05181 - Physiology

Learning outcomes

At the end of the Course the student knows human body functions under their different and progressively more complex levels of organization (cell, tissue, organ, system) and the modalities through which these functions are integrated and regulated. The student is able to understand how the living organism gets and maintains body fluid homeostasis at molecular, cellular and tissue level under the challenges from the external environment. Moreover, from the unitary solutions of animal evolution understands both the general aspects of the laws of physiology and their possible application to human body functions.

 

Course contents

EXCHANGE PROCESSES BETWEEN THE CELL AND THE ENVIRONMENT

Composition of intracellular and extracellular fluids. Passive and active exchange processes.

RESTING MEMBRANE POTENTIAL AND ACTION POTENTIAL

Membrane ion channels. Resting membrane potential. Excitable cells. Genesis and propagation of the action potential.

SYNAPTIC TRANSMISSION

Chemical and electrical synapses. General information on neurotransmitters and receptors.
SKELETAL, SMOOTH and CARDIAC MUSCLE

Skeletal muscle. Mechanism of muscle contraction. Neuromuscular transmission. Motor unit and gradation of contraction force. Smooth muscle and cardiac muscle: regulation of contraction.

FUNCTIONS OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM

Functional anatomy of the central and peripheral nervous system. Somatosensory receptors. Reflex activity. Sensory and motor pathways. The cerebral cortex. The autonomic nervous system: anatomical and functional organization. Functions of the parasympathetic and of the sympathetic nervous systems.

GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF THE ENDOCRINE FUNCTION

General principles of hormone action and endocrine regulation. The hypothalamus and the pituitary gland. Hormones involved in energy metabolism regulation.

CARDIOVASCULAR FUNCTION

Electrical activity of the specific and common myocardium. Origin and propagation of cardiac excitation. Phases and mechanical events of the cardiac cycle. Stroke volume and cardiac output. Control of heart function. Principles of electrocardiography. Organizational and functional aspects of the circulatory system. Blood pressure and velocity across the different sections of the circulatory system. Functions of arteries and arterioles. Capillary exchanges. Nervous and humoral regulation of peripheral circulation. Blood pressure regulation.

RESPIRATORY FUNCTION

Respiratory muscles and respiratory movements. Alveolar and pleural pressures. Pulmonary volumes and capacities. Composition of atmospheric and alveolar air. Diffusion of respiratory gases. Blood transport of oxygen and carbon dioxide. Chemical and nervous regulation of respiration: respiratory centers; peripheral and central chemoreceptors.

RENAL FUNCTION

General aspects of the renal function: ultrafiltration, secretion, reabsorption. Ultrafiltration process: pressure balance and net filtration pressure. Ultrafiltration rate. Mechanisms of urine concentration and dilution: optional reabsorption of water and its regulation.

DIGESTIVE FUNCTION

General aspects of the motor, secretory and absorption functions of the digestive system and of their nervous and humoral regulation.

Readings/Bibliography

One of the following textbooks can be used

- E. Battaglia, R. Amici. Fisiologia umana per le professioni sanitarie. Mc Graw Hill, 2° Edizione 2013

- F. Martini. Fondamenti di Anatomia e Fisiologia. EdiSES, 3° Edizione, 2010

 

Teaching methods

Lectures, covering the whole Course Program. The Course consists of 3 CFU, corresponding to 36 hours of teaching. The Course is part of the Integrated Course of “Physiological Sciences”. Slides shown during lectures are mostly taken from suggested readings. If not, the reference is indicated.

Assessment methods

The final evaluation for the Course of Physiology (Nursery) is made through a written single choice test based on the topics discussed during the lectures. The evaluation is made in concomitance with that of the other disciplines of the Integrated Course of “Physiological Sciences”. A single mark for the whole Integrated Course is given.

The final evaluation for the Course of Physiology (Obstetrics) is made through an oral examination  based on the topics discussed during the lectures. The evaluation is made in concomitance with that of the other disciplines of the Integrated Course of “Anatomy, Histology and Physiology”. A single mark for the whole Integrated Course is given.

 

Teaching tools

Set of slides concerning each topic of the Course Program can be downloaded from the website http://campus.unibo.it by students enrolled at the University of Bologna (University institutional username and password required) .

Office hours

See the website of Roberto Amici