- Docente: Domenico Tupone
- Credits: 6
- SSD: BIOS-06/A
- Language: English
- Teaching Mode: In-person learning (entirely or partially)
- Campus: Bologna
- Corso: Single cycle degree programme (LMCU) in Medicine and Surgery (cod. 6734)
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from Oct 05, 2026 to Dec 11, 2026
Learning outcomes
Understand the importance of the integration of physiological processes from the molecular level to complex systems, with due attention to sex differences. Describe the functional properties of cardiac muscle and vascular smooth muscle, and their hormonal and nervous control. Outline the functional organization and integrated control of the cardiovascular system, and discuss the mechanisms that regulate blood pressure and cardiac output. Describe the principles of pulmonary mechanics and gas exchange, gas transport in blood, and the regulation of respiration. Recognize physiological adaptations of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems to physical activity and stress.
Course contents
- Overview of the Circulation
- Hemodynamics
- Cardiac Muscle
- The Heart
- Stroke Volume
- Cardiac Output
- Cardiac metabolism
- Smooth Muscle
- Circulation
- Integrated control of the cardiovascular system
- Dynamic respiratory mechanics
- Static respiratory mechanics.
- Pulmonary gas exchange
- Transport of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood
- Control of breathing
Readings/Bibliography
1) Berne & Levy, Physiology , 7th Edition. Authors: Koeppen & Stanton
2) Medical Physiology, 3rd Editios. Authors: Boron & Boulpaep
3) Medical Physiology, 13th Edition. Author: John E. Hall
4) Cardiovascular Physiology, 10th Edition, Authors: Pappano & Wier
5) Medical Physiology, 3rd Edition. Authors: Michelle M. Cloutier
6) Basic Cardiovascular Physiology: From Molecules to Translational Medical Science, Authors: Pasquale Pagliaro, Claudia Penna, Raffaella Rastaldo. River Publishers Series in Research and Business Chronicles: Biotechnology and Medicine
Teaching methods
Teaching is delivered through lectures supported by slide presentations to facilitate understanding of the course topics.
Attendance to learning activities is mandatory; the minimum attendance requirement to be admitted to the final exam is 66% of lessons. For Integrated Courses (IC), the 66% attendance requirement refers to the total amount of I.C. lessons. Students who fail to meet the minimum attendance requirement will not be admitted to the final exam of the course, and will have to attend relevant classes again during the next academic year.
Professors may authorise excused absences upon receipt of proper justifying documentation, in case of illness or serious reasons. Excused absences do not count against a student’s attendance record to determine their minimum attendance requirement.
Assessment methods
Assessment consists of an oral examination.
The final grade is calculated proportionally to the number of credits assigned to each subject within the Integrated Course (I.C.): Physiology (7 credits), Anatomy (3 credits), and Semiology (1 credit).
Assessment is graded on a 30-point scale, with the possibility of 30 cum laude. A minimum score of 18/30 is required to pass each subject within the Integrated Course.
Additional details regarding the examination format and assessment criteria will be provided during the course each academic year.
Teaching tools
- PowerPoint presentations.
- Course materials available on the University of Bologna Virtual Learning Environment (Virtuale).
Office hours
See the website of Domenico Tupone