ability to describe and interpret gross lesions in tissues. You will mainly develop these skills from the wet labs; these notes can supplement but not replace the in-lab learning. The various descriptive features listed in these notes form the basis for interpreting gross lesions, such as for making a morphologic diagnosis and listing some possible causes, describing the likely pathogenesis, and inferring the functional significance and clinical relevance of lesions.
The exams in these courses focus on:
- Learning objectives described below
- Application of knowledge about anatomy, histology and physiology (Phase I courses), and general disease processes (i.e. General Pathology including VETM*3120, and hematology and disturbances of coagulation in VETM*3450)
The exams do not cover:
- Knowledge of specific diseases or specific pathogens from VETM*3450 modules on virology, bacteriology, parasitology and toxicology.
- Pathology of specific body systems, pathogenesis of specific diseases. Details of how specific organs or body systems respond to injury will be covered in the Systems Pathology course in Phase III.
- Additional case information presented in these labs such as details of clinical findings or the pathogenesis of specific diseases, etc. Aspects covered in the above courses are examinable. Other added information is for interest and not for exams. The post-lab follow-up photos and notes identify examinable vs non-examinable content of these case discussions.
Learning Objectives:
At the completion of this course, students will be able to:
- Examine tissue specimens or photographs and identify normal structures, artifactual changes, and abnormalities (lesions)
- Objectively describe lesions in terms of their colour, shape, size, texture, extent, and distribution; using both common English words and proper anatomic terms, to communicate the findings in a clear, concise and organized manner
- Infer the likely pathologic process (such as necrosis, fibrosis, inflammation) and the age of lesions
- Formulate appropriate morphologic diagnoses
- Based on the observed lesions as well as available clinical information and principles of anatomy, physiology, and general pathology, infer the likely general cause (eg., bacterium, toxin, mechanical injury, etc.), and explain the pathogenesis (how the causative agent led to development of the observed tissue changes), the likely functional significance and anticipated clinical signs, and how the lesion might change over time
- Predict the histologic changes that are the basis for observed macroscopic lesions
- Perform a postmortem examination
