Purpose and Application of the respiratory biology project

Students in health career programs at the Medical Center begin their study in the Department of Anatomy studying the structure of the body, taking a gross anatomy and microscopic anatomy (histology) course in the first year. Anatomy provides the visual or optical approach to medicine and is an excellent introduction to the field of clinical medicine. The "typical" histological structure becomes a continuing guide for the student during his or her clinical years and provides a solid base on which to build an increasing knowledge of the complexities of disease in pathology, biochemistry and physiology.

Respiratory Biology Project

It is important to talk about lung biology and the general ideas of how the structure of lung (normal and pathological) are studied in the Anatomy and Pathology Departments. Beginning students should study normal anatomy first in preparation for comparison with pathology which will be seen in respiratory diseases such as pneumoconiosus (black lung), asbestosis, smoking, emphysema, asthma, and others.

Gross anatomy of the lung can be studied using the Anatomy Coloring Book and other Anatomy-Physiology lab books. Anatomy models can be bought for the school or loaned from the Anatomy Department to the HSTA Club. In order to understand structure and function at all levels, gross anatomy study of the lungs should be followed by light microscopy and electron microscopy of normal lung tissue.

Light Microscopy of lung

Fixation of tissue for light microscopy at the HSTA Club
Sectioning of the tissue and slide preparation at the HSTA Club
Staining of the slides at the HSTA Club
Photography of the slides in the Imaging Center of the Department of Anatomy under the guidance of Jeff Altemus, the Manager of the Imaging Center.

Electron Microscopy of lung

Demonstration of the preparation of lung tissue for transmission electron microscopy in the Electron Microscopy Laboratory under the guidance of Sherri Friend, EM Technologist, using a JEOL JEM 1010 transmission electron microscope. Observation of lung samples in the electron microscope and photography of specimens by the students.
Dark room work at WVU-Health Sciences Center to produce micrographs of lung tissue.