AIMS AND CONTENT

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

Knowledge & understanding

At the end of the course, the student will have to know:

         the general principles of cellular physiology

         organ and system physiology, both comparative and human

         the mechanisms of internal homeostasis regulation

 Applying knowledge & understanding

At the end of the course the student will be able to:

         recognize and understand physiological parameters of the different cellular types and organs and the outcomes of their alteration

         apply the acquired knowledges in the research field, both general and applied, and in the production area

 Making judgements

 At the end of this teaching, the student will be able to:

         interpret experimental data in both cellular and organ physiology

 Communications skills

 At the end of this teaching, the student will be able to:

         utilize properly scientific language, in particular respect to physiological terms

         outline and show in a professional context the main physiological mechanisms

TEACHING METHODS

Lectures: 20 hours. The lessons will be held in presence. Lectures, interactive simulations, and discussion in presence on the topics of the program.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

         General concepts and principles of physiology. Intra- and extracellular fluids composition and adaptations to the external environment. Homeostasis.

         Plasma membrane: energy and materials transports across cell membrane. How charged or uncharged molecules are transported: ionic channels and carriers. Structure and function of membrane transporters. Active and passive mechanisms. Water movements. Osmotic pressure. Transports across epithelia. Cell communication: how chemical messangers work.

         Electric properties of plasma membrane and physiology of neurons. Resting membrane potential. Ionic selectivity of biological membranes. Transient variations of membrane potential, generation of electrical signals and effects on cell functions. Neurons and nervous signals: cell excitation, synapsis and neuronal integration. Signal processing and general principles of neuronal networks: convergence and divergence, inhibitory and excitatory interneurons in feedback/forward pathways. Transmission along the axon.

         Muscle physiology. The skeletal muscle in vertebrates: molecular basis of contraction. Calcium release from sarcoplasmic reticulum and excitation-contraction coupling. Mechanical events in muscle contraction. Muscle contraction regulation in the different types of muscle fibers (skeletal, smooth and cardiac muscle).

         Circulatory system. Structure and functions of the heart and circulatory system in vertebrates. The heart as a pump (electrical and mechanical activities of the heart). Blood vessels and circulation: pressure and velocity of blood, the capillaries and equilibration with interstitial fluid. Regulatory mechanisms and adaptations of the heart and circulatory system.

         Respiratory physiology: general principles, structure and functions of air passages and respiratory surfaces; the effect of environment of respiration and comparative physiology of respiration. Mechanics of respiration and gas exchanges. Gas transport between the lungs and tissues: structure and function of hemoglobin, the transport of carbon dioxide and the blood as a buffer. Regulation of the respiration: neural and chemical control of the breathing, respiratory adjustments during exercise.

         Renal physiology. Functional anatomy of the kidney, glomerular filtration, tubular processes of absorption and secretion, comparative properties of the nephron, water-salts balance.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

 Title: Fisiologia umana. Un approccio integrato - Editore: Pearson - Autore: D.U. Silverthorn - ISBN:  9788891909732

Title: Fisiologia Medica - Editore: EDRA - Autore:  Guyton at Hall - ISBN:9788821455414

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

LESSONS

LESSONS START

4th March 2024

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

Oral exam.  The oral exam, lasting about twenty minutes, involve one question of neurophysiology asked by one teachers of the commission. The grade will be mediated with the one of Human Physiology as regards the Physiology course of the Physiology and Biochemistry integrated course.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

Oral test aims to verify the basic knowledge presented in the program. Language properties, clarity of presentation, consequentiality of reasoning and analytical capacity are also evaluated.

Exam schedule