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84312 - Physiology Laboratory of Cardiovascular and Respiratory Systems (G2)

Academic Year 2026/2027

  • Teaching Mode: In-person learning (entirely or partially)
  • Campus: Bologna
  • Corso: Single cycle degree programme (LMCU) in Medicine and Surgery (cod. 6734)

Learning outcomes

Describe the techniques to evaluate cardiovascular and respiratory function in man, and their main applications in medicine.

Course contents

The course consists of two parts. The first part is a lecture that provides a detailed explanation of the principles underlying the assessment of cardiovascular and respiratory function. The second part consists of practical sessions in which students work in small groups and gain hands-on experience measuring arterial blood pressure, oxygen saturation, electrocardiographic (ECG) activity, and respiratory function using direct and indirect spirometry.

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 prepared by the instructor and tutors to facilitate understanding of the course topics. Practical sessions provide students with hands-on experience using clinical equipment to measure arterial blood pressure, oxygen saturation, electrocardiographic (ECG) activity, and respiratory function by direct and indirect spirometry.

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).
  • Clinical equipment for the measurement of arterial blood pressure, oxygen saturation, electrocardiographic (ECG) activity, and respiratory function by direct and indirect spirometry.

Office hours

See the website of Domenico Tupone