Academic Year 2022/2023

  • Moduli: Konstantinos Chatzidimitrakis (Modulo 1) Elisabetta Ciani (Modulo 2)
  • Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures (Modulo 1) Traditional lectures (Modulo 2)
  • Campus: Bologna
  • Corso: Second cycle degree programme (LM) in Medical Biotechnology (cod. 9081)

Learning outcomes

Identify the morphology and function of specific organs and apparatuses of biotechnological interest in the context of clinical applications. Correlate concepts of integrative physiology of the human organism with pathophysiology. Select and interpret scientific data relevant to physiology and pathophysiology.

Course contents

[http://www.unibo.it/it/didattica/insegnamenti/insegnamento/2021/445293]

CELLULAR PHYSIOLOGY

Composition of intracellular and extracellular fluids. Passive and active exchange processes. Membrane ion channels. Equilibrium potential. Resting membrane potential. Genesis and propagation of the action potential. Graded potentials.

SYNAPTIC TRASMISSION

Chemical and electrical synapses. Postsynaptic potentials. Synaptic Integration. Neurotransmitters, neuromodulators and receptors.

SKELETAL, SMOOTH and CARDIAC MUSCLE

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

FUNCTIONAL ORGANIZATION OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM

Functions of the central and peripheral nervous system. Sensory coding, 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 hormone action and endocrine regulation. The hypothalamus and the pituitary gland. Amine, peptide and steroid hormones.

CARDIOVASCULAR FUNCTION

Circulation and hemodynamic. Electrical activity of the cardiac muscle. 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 cycle. 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. Primary active sodium reabsorption and coupling of water reabsorption to sodium reabsorption. Antidiuretic hormone. Aldosterone and the Renin-Angiotensin System.

 

[http://www.unibo.it/it/didattica/insegnamenti/insegnamento/2021/445293]

Elisabetta Ciani

  • 1-Prenatal and postnatal neurogenesis

2- Modulation of postnatal neurogenesis

3- Alterations of neurogenesis in genetic and neurodegenerative diseases

4- Immunolabeling methods for the detection and quantification of all stages of adult hippocampal neurogenesis (Laboratory).

Readings/Bibliography

Guyton & Hall, Textbook of Medical Physiology; 13rd ed.; Elsevier

Vander et al., Human Physiology: The Mechanism of Body Function; 8th ed; McGraw−Hill

Teaching methods

Lectures, covering the whole Course Program. The Course consists of 5 CFU, corresponding to 36 hours of teaching. The Course is held in parallel with the Course of Physiology (1CFU) consisting in 15 hours of Laboratory Practicals, either shown to large groups of students or directly performed by small groups of students. The Course of Physiology (Modulo 2) is held by Prof. Ciani. The Course is part of the Integrated Course of “Anatomical and Physiological Bases of Organ Pathologies”. Slides shown during lectures are mostly taken from suggested readings. If not, the reference is indicated.The Course is part of the Integrated Course of “Anatomical and Physiological Bases of Organ Pathologies”. Slides shown during lectures are mostly taken from suggested readings. If not, the reference is indicated.

Assessment methods

The final evaluation for the Module of Physiology is made through a written multiple 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 “Anatomical and Physiological Bases of Organ Pathologies”. A single mark for the whole Integrated Course is given.

Teaching tools

Lectures will be done using a set of slides (powerpoint) concerning each topic of the Course Program. The slides material will come mainly from the suggested textbooks. All relevant teaching material can be downloaded from the website https://iol.unibo.it/ by students enrolled at the University of Bologna (University institutional username and password required) .

In order to prepare for the exam it is suggested to attend the lectures, study from a textbook and use both the notes taken during lectures and the IOL material.

Office hours

See the website of Konstantinos Chatzidimitrakis

See the website of Elisabetta Ciani