65952 - Physiology

Academic Year 2013/2014

  • Docente: Elena Fabbri
  • Credits: 6
  • SSD: BIO/09
  • Language: Italian
  • Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures
  • Campus: Ravenna
  • Corso: First cycle degree programme (L) in Environmental Sciences (cod. 8011)

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, the student has aquired knowledge on general principles of organism functioning and of integration of their different functions through the endocrine and neural regulations. The student also knows the mechanisms of sensory reception of external stimuli nd the molecular mechanisms at the basis of environmental adaptation.

Course contents

The principles of homeostasis. The cell membrane: structure and functions. Diffusions and transports. Chemical communication: receptors and ligands. Endocrine control of organism functions: endocrine glands, hormones, and their target cells. Transduction pathways of lypophilic and hydrophilic hormones. Main vertebrate hormones and their effects.  Nervous control of organism functions: the neuron, resting membrane potential, action potential. Transmission of nervous signal, electric and chemical synapsis. Neutrotransmitters release and reuptake.

Readings/Bibliography

Fisiologia animale. A Poli. Zanichelli editore 2006

Teaching methods

Frontal lessons, practical activities in the laboratory

Assessment methods

The final examination wants to evaluate that students met the teaching objectives:

Knowledge on homeostasis principles

Knowledge on animal adaptation to the environment

Knowledge of cell membrane functions

Knowledge on endocrine and nervous control of organism functions

The final score will be the average of 3 marks reported on specific questions on the different topics. The students is invited to provide pertinent answers to 3 open questions in a relatively sinthetic manner through pertinent answers, also with the help of schemes and drawings.

This teaching  is part of an Integrated Course, the final grade will be proportional to the CFU of each teaching:

65951 - BIOCHIMICA  6CFU   50%
65952 - FISIOLOGIA 6CFU   50%

Teaching tools

Power point slides, animations.

Office hours

See the website of Elena Fabbri