CPPS 401

This course explores the skeleton, focusing on bone, as a dynamic organ system, which undergoes complex morphological and microstructural change across our lifespans. The histology and cell biology of bone are first reviewed to provide a foundation for understanding the basis for skeletal changes. Next, the course provides a life-span perspective on normal physiological and common pathological processes that play out across our lives including: 1) growth and development, 2) maintenance in adulthood, and, ultimately, 3) senescence. Theoretical perspectives as well as analytical methods (e.g. histological, molecular, imaging) are integrated into the discussion of relevant topics. This course is intended for those with an interest in skeletal biology, spanning the natural and social sciences, as well as those interested in biomedicine and the related clinical subfields.