91310 - Physiology and Human Neurophysiology

Learning outcomes

The student, after the course, has the understanding of the functions of the human organism in its different and progressively more complex levels of organization (tissue cell, organ and apparatus) and how the various functions are integrated and regulated. It is able to analyze how the living organism obtains and maintains the homeostasis of its internal medium at the molecular, cellular and tissue level, in the context of changes in the surrounding environment and the unity of functional solutions devised by evolution includes the enunciation of physiological laws of a general nature, managing to apply them to man.

Course contents

Introduction

Concept of homeostasis and regulation of the internal environment. Body water compartments and their composition. Concept of acid, base and pH. Diffusion through non permeable membranes. Concept of osmolarity, osmotic and oncotic pressure. Concept of tone.

Physiology of cell membranes and ion channels

Structure and permeability of the cell membrane. Passive ion channels of potassium and sodium and their properties (selectivity filter and halo hydration). Introduction to variable access channels. Voltage-dependent sodium and potassium channels and their properties. Transporters (carriers) and their properties. The Sodium-Potassium pump. Concept of cotransport, uniport, antiport. Endocytosis and exocytosis.

Physiology of excitable cells

Ionic equilibria and equilibrium potentials. Genesis of the membrane potential at rest. The action potential: genesis and properties. Conduction of point-to-point and jumpy nerve impulse. Functional classification of nerve fibers. Synaptic transmission, neurotransmitters and receptors.

Physiology of synapses

Electrical synapses: description and properties. Chemical synapses: description and classification. Synthesis, liberation and destiny of the neurotransmitter. Postsynaptic receptors. Excitatory and inhibitory post-synaptic potential. Concept of decreasing electrotonic propagation. Signal integration: spatial and temporal summation. Neuronal networks: concept of convergence and divergence, series and parallel processing.

Physiology of the nervous system

Functional anatomy and histology of the brain and spinal cord. Functional aspects and organization of the nervous system. Reflex arch. Receptors and transduction mechanisms. Receptive fields. Tactile and dolorific sensitivity, sensitive pathways and their central integration. Neuromuscular spindles, motor neurons and motor pathways. Autonomic nervous system: orthosympathetic and parasympathetic.

Physiology of the muscle

Functional classification of muscle fibers (skeletal, cardiac and smooth). Contractile mechanism: excitation-contraction coupling. Neuromuscular junction. Contraction mechanics: simple muscle shock, summation, tetanus. Tension-length curve. Motor unit and gradation of contraction. Smooth muscle functional characteristics and differences with striated muscle.

Physiology of blood and hemostasis

Functions and composition of blood. Hematocrit. Red blood cells and their functions, hemoglobin, concepts of erythropoiesis and erythrocateresis. White blood cells: granulocytes and mononucleates, their percentages and functions. Notes on inflammation (concepts of chemotaxis, diapedesis and phagocytosis) and immunity (concepts of antigen, antibody, innate immunity, acquired, humoral and cell-mediated). Platelets and megakaryocytes. Plasma: the main constituents and their functions. Definition of serum. The three phases of hemostasis. Coagulation and fibrinolysis. Blood Groups and Rh Factor.

Physiology of the heart and circulation

Macro and microscopic anatomy of the heart. Common myocardium and specific myocardium. Electrical activity of the heart: electrical and mechanical properties of the heart muscle. Notes on the genesis of the electrocardiogram. The heart as a pump and the heart valves. Mechanical events of the cardiac cycle. Systolic throw and cardiac throw: intrinsic and extrinsic control; cardiac work. Innervation of the heart. Anatomy of the circulatory system. Functions of elastic arteries, arterioles, capillaries, venules and veins. Notes on the lymphatic vessels. Water exchanges between the plasma and interstitial compartments. Nervous control of blood pressure. Measurement of blood pressure.

Physiology of the respiratory system

Macro and microscopic anatomy of the respiratory system. Anatomical Dead Space. Alveolar-capillary barrier. Breathing concept. Respiratory movements. Intrapleural depression. Lung volumes and capacity. Lung ventilation. Concept of gas diffusion and partial pressure of a gas. Composition of atmospheric and alveolar air. Diffusion of gases through the alveoli-capillary barrier. Transport of oxygen and carbon dioxide into the blood. Dissociation curve of hemoglobin. Notes on the nervous control of breathing.

Physiology of the kidney

Anatomy of the kidney. Structure and function of the nephron. Self-regulation of renal blood flow. Glomerular ultrafiltration: concepts of glomerular filtration rate, filtration fraction and net filtration pressure. Tubular absorption and secretion: concept of maximum transport mechanism. Overview of the main ionic transports and the mechanisms of urine concentration.

Physiology of the digestive system

Macro and microscopic anatomy of the digestive system (buccal cavity, pharynx, esophagus, stomach, small and large intestine). Functions of the digestive system. Motility (segmentation and propulsion) characteristics of different districts (swallowing, esophageal and intestinal peristalsis, austrations and mass movements). Information on the digestion (pancreatic enzymes, enteric, bile) and absorption (function of intestinal villi) of nutrients. Daily balance of income and expenditure.

Physiology of the endocrine system

Concept of hormone, exocrine gland and endocrine. Anatomy and functions of the hypothalamus axis - pituitary: releasing and inhibiting factors and their significance. Notes on the actions of somatotrophic hormone and prolactin. Neuropituitary and neurosecreted. Notes on the actions of antidiuretic hormone and oxytocin. Overview of the main endocrine glands of the body and the actions and controls of the different hormones produced (thyroid and parathyroid hormones; insulin and glucagon; aldosterone, cortisol and catecholamines; male and female sex hormones).

Readings/Bibliography

It is possible to use any recently published Physiology text, together with lessons.

Suggested texts:

Zocchi. Principles of physiology. Publishing house EDISES.

Battle. Human Physiology. Publishing House Mc Graw Hill.

Teaching methods

Lectures with practical examples of clinical applications.

Assessment methods

Written test with 11 closed questions, each with 4 possible answers, of which only one is required (false). It is enough to correctly answer 6 questions to pass the exam. If the written test is sufficient, it is possible to take an additional oral test; in any case, the vote of the written test will be questioned.

The partial grade obtained for each module will be mediated (weighted average by number of credits) with the partial marks obtained in the other modules of the integrated course.

Teaching tools

PowerPoint presentations with added audiovisual tools (movies, animations, etc.). All PowerPoint presentations shown during lectures are provided personally to students in pdf format from the first day of class.

Office hours

See the website of Daniela Cevolani