The Fundamentals of Cellular Medicine block prepares students for the organ system blocks by presenting foundational concepts and principles in primarily cellular medicine. This course will build upon the molecular concepts and processes introduced in the Foundations of Molecular Medicine to examine more complex systems that involves cell differentiation and specialization. This includes topics in early embryology, blood and lymphatics system, the cell-mediated immune system, epithelial and connective tissues, the nervous system. Additional classes of infectious microbes will be introduced along with an overview of their infectious process, interactions with the host immune system, and the laboratory diagnosis of the infectious agent. The role of the immune system in hypersensitivities, autoimmune diseases, transplantation and the various classes of immunodeficiencies will be introduced. Other topics include cellular adaptation and aging, tissue repair, neoplasia pathology and the anatomy and pharmacology of the autonomic nervous system. The material learned in the Fundamentals will form the background for all blocks that follow, and will be expanded upon as organ-specific functions are discussed.