ECTS credits ECTS credits: 3
ECTS Hours Rules/Memories Student's work ECTS: 49.5 Hours of tutorials: 1.5 Expository Class: 12 Interactive Classroom: 12 Total: 75
Use languages Spanish, Galician
Type: Ordinary Degree Subject RD 1393/2007 - 822/2021
Departments: Anatomy, Animal Production and Clinical Veterinary Science
Areas: Comparative Anatomy and Pathology
Center Faculty of Veterinary Science
Call: First Semester
Teaching: With teaching
Enrolment: Enrollable
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.
5. Will know how to apply the appropriate biosecurity measures to access and work in the practice room.
6. Will develop and defend a collaborative work, using bibliographic sources and practicing effective oral communication to interact with other classmates and lecturers.
LECTURES: 24 lecture sessions of 50 minutes and a group tutoring session at the beginning of the course. Each topic takes approximately one session, except lessons 3, 5, 7, 8, 9, 12, 13 and 14 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.
Veterinary Embryology 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. Most frequent congenital malformations. Duration: 2.5 hours.
Veterinary Embryology LB2. Study of the placenta and fetal appendages in different domestic species. Dissection of pregnant uterus, fetuses and neonates of different ages. Duration: 3.5 hours.
Veterinary Embryology LB3. Monitoring of the development of body systems in sections of mammal embryos of different ages,with the identification of their components and special attention to their evolution. Duration: 2.5 hours.
Veterinary Embryology LB4. Exhibition and defense of a collaborative work (teamwork) as 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.
Many of the proposed texts have several available editions, and any of them can be used for reference. On the other hand, some are classic books that are no longer reprinted, but that does not mean they have lost their value. As for the numerous virtual atlases and online resources that can be easily found through any search engine, it is advisable to be somewhat cautious before relying on materials that do not have the endorsement of a reputable publisher, university, or scientific association.
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…
Generic competences related to the Veterinary Degree:
1. GVUSC 01. Capacity to learn and adapt.
2. GVUSC 02. Capacity to analyse 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 analyse it from a critical point of view.
CTVUSSC 03. Capacity to elaborate and present an organized and comprehensive text.
Lecture sessions
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.
In the exams, the skill related to the learning objective “Knowledge and use of appropriate language and terminology for the description and identification of structures and lesions” will be assessed, as part of competency 5 on day 1 of the Federation of European Veterinarians: “Effectively communicate with clients, the public, professional colleagues, and responsible authorities, using language appropriate to the audience in question and fully respecting confidentiality and privacy.” Eliminatory.
Interactive sessions
Interactive sessions: 12 practical hours distributed in 4 sessions of between 2.5 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.
Attendance at the practical sessions 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.
During the practical sessions, students work in small teams, in which they must distribute the tasks to be carried out in each session, managing the time dedicated to each one with the goal of achieving the final practical objectives, while maintaining respect among team members and towards other teams and the teaching staff. The correct use of the language and terminology specific to the subject will be practiced. 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 and in tutoring. The result of this task -carried out in teams of a maximum of 3 people- will be presented during the last practical session (Veterinary embryology LB4)and will form part of the continuous assessment, which has a weight of 30% in the final mark. In this way, the skills related to the learning objectives “Knowledge and use of appropriate language and terminology for the description and identification of structures and lesions” and “Distributing a task and managing the time dedicated to it for effective teamwork” from competencies 5 and 6 on day 1 of the Federation of European Veterinarians (FVE) will be developed: “Effectively communicate with clients, the public, professional colleagues, and responsible authorities, using language appropriate to the audience in question and fully respecting confidentiality and privacy” and “Apply principles of effective interpersonal interaction, including communication, leadership, management, teamwork, mutual respect, and other transversal skills,” respectively. These learning objectives will be worked on in all Veterinary Embryology LB1 to LB4 practical sessions and assessed in Veterinary Embryology LB4, forming part of the continuous assessment grade.
As part of the practical work, each team must evaluate one of the works carried out and defended by another team. This assessment will be based on a rubric. In this way, the skill related to the learning objectives: “Employ critical thinking with a positive approach toward received information” and “Contrast and evaluate the information provided by peers in a reflective manner” from competency 15 on day 1 of the Federation of European Veterinarians: “Regularly participate in self-assessment and peer evaluation (among students) processes to improve performance” will be developed. These learning objectives will be assessed in Veterinary Embryology LB4, forming part of the continuous assessment grade.
Access to the practical room:
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.
As a mandatory activity to access the practical materials, as well as the online evaluation tests, and as proof of having accessed that information, it is necessary to pass a brief questionnaire on basic concepts, also available on the virtual campus. Any doubts that may arise will be resolved by the teaching staff present in each practical session. In this way, the skill related to the learning objective: “Apply biosecurity measures to work in different veterinary work environments” from competency 4 on day 1 of the Federation of European Veterinarians will be developed: “Promote, monitor, and contribute to maintaining the health and safety of oneself, patients, clients, colleagues, and the environment in the veterinary field; demonstrate knowledge of quality assurance principles; apply risk management principles in practice.” These learning objectives will be worked on in all practical sessions: Veterinary Embryology LB1 to LB4. This is a formative activity and will not be assessed.
Tutorials:
In the current curriculum there are two types of tutorials: group and individual.
Two group tutoring sessions will be held for all students in the assigned classroom (see academic calendar for exact scheduling). The first will take place at the beginning of the semester as an introduction to the subject. The second will be used to explain the preparation, format, and theme of the practical task that must be presented and defended in the final interactive session.
The second tutorial, the individual, 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.
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 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. Students must submit a practical work (task), defend it in the final practical session, and evaluate the work of another team. In this activity it is also assessed the competences 5, 6 and 15 at day 1 from FVE in a non-eliminatory manner (summative assessment).
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 (eliminatory summative assessment). In the final examen it will be also assessed the competence 5 at day 1 from FVE (eliminatory summative assessment).
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.
The grade obtained in the practicals, if it is equal to or higher than 5, will be kept indefinitely until the subject is passed.
Students must pass a brief questionnaire on the basic concepts of biosecurity regulations in the practical room as a mandatory activity to access the practical materials, as well as the online evaluation tests, and as proof of having accessed the biosecurity regulations available on the Virtual Campus. It is a formative activity to work on competence 4 at day 1 from FVE.
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 theorical lectures 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.
Patricia Fernandez Troconiz Revuelta
- Department
- Anatomy, Animal Production and Clinical Veterinary Science
- Area
- Comparative Anatomy and Pathology
- patricia.troconiz [at] usc.es
- Category
- Professor: University Lecturer
Nuria Vicenta Alemañ Posadas
Coordinador/a- Department
- Anatomy, Animal Production and Clinical Veterinary Science
- Area
- Comparative Anatomy and Pathology
- nuria.alemany [at] usc.es
- Category
- Professor: University Lecturer
Ana Manuela De Azevedo Gomes
- Department
- Anatomy, Animal Production and Clinical Veterinary Science
- Area
- Comparative Anatomy and Pathology
- anamanuelade.azevedo [at] usc.es
- Category
- Professor: LOU (Organic Law for Universities) PhD Assistant Professor
| Monday | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 11:00-11:30 | Grupo /TI-ECTS01 | Spanish | Classroom 2 |
| 11:00-11:30 | Grupo /TI-ECTS09 | Spanish | Classroom 2 |
| 11:00-11:30 | Grupo /TI-ECTS02 | Spanish | Classroom 2 |
| 11:00-11:30 | Grupo /TI-ECTS11 | Spanish | Classroom 2 |
| 11:00-11:30 | Grupo /TI-ECTS04 | Spanish | Classroom 2 |
| 11:00-11:30 | Grupo /TI-ECTS03 | Spanish | Classroom 2 |
| 11:00-11:30 | Grupo /TI-ECTS10 | Spanish | Classroom 2 |
| 11:00-11:30 | Grupo /TI-ECTS05 | Spanish | Classroom 2 |
| 11:00-11:30 | Grupo /TI-ECTS07 | Spanish | Classroom 2 |
| 11:00-11:30 | Grupo /TI-ECTS06 | Spanish | Classroom 2 |
| 11:00-11:30 | Grupo /TI-ECTS12 | Spanish | Classroom 2 |
| 11:00-11:30 | Grupo /TI-ECTS08 | Spanish | Classroom 2 |
| Tuesday | |||
| 11:00-12:00 | Grupo /CLE_01 | Spanish | Classroom 2 |
| 12.19.2025 09:00-11:00 | Grupo /CLE_01 | Classroom 1 |
| 12.19.2025 09:00-11:00 | Grupo /CLE_01 | Classroom 2 |
| 12.19.2025 09:00-11:00 | Grupo /CLE_01 | Classroom 3 |
| 06.16.2026 09:00-11:00 | Grupo /CLE_01 | Classroom 1 |
| 06.16.2026 09:00-11:00 | Grupo /CLE_01 | Classroom 2 |