35289 - Veterinary Physiology I

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course, the student will have understood and know in detail the fundamental mechanisms that regulate cellular function and intercellular communication strategies, which preside over the functions of the nervous system and the modulation of vegetative functions. He/she will have learned and be able to analyze digestive strategies in different species in order to build the theoretical basis of animal nutrition and feeding.

Course contents

The teaching consists of 2 parts: Module 1 which covers lectures and Module 2 which covers the practical part.

Module 1: Prof.ssa Maria Laura Bacci

An outline of general physiology of the cell. Active and passive transports across membranes. Resting transmembrane potential. Cell excitability. Communication between cells: the synapses.
The blood. Composition of both plasma and interstitial fluids. Mechanisms regulating pH; alcalosis, acidosis. Plasma proteins: origin, functions. Haemostasis. Erythrocytes: their production and destruction. Haemoglobin: synthesis, metabolism, functions. Leukocytes. Physiological basis of immunity.
The nervous system. Neuron and its excitability. Membrane potential, voltage-dependent ion channels. Action potential and its conducibility in myelinated and unmyelinated fibres. Synapsis. Neurotransmitters. Receptors and receptor potential. The reflex; spinal reflexes. The spinal cord. The sensitive cortex. The control of motor activity. Proprioceptivity, the cerebellum. Regulation of muscle tone. Hypothalamus and pituitary. The autonomic nervous system: distribution and organization.
The gastrointestinal tract. Digestive strategies in domestic species. Regulation of appetite. Prehension, mastication. Salivary secretion; composition and functions of saliva. Swallowing and esophageal function. The stomach; contraction and secretions and their control mechanisms. The vomit. The pancreas and the liver: functions, secretions and their controls. Digestion and absorption in small intestine. The large intestine. Intestinal motility and its control.The forestomach; contractions of the reticulum and rumen and their regulation. Rumination, eructation. Microorganisms in the rumen; metabolism of carbohydrates, proteins and fats in the forestomach. Absorption from the forestomach. Control of prestomacal motility.

Module 2: Dr. Domenico Ventrella

4h laboratory activities focused on blood physiology

During laboratory activities, the student learns to perform various manual skills including preparing saline (NaCl 0.9%) and its dilutions, performing a blood smear on a slide and subsequent staining for leukocyte and reticulocyte differential counts, and the erythrocyte osmotic resistance test. In addition, the student has the opportunity to refine knowledge and use of commonly used laboratory instruments such as micropipettes, centrifuges and spectrophotrometers.

2h of interactive "problem-based" activities on the physiology of coagulation

The interactive "problem-based" physiology activity aims to clarify and fix key points inherent in the phenomenon of coagulation through the use of clinical cases that students, divided into groups, will have to study and expose to the rest of the group. These activities are also useful in introducing students to scientific language and the process of diagnostic reasoning that starts from physiological knowledge.

2h of seminar and interactive discussion on the physiology of vision in different animal species.

Finally, during the physiology of vision interactive seminar, students have the chance to understand how different electrophysiology methodologies, both clincal and experimental, allow for a deeper comprehension of the physiological processes underlying vision.

The Syllabus of the course unit and the list of EAEVE Day One Competences that the course unit contributes to achieving can be viewed on the dedicated page.

Readings/Bibliography

For the preparation of the present exam it is necessary to have acquired and internalized the competences related to the propaedeutic exams of the first year.

Attendance to the course is mandatory, so the personal lesson notes are used as a track. Using colleagues' notes is not the best choice as they are the result of a personal processing of those who took notes.

Slides are recoverable from the web site (Virtuale);  SLIDE are important BUT not exhaustive in the absence of lecture notes and lecture notes are not an alternative to the textbook.

The study on the textbook is also essential.

The suggested textbook:

"Physiology of Domestic Animals" Sjaastadt-Sand-Hove. Scandinavian Veterinary Press second edition (2010). Chapters 2,3,4,5,9,15.

Other textbook:

Duke's Physiology of domestic Animals, 12th Edition. William O'Reace Editor.

Teaching methods

1. Classroom lectures in which personal involvement is strongly advocated;
2. Seminars on specific topics (e.g., Vision physiology);
3. Interactive problem-based physiology activities;
4. Hands-on laboratory lessons involving the student's acquisition of correct manual skills;
5. Visit to the teaching barn for observational studies;
6. Self-assessment test available on EOL to be taken prior to taking the exam.

All students who attend, for study and research purposes, places where practical activities take place, are equated, as far as their safety is concerned, with workers and as such must be trained on the correct procedures to be adopted and followed in activities with specific risks.

They must therefore be trained on the 3 modules on safety at work.

When entering the laboratory and the barn, each student is explained what the specific risks are and given appropriate PPE; the attendance signature attests to the handing over of the devices and the illustration of the risks.

Assessment methods

PREREQUISITE
Students can sit the exam only after passing the following 1 year courses: Applied Physics, Computer Science and Statistics; Veterinary Histology, Anatomy and Zoology; Chemistry and Structural Biochemistry; Clinical Veterinary Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; Systemic and Comparative Veterinary Anatomy.

FREQUENCY

Frequency will successfully be granted with attendance to at least 50% of the theoretical lectures hours and 75% of the practical ones. The assessment of frequencies will be performed by collecting signatures with the instrument of self-certification or nominal call for oral lectures, and through signature collection for practical activities. Within 10 days after the end of the course, self-certification, duly filled and signed, must be delivered, also by email, to the teacher.

Students followed by the Disability or DSA Service.
Any communication or request, during the course of classes or for the performance of the final exam, addressed to teachers by students followed by the above-mentioned service, must be made by written email, also sent for information to the contact person of the service that took charge of the student, for the appropriate support to the teacher.

Evaluation of the examination
The evaluation is expressed in thirtieths. The test is passed with at least 18/30. In case of the highest grade (30/30), honors may be awarded.

The student has the right to refuse the verbalization of the positive grade, proposed by the committee, 1 time only, although it is discouraged.

Course examination

(a) At the end of the course, the lecturer will schedule a few appointments for the practical test on Almaesami. This test, aimed at assessing practical skills acquired during the labs, must be taken before attending the Physiology exam.

(b) On the day of the exam, all candidates registered on Almaesami must be present. Those who do not show up for the appeal are considered withdrawn and can sign up for the next call.

(c) All students will take a written exam on EOL, consisting of closed multiple-choice questions, in person.
(d) The written test is considered successful with at least 30 correct answers and the candidate continues with the exam. The result is displayed immediately.
(e) Those who do not reach this result may register for the next roll call.
(f) Candidates who have passed the written exam, will be distributed to the exam days according to the order of registration on Almaesami.

g) Oral examination consist of 1 question for each topic of the course, 5 in total. Criteria to evaluate knowledge and competences are:

• comprehension of all the requested topics:
• comprehension of the connections and comparisons between the different topics;
• capability of applying the acquired knowledge to both clinical and zootechincal scenarios;
• presentation and language skills

How the final grade is composed

The weight of the different parts for the achievement of the training objectives is represented as follows:

(a) 10%: practical test on the skills acquired in the laboratory (MAX 3 points/30).

(b) 20%: written exam result (MAX 6 points/30);

(c) 70%: Oral exam (MAX 21 points/30)

Examination standards

Very thorough knowledge of the topics covered in the course, together with high skills of critical analysis, linkage and confident command of specific terminology and excellent practical skills will be assessed with the highest marks (30-30L).

A thorough knowledge of the topics covered in the course, together with good analytical and critical skills and a secure command of specific terminology and good practical skills will be assessed with good grades (27-29).

Technically adequate preparation and sufficient, though not particularly articulate, analytical skills expressed in correct language and fair practical skills will produce fair grades (23-26).

Sufficient preparation and analytical skills, expressed in barely formally correct language and sufficient practical skills, will result in sufficiency (18-22).

Selfevaluation

After each topic, during oral lectures, selfevaluation tests to be taken in class may be used. Gradings will not be part of the final exam mark, but will allow the lecturer to assess the knowledge level at the given time.

 

Teaching tools

Projector, slides, laboratory, informatic laboratory, didactic stable. Teaching materials

Office hours

See the website of Maria Laura Bacci

See the website of Domenico Ventrella