88169 - Skin and Skin Annexes Physiology

Learning outcomes

After attending this course and passing the final exam, the student knows cytology, histology, anatomy and physiology of the skin and skin annexes, and the morphological and functional changes associated with the aging processes.

Course contents

Physiology of the integumentary system and the oral cavity: an overview.

Specific functions of the skin layers (epidermis, dermis and hypodermis) and skin annexes (hair, nails, sweat glands and sebaceous glands). Specific functions of the structures of the oral cavity (lips, tongue, palate, gums and teeth).

Protective functions: mechanical, physical (against radiations, temperature, electricity), chemical and biological (including immune) protection.

Permeability and prevention of dehydration.

Secretory functions and modulation of electrolyte balance. Vitamin D synthesis.

Sensory functions: physiology of sensory receptors for touch, proprioception, thermoception, pain (somatosensory system), smell (olfactory system) and taste (gustatory system); adequate stimuli, mechanisms of signal transduction, genesis and propagation of bioelectrical signals, ascending neural pathways, cortical representation and elaboration.

Thermoregulatory functions: vascularization of the skin, autonomic regulation, mechanisms of thermogenesis and thermodispersion.

Physiological changes of integumentary system and oral cavity structures during aging.

Practical exercises: exercises using interactive software; functional tests in humans.

Readings/Bibliography

Anatomy & Physiology, J. Gordon Betts et al., OpenStax, Rice University (Houston, Texas, U.S.A.), 2017. Can be downloaded for free at https://openstax.org/details/books/anatomy-and-physiology.

Articles and other materials provided in the classroom.

Teaching methods

Lectures are conducted in a classroom using Power Point presentations.

Practical exercises are carried out in a computer room; 1) Students are guided in the use of interactive software; 2) Students will learn to perform functional tests in humans.

Assessment methods

Student learning in the Integrated Course “Skin and skin annexes Anatomy and Physiology” will be assessed in two oral tests, both of them evaluated in thirtieths; students must have passed the first test to take the second one. 1) The first test concerns the teaching module "Skin and skin annexes Anatomy"; 2) the second test (which can be taken on the same day or later, within twelve months) concerns the teaching module "Skin and skin annexes Physiology". Each test is passed if the mark is equal to or higher than 18/30; the final mark is the arithmetic average of the marks reported in the two tests.

Teaching tools

Projector and Laptop

Office hours

See the website of Fiorenza Stagni