We are one month away from the 32^nd Course. We, the Faculty, are motivated to provide the best possible experience that we can offer.  You will be sequestered for 5 days in an environment that we hope will fully support you in your quest to advance your understanding of the musculoskeletal system.

The Blog is designed for communication between those running the course, the participants, and anyone else. During the course, there will be a daily forum where any issues, questions about content and any other concerns can be aired.  The blog, and a daily forum during the course are new modalities. There will be a learning curve in their use, I am sure.

Our model for understanding the pathophysiology of musculoskeletal disease is through clinical, radiological, and pathological correlation. Radiologic data evaluates gross anatomy, and the microscopic slide chronicles events at a cellular level. 

The skeleton is extremely complex, a dynamic organ system, undergoing constant change. The biotechnology company Amgen has produced a series of videos requiring about 15 minutes to review. These dynamically link the structure and function of the skeleton at all levels, include those at the subcellular level. (https://www.bonebiology.amgen.com/bone-health/sitemap.html)

Consider reviewing these, as a first step, as they may alter your interpretation of the cellular events that I will try to demonstrate using the photomicrograph.  

Your task for the next four weeks will be to prepare for the course. We are introducing the concept of “flipping the classroom” for material being discussed the first day.  A series of videos is being created and will be sequentially posted on the BSC YouTube Channel ( http://www.orthobasicscienceacademy.org/content/learning-objectives ).

The first four videos, Learning Bone Growth, cover background information in substantial detail on bone formation and the cellular players, the osteoblast, ...clast, and ...cyte. These were our first videos, with a learning curve associated. The last five videos cover osteogenesis from “soup to nuts”.  Objectives are listed for both sets of videos. The idea, as exemplified in the “Learning Pyramid” below, is to eliminate the didactic lecture, and employ participatory approaches. We are also aware that you are all “Adult Learners”, and that there is no “best fit” in educational techniques. The course is simply one of many resources that you may choose.  I also believe that “need to know”, is a powerful motivator for learning. Regardless, as an Orthopaedist, and not a pathologist, I will attempt, in the Osteogenesis series, to “walk you through” each microscopic slide. Please use the blog as a feedback tool.

Series: Review of Microscopic Anatomy of Musculoskeletal Tissues

Session – Histology Boot Camp

The steps involved are:

1. Read the objectives posted at: http://orthobasicscienceacademy.org/content/learning-objectives
2. Master the contents of the videos:
   1. Review of Microscopic Anatomy of Musculoskeletal Tissues
   2. Histology Boot Camp (should be posted in the next few days)
3. Attend the corresponding session, the first of the course. Be prepared to actively problem solve on this topic.

Series: Osteogenesis

Sessions – Osteogenesis; Functional Anatomy Bone

The orthopaedic surgeon should have a complete understanding of the normal skeleton.

This video series on osteogenesis recapitulates original work prepared by Lent Johnson and Don Sweet, including photomicrographs from the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology collection. We posthumously honor both, consummate educators, whose educational model for teaching orthopaedic pathology has been replicated in part in the COA Basic Science Course.

The steps involved are:

1. Read the objectives posted at: http://orthobasicscienceacademy.org/content/learning-objectives
2. Download Dr. Sweet’s handout: http://orthobasicscienceacademy.org/content/g1-2-skeletal-growth-radiologicpathologic-correlation-sweet
3. Master the contents of the videos: Osteogenesis 1 --> 5; access the Learning Bone Growth Videos 1 --> 4 for more detailed information on the contents of Videos 1 – 5.
4. Attend the sessions; be prepared to actively problem solve on this topic.