Veterinary Embryology

The aim is for the student to acquire an adequate knowledge of the normal prenatal development of the main animal species of veterinary interest and of the alterations that lead to the birth of individuals with congenital malformations.

At the end of the course, each student (measurable and assessable learning achievements):
1. Will be able to relate the postnatal configuration of the different body systems to their embryonic origin.
2. Will be able to handle embryological terminology appropriately.
3. Will be able to identify the most common malformations and relate them to the ontogenetic process in which they occur.
4. Will have made contact with the embryonic appendages, being able to differentiate their different components.

LECTURES: 24 lecture sessions of 50 minutes and a group tutoring session at the begginning of the course. Each topic takes approximately one session, except lessons 3, 5, 8, 9, 12 and 17 which require two sessions.

LESSON 1. Introduction and generalities. Stages and processes of development. Gametogenesis.
LESSON 2. Ovulation. Types of eggs. Protective covers. Spermatozoa. Fertilization.
LESSON 3. Segmentation, morulation, blastulation and gastrulation.
LESSON 4. Embryonic annexes in birds and mammals.
LESSON 5. Nidation or implantation. Placentation.
LESSON 6. Contribution of embryonic leaves to organ formation. Organogenesis.
LESSON 7. Development of the musculo-skeletal system.
LESSON 8. Development of the gastro-pulmonary apparatus.
LESSON 9. Development of the urogenital system.
LESSON 10. Development of the circulatory system.
LESSON 11. Development of the heart.
LESSON 12. Development of the nervous system.
LESSON 13. Development of the eye and ear.
LESSON 14. Development of the head and neck.
LESSON 15. Development of the serous membranes
LESSON 16. Development of the integumentary system.
LESSON 17. Congenital malformations.
LESSON 18. Embryonic manipulation.

PRACTICAL PROGRAMME: 4 interactive sessions.

LB1. Review of the female and male genital apparatus, with special attention to the gonads. Study of the male and female gametes. Study of the placenta and fetal appendages. Duration: 2 hours.
LB2. Dissection of fetuses and neonates of different ages and species. Most frequent congenital malformations. Duration: 3.5 hours.
LB3. Monitoring of the development of body systems in sections of embryos of different ages: identification of their components, with special attention to their evolution. Duration: 3 hours.
LB4. Exhibition and defense of the proposed practical task; the instructions for this task will be detailed in the section dedicated to this purpose in the virtual campus of the subject. Duration: 3.5 hours.

Basic bibliography:
GARCÍA MONTERDE J, GIL CANO F. 2013. Embriología veterinaria. Un enfoque dinámico del desarrollo animal. Intermédica, Buenos Aires.
HYTTEL P, SINOWATZ F, VEJLSTED M. 2010. Essentials of Domestic Animal Embryology. Saunders Elsevier, China.
McGEADY TA, QUINN PJ, FITZPATRICK ES, RYAN MT. 2017. Veterinary Embryology. 2nd ed. Blackwell Publishing, Oxford.
NODEN DM, de LAHUNTA A. 1990. Embriología de los animales domésticos. Acribia, Zaragoza.
SADLER TW. Langman Embriología médica con orientación clínica. 8th ed. Ed. Médica Panamericana, Madrid, 2000.

http://www.uco.es/organiza/departamentos/anatomia-y-anat-patologica/peq…
Website of the University of Cordoba with simple explanations and videos of the embryonic development of domestic animals.

Complementary bibliography:
BALINSKY BI. 1983. Introducción a la embriología. Omega, Barcelona.
BOYDEN EA. 1933. Laboratory atlas of the 13 mm pig embryo. The Wistar Institute Press, Philadelphia.
CARLSON BM. 1990. Embriología Básica de Patten. Interamericana, México.
CARLSON BM. 2001. Embriología humana y biología del desarrollo. Harcourt, Madrid.
GILBERT SF. 2005. Biología del desarrollo. 7th ed. Panamericana, Madrid.
KAUFMAN MH. 1998. The atlas of the mouse development. Academic Press, London.
LARSEN WJ. 2003. Embriología humana, Elsevier, Madrid.
MATHEWS WW. 1976. Atlas of Descriptive Embryology. 2nd ed. McMillan, N. York.
MICHEL G, SCHWARZE E. 1970. Compendio de anatomía veterinaria. Tomo VI. Embriología. Acribia, Zaragoza.
MOORE KL, PERSAUD TVN. 2000. Embriología básica. McGraw-Hill Interamericana, Madrid.
SCHOENWOLF G, WATTERSON RL. 1989. Laboratory studies of chick, pig and frog embryos. Guide and atlas of vertebrate embryology. 6th ed. Macmillan Publishing Company, New York.
SCHWARTZ V. 1977. Embriología animal comparada. Omega, Barcelona.
TUCHMANN-DUPLESSIS H, HAEGEL GD. 1969-70. Embriología, vol. 1, 2, 3. Toray-Masson, Barcelona.
WINTENBERGER-TORRES S, SEVELLEC C. 1987. Atlas du developpement embryonnaire precoce chez les ovins. INRA, Paris.

e-Mouse Atlas https://www.emouseatlas.org/emap/ema/modelsummary/modelsummary.html

In general, we recommend the use of the electronic bibliography available in the USC Library: "A BUSC EN LIÑA" https://rebusca.usc.gal/inicio
It is also possible to search for scientific journals and electronic books managed by BUGalicia, using USC credentials, through Iacobus and reBUSCa: https://www.usc.gal/gl/servizos/area/biblioteca-universitaria

Free access to e-books from McGraw-Hill's platform Access Medicine as a BUSC user: https://accessmedicina.mhmedical.com

Among many, some online anatomy platforms:
• IVALA Learn | 3D Veterinary Anatomy & Clinical Learning (FREE registration for students): https://www.ivalalearn.com/
• Videos of Anatomy of the Reproductive System and Embryology of the University of Murcia: https://www.um.es/web/anatvet/docencia/asignaturas/curso-anatomia-embri…
• Developmental Anatomy. University of Minnesota, Veterinary Anatomy Website Home Page http://vanat.cvm.umn.edu/WebSitesEmbryo.html

Generic competences related to the Veterinary Degree:
1. GVUSC 01. Capacity to learn and adapt.
2. GVUSC 02. Capacity to analyze and synthesize.
3. GVUSC 05. Capacity to apply knowledge in practice.
4. GVUSC 06. Capacity to work autonomously and in a team.

Specific competences of the subject:
CEDUSC 02. To acquire knowledge on the structure and function of healthy animals.

Specific professional competences:
D1VUSC03. Perform basic analytical techniques and interpret clinical, biological and biochemical results.
(The subject provides the knowledge necessary to interpret clinical findings, especially those related to physical examination, imaging techniques and, to a certain extent, surgical procedures).

Specific academic competences:
CEAVUSC 08. Be aware of the need to keep knowledge, skills and attitudes of professional competences up to date through a process of lifelong learning.

Transversal competences:
CTVUSC 02. Capacity to obtain appropriate, varied and up-to-date information using different resources, such as bibliographic information and internet, and to analyze it from a critical point of view.
CTVUSSC 03. Capacity to elaborate and present an organized and comprenhensive text.

Lectures in the classroom to be determined, with systematic use of the Virtual Campus as a support for teaching and a direct communication channel with students.

The discipline has assigned 24 hours of 50 minutes theory sessions (see academic calendar for exact chronology), which must be attended on a regular basis.

Interactive Sessions: 12 practical hours distributed in 4 sessions of between 2 and 3.5 hours duration; in the timetable of the semester you will find details of the dates and groups convened in each time slot. All practical sessions take place in the dissection room in pavilion 3, basement floor. In these practical sessions, each group of 20 students is led by a professor.

Attendance at the practicals is compulsory in order to take the final exam and pass the course.

During the practical sessions, the notes taken in the lectures will be used as essential support material, as well as the contents available in the virtual classroom of the subject. Printed atlases or atlases in electronic format are highly recommended to help resolve specific doubts.

The contents of the interactive sessions will be the topic for the elaboration of a task related to one of the aspects covered, and whose description will be detailed in the corresponding section of the virtual campus of the subject. The result of this task -carried out in teams of a maximum of 3 people- will be presented during the last practical session and will form part of the continuous assessment, which has a weight of 30% in the final mark.

In addition to the hygiene measures that may be established by the authorities, it is necessary to observe the SPECIFIC RULES OF THE SUBJECT:
• to access the dissecting room is mandatory the use of a white lab coat, disposable gloves and rubber boots, given the characteristics of the work to be carried out.
• It is highly recommended to wear safety goggles and hygienic face protection mask.
• For individual work it is essential to have a basic dissection material composed of scalpel, tweezers, and scissors.
• Also, any other instructions given by the teaching staff regarding safety regulations and personal protective equipment shall also apply.

Both on the Virtual Campus and at the entrance to the dissection room are the basic safety rules that students must observe on the premises; any doubts in this respect will be resolved by the teaching staff present at each practical session.

Tutorials:
In the current curriculum there are two types of tutorials: group and individual. The group tutorial, where the general rules governing the subject are explained, is only one and will take place for all students in the classroom at the beginning of the semester. The second is the traditional model, highly recommended to clarify any doubts and difficulties that may arise during the course. It is necessary to set a date before attending this tutorial, which will take place in the professor's office or, if agreed, virtually through the official MS Teams platform.

Regular attendance at the lectures and compulsory attendance at the interactive sessions.

The mark obtained in the continuous assessment of the interactive sessions -including the task- will constitute 30% of the final mark. The involvement and attitude of each student, the skills acquired through manual work and the knowledge demonstrated during the sessions, will be considered. In the last practical session, the task must be defended.

Practicals are a COMPULSORY activity, so failure to take them -except in cases of force majeure, which must be duly justified in documentary form- means not being able to take the final exam at any of the opportunities and, consequently, not passing the subject.

The grade obtained in the practicals, if it is equal to or higher than 5, will be kept indefinitely until the subject is passed.

The grade obtained in the final exam -in either of its two opportunities, the official dates of which are fixed in the academic calendar of each year- accounts for 70% of the overall grade. To pass, a minimum of 50% of correct answers will be required in this exam.

The exam will consist of a combination of short questions, single and multiple choice questions, statements to identify as true or false, figures to complete, lists of terms to relate according to a certain criterion, etc. If there are any discounted answers, this will be indicated at the start of the exam.

The final exam is complementary to the continuous assessment.

There is no exemption from attending this subject.

In the event of plagiarism, fraud or improper use of technologies during the evaluation tests, the provisions of the "Normativa de avaliación do rendemento académico dos estudantes e de revisión de cualificacións" will apply.

ON-SITE WORKING SESSIONS: 37,5 hours

Lectures or theoretical sessions: 24 h
Interactive or practical sessions: 12 h
Tutoring:1,5 h

STUDENTS' AUTONOMOUS WORK: 37,5 hours

Individual study: 27,5 h
Drafting reports and task: 4 h
Literature search and reading: 4 h
Sitting exams: 2 h

TOTAL HOURS: 75

Attendance at theory and practical classes. Consult the material referred to in the basic and applied bibliography, and access to the indicated web pages is strongly recommended.

Exemption from attendance at lectures and interactive classes is not applicable.