05181 - Physiology

Learning outcomes

Il corso di Fisiologia ha l'obiettivo di fornire la conoscenza della fisiologia delle cellule eccitabili, degli organi e apparati del corpo umano e dei meccanismi omeostatici di controllo. Al termine del corso lo studente: - ha una buona conoscenza dei fondamenti neurofisiologici del comportamento e delle interazioni sensoriali tra l'uomo e l'ambiente; - conosce i meccanismi funzionali degli organi e degli apparati; - è in grado di integrare queste conoscenze per comprendere i meccanismi di controllo neuroendocrino delle funzioni vegetative.

Course contents

Cellular Physiology


Membrane diffusion and transport

Types of movement across membrane. Passive transport. Active transport.Voltage-dependent channels and channels dependent by chemical substances. Chemical modulation of voltage-dependent channels.



Electrical events of membrane
Membrane potential: physical and chemical bases of membrane potential and resting ionic flow. Action-potential: its origin. Threshold. Absolute and relative refractory period. Action-potential propagation in myelinated and unmyelinated axons.



Synapses
Chemical Synapses: functional anatomy. Presynaptic and postsynaptic mechanisms of chemical transmission. Graduated potentials: excitatory and inhibitory potentials. Classic neurotransmitters and neuropeptides: syntesis, release, inactivation, interaction with their receptors.



Skeletal muscle
Structure of skeletal-muscle cell. Molecular mechanism of the contraction. Excitation-contraction coupling. Control of skeletal muscle. Neuromuscular synaptic transmission. Organization of muscle system.



Smooth muscle
Classification of smooth muscles. Structure of smooth-muscle cell. Mechanism of the contraction. Control of the contraction of smooth muscle: chemical and hormonal modulation of muscolar contraction.




General Physiology

Functional organization of the Nervous system

Anatomic and functional organization of the central and peripheral nervous system. Neural circuits; Reflex arc.Glial cells. Blood-brain barrier. Maps of cerebral cortex.

Sensory systems

General principles of sensory physiology. Functional organization of sensory systems. Structure and function of sensory receptors.

Visual system

Eye structure. Vitreous body, acqueous humor and vascular structures of the eye. Optical properties of the eye. Accommodation reflex. Pupilary reflex. Alterations of the eye. Photoreceptors and retina. Ocular movements. Central Visual pathways.

Motor control

Hierarchical organizations of the motor system. Reflex movements. Higher control of reflexes. Voluntary movement.

Autonomic nervous system

Anatomo-functional organization of autonomic nervous system. Sympathetic and parasympathetic section. Chemical pre and postganglionic transmitters. Cholinergic-nicotinic and muscarinic receptors. Adrenergic alfa and beta receptors. Effects of sympathetic and parasympathetic stimulation on different organs and systems. Autonomic Reflexes. Enteric nervous system. Central control of autonomic nervous system and interactions with neuroendocrine system.




Hormonal and Reproductive systems

Homonal control mechanisms

General basis of hormonal physiology. Classification of hormones and mechanisms of hormonal action. Mechanisms of control of hormonal secretion.

Hypothalamus-Hypophysis Axes

Role of hypothalamus and pituitary on the control of hormone secretion.

Male Reproductive functions
Male reproductive functions. Hormonal control of male reproductive functions.

Female reproductive functions 1

Hormonal control of menstrual cycle and endometrial changes.

Female reproductive functions 2

Fertilization, pregnancy, delivery and lactation.

Respiratory systems

Pulmonary ventilation

Functional anatomy of respiratory systems; characteristics and functions of cunducting zone and of alveolar wall. Mechanics of the pulmonary ventilation. Alveolar and intrapleural pressure changes during the respiratory cycle. Ventilation and alveolar perfusion. Basics of nervous and chemical regulation of breathing.



Exchanges of gases in lungs and tissues
Composition of atmospheric air and alveolar air. Differences in pressure of oxygen and carbon dioxide in lungs and tissues. Factors involved in gas exchange in lungs and tissues.



Transport of oxygen and carbon dioxide
Transport of oxygen and carbon dioxide in blood. Oxygen-hemoglobin dissociation curve and its functional implications.




Cardiovascular system

Organization of cardiovascular system

Overall design of cardiovascular system. Characteristics of the great and small circulation. Functional anatomy of heart; structure of myocardium.


Mechanical activity of heart
Mechanical events of cardiac cycle. Blood pressure and volume changing in atria and ventricules. Pressure in aortic artery.



Electrical activity of heart
Electrical characteristics of cardiac cells. Genesis of cardiac cycle. Electrical conduction system of the heart. Refractory period of the heart. Control of excitation and condution in the heart.



Control of cardiac output
Cardiac output: normal values and range of variation. Mechanisms of regulation of cardiac output: control of heart rate and stroke volume.



Vascular network
Characteristics and functions of vascular network: arteries, arterioles, capillaries, veins, lymphatic vessels. Diffusion across the capillary wall. Regulation of local hematic flow.



Regulation of systemic arterial pressure
Values of arterial pressure. Systems of regulation of arterial pressure : short (baroreceptive reflex), medium (hormons, stress-relaxation mechanism, hemodynamic) and long-term (renal) control.








Renal system

Basic renal process

Functional anatomy of kidney. Functions of renal network. Process involved in urine production. Glomerular filtration: glomerular filtration barrier, velocity of filtration, physiological control of glomerular filtration. Tubular reabsorptions and secretions.



Balance of sodium and water and regulation of diuresis
Regulation of osmolarity and volemia. Production of hyposmotic and hyperosmotic urine. Mechanism of urine concentration: the countercurrent multiplier system. Functions of antidiuretic hormone. Regulation of sodium reabsorption.





Gastrointestinal system

Motility and secretion of gastrointestinal system
Structure of the gastrointestinal tract wall. Nervous and hormonal regulation of functions of gastrointestinal system. Motility of the gastrointestinal system and its regulation. Fundamentals of the secretory activity of the gastrointestinal system and its regulation.


Digestion and absorption
Secretions of saliva, of pancreas, of the stomach, of the small/large intestine, and their role in digestion. Digestion and absorption of carbohydrates. Digestion and absorption of proteins. Digestion and absorption of fats.

Readings/Bibliography

Suggested textbooks:

FISIOLOGIA dalle molecole ai sistemi integrati. Carbone, Aicardi & Maggi, II ed. EdiSES 2018.

VANDER FISIOLOGIA- Widmaier et al., 2018, casa ed. Ambrosiana.

FISIOLOGIA - Stanfield, IV ediz, Edises, 2012

also:

Fisiologia – un approccio integrato. Silverthorn. Pearson Education Italia - 2010.

Fisiologia medica. Guyton & Hall, XIV edizione italiana, 2021

Teaching methods

Frontal lessons using Power Point presentations.

Interactive methods (e.g. Kahoot, Quizizz, etc…) learned in recent didactic laboratories of UNIBO will also be added, so to have a richer interaction among students and between students and professor.

Assessment methods

The final examination consists of an oral test in which the student will discuss mainly two different topics taken from the program. As part of the interview, questions will also be asked to evaluate the depth of the knowledge on the two topics and on other topics of the program, the critical thinking ability that links together different aspects of knowledge and the achievement of a comprehensive understanding of the topics addressed in class.

The exam will be considered passed if the student has demonstrated sufficient knowledge in each topic.

The student’s ability to move across the various topics of the Physiology program will be also evaluated. The student’s achievement of a comprehensive view of the topics addressed in class, together with their critical thought, the ability to make associations, the demonstration of rich and intelligible expression and use of specialist’s language will be evaluated with scores of excellence.

Teaching tools

Lectures will be done in a Power Point presentation format. The material for the slides (e.g. figures, photos) will come mainly from the suggested textbooks. All teaching material will be available on the designated digital platforms (servers) of the University.

In order to prepare for the exam it is suggested to attend actively the lectures, study from a textbook and use both the notes taken during lectures and the material put by the tutor on the server of the University.

Links to further information

https://site.unibo.it/fattori-lab/en

Office hours

See the website of Patrizia Fattori

See the website of Rossella Breveglieri