OVERVIEW

The course aims to provide basic knowledge of the physiology of cells and the human organism. These notions constitute an essential basis for understanding the functional aspects of the organism and its interactions with drugs and other chemical and physical agents with biological activity, i.e. capable of modifying physiological or pathological conditions of the organism or of its systems and apparatus.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The aim of the course is to provide knowledge relating to the general principles and common mechanisms that regulate cellular functions: intercellular communication; propagation of nerve impulses, synaptic transmission, sensory receptors, muscle contraction. Illustrate the fundamental aspects of the functions of the main organs and systems with reference to the relational life and vegetative life of the human being: nervous system, blood circulation, breathing, excretion-osmoregulation, nutrition-bioenergetics; endocrinology; reproduction.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The teaching aims to provide the student with the ability to apply the knowledge acquired to solve questions related to real contexts and present the topics covered in the program in a reasoned manner.

PREREQUISITES

The learning of physiology requires basic knowledge of the following subjects: mathematics, physics, general chemistry, organic chemistry.

TEACHING METHODS

Classroom lessons with exercises and support material on AulaWeb. Constant involvement of students through interactive activities and quizzes carfried out on online platform.

Any Student with documented Specific Learning Disorders (SLD), or with any special needs, shall reach out to the Lecturer(s) and to the dedicated SLD Representative in the Department ( Prof. Luca Raiteri, Luca.Raiteri@unige.it ) before class begins, in order to liaise and arrange the specific learning methods and ensure proper achievement of the learning aims and outcomes. VERY IMPORTANT: any request for compensatory tools and adaptations in the exam MUST be done within 10 working days before the date of the exam according to the instructions that can be found at https://unige.it/disabilita-dsa/comunicazioni

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

General principles

Definition of Physiology.
Characteristics of living beings.
Chemical composition of living matter.
Homeostasis and adaptation.

Cell

Cell membrane. Diffusion, osmosis. Membrane transport.
Cellular communication. Signal molecules, receptors. Signal transduction pathways.
Equilibrium and diffusion potentials. Donnan equilibrium, pump and leak model, RVD, RVI.
Membrane currents and EF measurements. Action potential.
Calcium signals and homeostasis.
Synapses.

Systems

Central nervous system. Brain, midbrain, cerebellum. Effector systems.
Sensory system, skin receptors. Eye, receptor retina, neural retina. Hearing. Vestibular system, taste, smell.
Endocrine system, hypothalamic-pituitary axis, epiphysis, thyroid. Parathyroids, calcium balance, adrenals. Glycogen metabolism. Endocrine gonads.
Muscle system, striated muscle fiber, mechanics of contraction. Types of contraction, types of muscle fibers.
Body fluids, blood composition. Hemostasis, lymphatic system. Immune defense.
Cardiovascular system, electrical activity, contraction. Cardiac cycle. Vessels, flow, pressure, capillaries. Veins, pressure regulation.
Respiratory system, respiratory dynamics. Lung volumes, gas exchange, oxygen transport. Breathing control, CO2 transport, perfusion/ventilation ratio.
Kidney, filtration absorption. Urine concentration, water-salt balance. Acid/base regulation, alkalosis, acidosis.
Digestive system, digestive glands, stomach. Liver, pancreas. Intestinal motility, absorption.
Male reproductive system. Female reproductive system, cycle. Fertilization, pregnancy.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

D’Angelo, Peres. Fisiologia. Edi-Ermes

Sherwood. Fisiologia Umana. Zanichelli

Widmaier, Raff, Strang. Vander Fisiologia. Casa Editrice Ambrosiana

Silverthorn. Fisiologia Umana. Pearson 

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

BRUNO PIETRO BURLANDO (President)

GIORGIO GRASSELLI

ILARIA DEMORI (Substitute)

LESSONS

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

Oral exam with "problem solving" type questions with multi-modal answers constructed by the student.

For example, questions such as: "Tell me about the kidney" will not be asked.

The questions will instead be of the type: "As you can see, I am moving my hand; how is it possible that this happens?". The best possible answers involve the description of a cause-effect mechanism which, in the specific case, can recall neuromuscular interactions, or mechanisms of muscle contraction, etc.

The conduction of the exam is distinctly interactive so as to make the influences of emotional components such as amnesia, anxieties, etc. irrelevant in the student's performance. The objective is to objectively evaluate the actual preparation of the candidate regardless of any disturbing actions exerted by his/her emotional state of the moment.

The aforementioned examination methods are repeatedly illustrated and considered during the lessons.

Furthermore, in the first lessons and in subsequent reminders, the ways of optimizing study are illustrated in detail, which students should and are invited to adopt to significantly maximize the performance of the learning mechanisms and preparation for the exam.
 

ASSESSMENT METHODS

See the Exam Description section

Exam schedule