The Department of Histology, Cytology and Embryology of Kharkiv National Medical University was founded in April 1867, its predecessor was the Histology Cabinet opened at the School of Medicine of Kharkiv Imperial University in autumn 1866.

The founder of the Department of Histology was Doctor of Medicine, Professor Khrzhonshchevskyi Nykanor Adamovych, who made a great contribution to the study of adrenal morphology.

Over the years, the Department was headed by Prof. Kuchyn K.Z., Prof. Kulchytskyi M.K., Privat-docent Kashchenko M.F., Prof. Poliakov P.A., Prof. Rubashkyn V.A., Prof. Chasovnykov N.S.

From 1937 to 1974, the department was headed by a prominent histologist, Honoured Scientist of Ukraine, winner of the State Prize of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, Doctor of Biological Sciences, Professor Aloshyn Borys Volodymyrovych. He studied important theoretical problems of modern neuroendocrinology, with a special focus on hypothalamic regulation of adenohypophyseal hormone production. The results of his research were published in the monograph “Histophysiology of the hypothalamic-pituitary system” (1971). Aloshyn B.V. participated actively in the creation of the chapter “Endocrine system” of the textbook on histology for students of higher medical schools, which was published under the editorship of Yelisieiev V.G. in 1963 and was repeatedly reprinted. Aloshyn B.V. supervised 19 doctoral and 68 PhD dissertations.

From 1976 to 1995, the department was headed by Doctor of Medicine, Professor Pankov Yevhen Yakovych, who contributed greatly to the doctrine of reparative bone regeneration, studied the problems of fracture healing and osteosynthesis modelling. He published more than 300 scientific papers, supervised 21 candidates and 4 doctors of medical sciences.

From 1996 to 2014, the Department was headed by a prominent neuromorphologist, Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor Maslovskyi Serhii Yuriiovych. Maslovskyi S. focused his research interests on the study of the morphology of brain structures at the macromicroscopic level.

From 2014 to 2024, the department was headed by Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor Stepanenko O. Yu.

From 2024 to the present, the department is headed by Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor Boiagina Olga Dmytrivna.