05181 - Physiology

Learning outcomes

To understand and learn the key biophysical principles applied to cell membranes; to understand the basics of human physiology, with a focus on the mechanisms that maintain vital functions.

Course contents

Course introduction: expected learning outcomes, course objectives, recommended textbooks, university IT resources.

Introduction to physiology and its general principles; exchange of substances across the cell membrane.

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

Synaptic transmission. Chemical and electrical synapses. General overview of neurotransmitters and receptors.

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

The autonomic nervous system: anatomo-functional organization and functions of the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems.

Sensory systems: general characteristics. Chemical senses: taste and smell. Physiology of pain.

General aspects of blood and its functions. Determinants of ultrafiltration according to Starling equilibrium. Cardiovascular system: general aspects. Cardiac pump. Intrinsic properties of the heart. Blood flow in the cardiac chambers. Cardiac valves. Cardiac conduction system. Action potentials in working myocardium and specialized myocardium. Electrophysiological basis of the electrocardiogram.

Phases of the cardiac cycle. Values of aortic pressure, left ventricular pressure, and left ventricular volume during the cardiac cycle. Definitions of end-systolic volume, end-diastolic volume, stroke volume. Definitions of systolic, diastolic, and pulse pressure. Contribution of arterial elasticity and arteriolar resistance to pulse pressure. Principles of arterial pressure measurement using the Riva-Rocci method and practical demonstration. Definition and reference values of cardiac output. Poiseuille’s law. Total resistance in systems arranged in series and in parallel. Contribution of different vascular segments to total peripheral resistance. Blood pooling in dependent limbs during standing (orthostatism).

Functional anatomy of the respiratory system. Upper and lower airways. Ventilatory mechanics. Muscles of ventilation. Intrapleural pressure, pneumothorax. Changes in alveolar and pleural pressure during a ventilatory cycle. Direct spirometry. Lung volumes and capacities. Indirect spirometry. Dead space. Pulmonary and alveolar ventilation. Composition of ambient air and gases in the airways and alveoli. Alveolar-capillary gas exchange: alveolar-capillary membrane, partial pressures of oxygen and carbon dioxide in systemic arterial and venous blood. Hemoglobin saturation curve. Role of erythrocytes in carbon dioxide transport.

Functional anatomy of the kidney and nephron. Composition of urine. Glomerular filtration barrier. Glomerular filtration rate. General mechanisms of tubular reabsorption and secretion.

General aspects of the endocrine system: general principles of hormone action and regulation of endocrine secretion. Hypothalamus and pituitary gland. Calcium balance: parathyroid hormone, vitamin D, calcitonin.

Readings/Bibliography

Zocchi L., Principi di Fisiologia. EdiSeS, II Edizione.

Belfiore, Berteotti, Biella, Buffelli, et al., Fisiologia umana. Fondamenti, Edi- ermes.

R.M. Berne, M.N. Levy, FISIOLOGIA (a cura di, B.R. Koeppen, B.A. Stanton), 7a Edizione, Milano Casa Editrice Ambrosiana.

Conti, Fisiologia Medica, Edi-ermes, 3a Edizione, Volumi I e II.

Teaching methods

The course is entirely delivered through in-person lectures, supported by electronic slides and video materials. The visual content presented during lectures is mainly taken from the recommended textbooks.

The lectures will be supplemented with review sessions using specific apps.

Demonstrative practical sessions are planned for groups of students.

Assessment methods

The assessment is designed to verify that students have acquired the theoretical knowledge related to the topics presented during the lectures.

The exam is held in written form and consists of 33 true/false questions to be completed within 25 minutes. Each correct answer is worth one point; incorrect answers do not incur any penalty. If more than 30 points are obtained, the final grade will be 30 with honors (30 cum laude).

During the exam, the use of support materials such as textbooks, notes, or electronic devices is not permitted.

If a student decides to retake the exam, regardless of the outcome, the result of the previous exam will be automatically cancelled.

The grade obtained in the Physiology exam will be combined as a weighted average with the grades obtained in the concurrent Histology and Human Anatomy exams, forming the final grade of the integrated course, which will be expressed on a 30-point scale.

To take the exam, registration in the appropriate lists published on AlmaEsami (https://almaesami.unibo.it/almaesami/welcome.htm ) is required.

Students with learning disabilities or temporary/permanent disabilities are invited to contact the dedicated office (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/it/per-studenti ) as soon as possible in order to arrange appropriate accommodations. The request must be submitted in advance (at least 15 days before the exam date) to the instructor, who will assess the suitability of the measures, taking into account the learning objectives.

Teaching tools

The visual and textual materials used during lectures are made available to students in electronic format on the website https://iol.unibo.it/ . This material, accessible via username and password, is reserved for UNIBO students.

Office hours

See the website of Chiara Berteotti