Department of Anatomy
School of Medicine
Phone 368-3430
The development of independence in research and experience in teaching are two important factors for scholars. The Department of Anatomy offers an interdisciplinary approach combining training in biochemical and molecular biological techniques with organ physiology and morphological studies. The course of study includes a series of basic information and advanced topic courses, laboratory rotations, interdisciplinary seminars and thesis research. Programs lead to the Ph.D. and combined M.D., Ph.D. degrees. An accelerated Ph.D. program for M.D.'s in any of the programs is specifically designed for physicians interested in a career as an M.D./scientist.
Strengths exist in three research programs: cell injury, development and pattern formation and biological anthropology. The department provides unique teaching opportunities that can include structural cell and tissue biology, human gross anatomy using modern imaging techniques or human neuroanatomy.
Studies include an examination of the physiological, biochemical and structural nature of cell responses to stress conditions such as hypoxia, ischemia or toxins. The program in Development and Pattern Formation involves gene expression and actions of growth factors in development and macromolecular structure. The structural studies these programs encompass electron microscopic ultrastructural studies, fluorescence spectroscopic imaging, laser scanning confocal microscopy and computer-assisted image analysis.
The program in Biological Anthropology emphasizes human functional morphology in the context of evolutionary theory. This includes studies of the evolutionary development of the locomotor apparatus, vertebral column and dentognathic growth and development. Another dimension of functional and clinical organ system morphology is exploited through the techniques of medical imaging and morphometric analysis of imaged surfaces.
The breadth of experience students receive during their graduate training period underlies the strength of our programs. Our goal is to provide individuals with the skills and experiences that will allow them to develop and maintain successful careers as teachers and researchers. The Department of Anatomy is well-suited to fulfill this goal by training individual students to teach at all levels and to be able to pursue basic research using a diverse combination of modern techniques ranging from computer mediated imaging to molecular biological approaches. In addition to research, our graduates will be able to make significant contributions as teachers to future medical and graduates students using their combination of teaching and research experiences.
Myocardial and cerebral necrosis following a transient ischemic episode represents the most common cause of disability and death in our society today. The progression of localized injury initiated by impaired blood flow exhibits characteristic biochemical changes ultimately yielding complete loss of cellular membrane integrity, both functional and structural, in the irreversibly injured cell.
Ongoing investigations pursue the biochemical mechanism of pathogenic cell injury stemming from the primary event in an ischemic episode, i.e., oxygen depletion due to interrupted blood flow. Increased phospholipid degradation with unesterified fatty acid accumulation and increased cellular calcium concentrations produced by cell membrane degradation represent such alterations, in addition to ATP depletion, morphological damage, and acidosis. Alterations in electrolyte homeostasis, particularly intracellular calcium imbalance, represents a common theme of several faculty. Other studies address the alterations in intracellular pH (ÔpH paradox'), glucose transport, adaptation to chronic hypoxia, such as that experienced during repeated ischemic episodes and at high altitude. Our faculty also are investigating alterations in intracellular signal transduction in hypoxic isolated cell models. Students are exposed to the wide range of analytical biochemical techniques used to characterize these changes in the various models, including enzyme and receptor analysis, metabolism of radioactive tracers, high performance and thin-layer chromatography, light, electron, fluorescence, and confocal microscopy, immunocytochemistry and immunohistochemistry, microspectrofluorometry with the intracellular dyes for calcium, magnesium, and pH abnormalities, and utilization of experimental, pharmacological agents in attempts to prevent the transition of injury from a reversible to an irreversible stage. Multiple models are necessary to gain a complete understanding of the phenomena associated with the progression of cell injury, including whole animals, organ culture, tissue slices, isolated cells, and isolated membranes (subcellular fractions).
This program within the Department of Anatomy focuses on contemporary and emerging biological and medical problems from structural and morphogenetic perspectives. Research can be at any biological level of organization, ranging from patterns of molecular interactions through the development of patterns in cell and tissue structure/function to macroscopic pattern formation.
The research of the faculty involves modern structural biology, the regulation of gene expression of growth factors and the action of these growth factors in developing systems and the mechanisms regulating the development of aberrant pattern formation. The structural studies extend from the ultrastructural development of the intricate pattern present in the visual nervous system, in the spinal cord and in cranio-facial structures. The regulation of pancreas development and expression of genes for insulin and insulin-like growth factors and their receptors is important in growth during embryogenesis, birth and maturation. Normal development and the development of transgenic mice with specific mutations for these factors are being studied. Insulin resistance at birth can produce complications in pattern formation in many systems later in life. Therefore, this phenomenon is studied in newborns at the level of insulin receptor phosphorylation, signal transduction and glucose uptake. In skeletal muscle development, growth factors and calcium effects are being studied for their regulatory functions and the formation of the checkerboard pattern of muscle fibers. An understanding of the developmental patterns of arthritis is being pursued using molecular biology and immunochemical characterization of proteoglycans and link proteins with the objective of curtailing this debilitating disease. Further, joint ventures of the group expands the research base to cancer of the vascular system and the development of atherosclerosis wherein the control of cell proliferation is important in both diseases.
Students accepted into the program generally have biology or chemistry backgrounds, although students with training in other areas are encouraged to apply. Applicants usually have completed courses in general chemistry, organic chemistry and basic physics. A course in physical chemistry and calculus are expected to be completed as well prior to entrance to the program or during the program. Experience in morphological studies is not a prerequisite but will decrease the need for background training.
The requirements for the Ph.D. in Anatomy for the Programs in Cell Injury and Development and Pattern Formation include course work, participation in informal and formal seminars, practical experience in research laboratories obtained on a rotation basis, qualifying exams and a Ph.D. thesis. Faculty advisors assist the student in the selection of courses, provide support and evaluate progress toward the completion of these requirements.
The year-long Cell and Molecular Biology and lab rotations begins the sequence in the first year. In addition, the student will obtain course credits in Embryology, Microscopic Anatomy, Gross Anatomy or Neuroanatomy to prepare for teaching during the later years. The specific research interest of the student affects the specific courses taken from the range offered in the graduate programs at CWRU. These can be lecture courses in the basic disciplines, seminar courses in developmental biology, molecular biology, genetics, etc., optical imaging techniques and applications, and specialty topics tailored to the students specific interests in thesis research. Proposition type qualifying exams admit the students to candidacy for the degree. In the subsequent years, the concentration is on thesis research and completing course requirements. Teaching experience is obtained. The final stage of education is the thesis defense which includes a formal departmental seminar and evaluation by the thesis advisory committee and perhaps invited examiners from outside the university.
The most effective mechanism for understanding living systems involves a multidisciplinary approach which includes use and development of new technology in combination with an integral understanding of biological sciences. The research faculty have fully equipped laboratories to support the students research. In addition, the community spirit of the scientists within the Cell and Molecular Biology Program makes available a tremendous range in expertise and instrumentation. The list of such instrumentation is lengthy so it should suffice to say that it covers the range from molecules to human. Special equipment associated with the anatomical sciences such as CAT scanners, magnetic nuclear resonance imaging systems, computer imaging systems, light and electron microscopes, flow cytometers and computer assisted education equipment exists. The students are provided access to these instruments after completing instruction programs.
This new Ph.D program in the Department of Anatomy emphasizes teaching and research in human functional morphology within the context of modern evolutionary theory. This integrated program has direct ties to the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine departments of Neurology and Orthopedics, the School of Dentistry Department of Orthodontics and the Bolton-Brush Study Center, the School of Engineering Department of Biomedical Engineering, the College of Arts and Sciences Department of Anthropology, and the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. Areas of study include analyses of the fossil evidence for human evolution, comparative primate anatomy, musculoskeletal biomechanics, primate anatomy, medical imaging, and morphometrics. Students graduating from this program will have the knowledge and skills to teach human gross anatomy at the professional, graduate, and undergraduate levels and conduct research in functional anatomy, human evolution, and biological anthropology.
Current faculty research includes studies of the evolutionary development of the locomotor anatomy of apes, humans, and fossil hominids; Plio-Pleistocene hominid evolution; dentognathic growth and development in hominoids; evidence of developmental disruption in hard tissues; the evolutionary development and functional anatomy of the vertebral column and ribs; the biomechanical consequences of age related osteopenia; articular pathology; morphometrics; and evolution of the genus Homo.
This program is designed for students with a BA/BS degree (preferably in biology, chemistry, physics, or anthropology) and a major interest in the biological sciences, especially human evolution. Applicants should have completed two years of college chemistry (including organic chemistry), one year of college biology (including genetics), and at least one course in college level mathematics (especially calculus), statistics, or computer science. An applicant deficient in these areas may be admitted with the stipulation that such requirements be met during the first year of graduate study.
Three elements comprise the Biological Anthropology program. They are: a two-year series of required and elective courses; a research assignment at the CMNH Laboratory of Biological Anthropology; and independent research. The required courses will provide the student with the basic knowledge in human macroanatomy, developmental biology, physiology, biochemistry, statistics, and biological anthropology. The elective series will allow the students to pursue more specific interests outside the defined core areas and provide detailed knowledge necessary to conduct their own research. Laboratory rotations in the Laboratory of Biological Anthropology at the CMNH will allow students to gain practical research experience in human and nonhuman primate musculoskeletal function and variation. Finally, students will initiate and complete a novel research project.
Together, CWRU and the CMNH have unparalleled facilities for conducting research in functional macroanatomy and human evolution. The CMNH, the largest natural history museum in the state of Ohio, curates the Hamann-Todd osteological collection, which is an extensively documented collection of over 3000 human skeletons and also includes the world's largest collection of chimpanzee and gorilla skeletal remains. The CMNH also has an extensive fossil hominid and nonhominid cast collection, the Johns Hopkins fetal skeleton collection, access to the Libben skeletal collection, extensive vertebrate and invertebrate paleontological and zoological collections, a wet dissection lab, casting facilities, library collections, and x-ray and osteoanalyzer facilities. The CWRU dental school houses the Bolton-Brush collection. This is the world's largest longitudinal database on human growth and development. As a major research and teaching institution, CWRU has multiple research libraries, a Geochronology lab, and many gross dissection and tissue preparation labs.
With the current shortage of trained macroanatomists, graduates of the Biological Anthropology program will be very competitive to teach human gross anatomy in medical, paramedical, anthropological, and zoological contexts. Similarly, there is a growing need for scientists who are knowledgeable in Cell and Molecular Biology, Histology and/or Gross Anatomy. Teaching experience can be obtained in small groups such as medical illustrators, tutorials to medical students or in larger groups such as medical student laboratories.
The need for M.D./scientists exists internationally. The Department of Anatomy has an accelerated program specifically designed to train physician/scientists in anatomical subjects using modern research techniques. The program is very selective. The applicants must hold an M.D. degree or expect to receive an M.D. degree before entry into the program. Selection for admission will be based on the applicant's potential for independent and innovative research as evidenced by past academic achievements from domestic or foreign institutions, strong letters of recommendation and research experience.
All students enrolled in this program must fulfill the general academic regulations for doctoral degrees as set forth by the School of Graduate Studies. Credit can be obtained through an examination process for courses/experiences obtained during the M.D. training. In the event that training had not occurred in a basic discipline such as Cell and Molecular Biology, the student would satisfy this requirement. Additional training exists in advanced specialty courses (seminars) and hands-on research training and problem-solving in the laboratory through laboratory rotations. The qualifying examination and thesis research and defense must be completed.
All Anatomy faculty participate in this program. The applicant can choose from any of the available programs and incorporate tailor-made modifications from other programs in the graduate curriculum to form an interdisciplinary approach to their research training.
The Department of Anatomy is located strategically for interdisciplinary interactions with several strong research-based programs in Neurology, Neuroscience, Biochemistry, Pathology, Nutrition, Environmental Science, Physiology and Biophysics, Molecular Biology and Genetics. Nearby are the departments of Biology and Biomedical Engineering and other basic and clinical science departments in the medical and dental schools and the basic science laboratories of the clinical departments of University Hospitals of Cleveland and the Cleveland Veterans Administration Hospital. Facilities include a library/conference room, small conference rooms, several common equipment sites, darkroom equipment, computer network, portions of the dental school for crania-facial studies, research portions of the Museum for Natural History. Access to common equipment laboratories include scanning and transmission electron microscopes, magnetic resonance imaging systems, laser conferral microscope, spectroscopic imaging microscope, molecular biology core laboratories, etc. The individual faculty have National Institutes of Health, National Science Foundation and other foundation funded research programs and fully equipped laboratories. The cooperative spirit of the medical, dental and engineering schools pervade the interdisciplinary approach to research intellectually and through the time-sharing of equipment.
The graduate program in anatomy satisfies the course and thesis requirement of the Graduate School of Case Western Reserve University. Students entering with a bachelor's degree must obtain a minimum of 36 course credits and 18 hours of dissertation research credit. Credits can be obtained for training obtained at other colleges or universities subject to approval by the faculty and the graduate school. The accelerated Ph.D. program for M.D.s requires 29 course credits. The program can linked to research-oriented residency programs such as the Clinical Investigator Pathway.
Course requirements in anatomy include: embryology, microscopic anatomy, gross anatomy and neuroanatomy. A minimum of two of these four courses are required for a Ph.D. in Anatomy. Students in the Cell and Molecular Biology track consider gross anatomy as optional while students in biological anthropology may consider neuroanatomy as optional.
Applications are accepted at any time but the program begins in July necessitating submission of applications in late autumn or early winter. Preference is given to applications submitted before February 1. Direct correspondence to:
Graduate Programs
Department of Anatomy,
Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
10900 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44106-4930.
Telephone No. 216-368-3430
Anatomy (ANAT)
ANAT 375, Human Evolution: The Fossil Evidence, 3
This course will survey the biological and behavioral changes that occurred in the hominid lineage during the past five million years. In addition to a thorough review of the fossil evidence for human evolution, students will develop the theoretical framework evolutionary biology.
Prerequisite:ANTH 103 and BIOL 110
ANAT 377, Human Osteology, 4
This course for upper division undergraduates and graduate students will review the following topics: human skeletal development and identification; and forensic identification (skeletal aging, sex identification and population affiliation).
ANAT 383, Evolutionary Anatomy, 4
ANAT 391, Embryology, 3
A detailed description of development will be presented, focusing mainly on the developing human. Discussions and presentations will also include several developing systems that have served as useful models in experimental embryology for deciphering mechanisms responsible for producing adult metazoan organisms. One or two sessions will be devoted to studying material with the light microscope.
Prerequisite:BIOL 220
ANAT 399, Independent Study, 1-4
(Credit as arranged). Student must obtain approval of a supervising professor before registration and list the professor's name on the schedule card.
ANAT 411, Gross Anatomy, 2-6
Dissection of the adult human cadaver. Prerequisite: consent of instructor.
ANAT 412, Histology & Ultrastructure, 3
General histology and ultrastructure, with histo-physiological correlations.
ANAT 413, General Histology Laboratory, 2
Microscopic structure of tissues and organs.
ANAT 414, Neurological Anatomy, 3
This course provides a current and comprehensive survey of the structure of the human nervous system. It covers concepts which will be of practical value to students needing an understanding of the working mechanisms of the nervous system. The viewpoints of three closely dependent fields neuroanatomy, neurophysiology and neurology, are presented, not with a view to covering them exhaustively but in the belief that a truly useful understanding of the morphology of the nervous system can only be attained by bringing together these three disciplines.
ANAT 431, Statistical Methods I, 3
ANAT 475, Human Evolution: the Fossil Evidence, 3
See ANAT 375.
Prerequisite:ANTH 103 and BIOL 110
ANAT 477, Human Osteology, 4
ANAT 483, Evolutionary Anatomy, 4
ANAT 491, Embryology, 3
A detailed description of development will be presented, focusing mainly on the developing human. Discussions and presentations will also include several developing systems that have served as useful models in experimental embryology for deciphering mechanisms responsible for producing adult metazoan organisms. One or two sessions will be devoted to studying material with the light microscope.
Prerequisite: BIOL 220
ANAT 496, Fluorescence Spectral Imaging, 2
Approaches to extracting quantitative biochemical and biophysical information from living cells and tissues using optical methods. Topics covered include basic fluorescence spectroscopy, digital image processing, low light level image detectors, fluorescence ratio imaging, multi-parameter fluorescence imaging, confocal imaging and fluorescence photo-bleaching recovery techniques. Includes both technology and modern applications.
ANAT 498, Anatomy Departmental Seminar, 1
Weekly one-hour reviews by faculty or invited speakers of their research. Students also present literature reviews or summaries of their research. Reports on current research opportunities and ethical issues will also be presented.
ANAT 499, Independent Study, 1-4
ANAT 503, Readings and Discussions,
1-36
In-depth consideration of special selected topics through critical evaluation of the literature.
ANAT 601, Research, 1-36
(Credit as arranged.)
ANAT 610, Oxygen & Physiological Function, 2
ANAT 701, Dissertation Ph.D., 1-36
(Ph.D.) (Credit as arranged.)
CWRU Provost's Office --
About this server
-- Copyright 1996 CWRU
-- Unauthorized use prohibited
|