06551 - Neurophysiology

Learning outcomes

At the end of the module the student acquires the knowledge of the functional organization of the nervous system, in particular the mechanisms underlying synaptic transmission, the action of sensory receptors, reflex motor functions, control of voluntary movement, vegetative and nervous functions to nervous functions of higher order.

Course contents

1) Morphological and functional organization of the central and peripheral nervous system.

2) The somatosensory system:

- organization of the dorsal column-medial lemniscus pathway (tactile information);

- organization of the anterolateral pathway (pain and its modulation);

- trigeminal pathway.

3) Motor pathways and movement control (physiological aspects and hints on dysfunctions):

- medial and lateral motor pathways

- cerebellum

- basal ganglia

4) Spinal reflexes (circuits and activation):

- myotatic reflex

- myotatic inverse reflex

- cruciate flexion and extension reflex

5) Autonomous Nervous System:

- sympathetic system

- parasympathetic system

- enteric system

6) Central integrative systems (circadian cycle, sleep and memory)

Readings/Bibliography

- FISIOLOGIA dalle molecole ai sistemi integrati. Carbone, Cicirata & Aicardi et al., EdiSES 2018.

- VANDER FISIOLOGIA. Widmaier Eric P., Raff Hershel, Strang Kevin T.; Ambrosiana Editori, 2018

- Fisiologia medica. Guyton & Hall, Edra Ed., XIV edizione italiana, 2021

Teaching methods

Frontal lessons using Power Point presentations.

Assessment methods

The final exam consists of an oral exam in which the student will discuss two different topics from the program. The exam will be considered passed if the student has demonstrated sufficient knowledge in both topics. In particular, if the answer is deemed sufficient, each question is evaluated with a variable score between 18 and 30 with honors. The achievement by the student of an organic vision of the topics discussed in the exam combined with their critical use, the demonstration of an expressive mastery and specific language are evaluated with marks of excellence. The mostly mechanical and / or mnemonic knowledge of the subject, the capacity for synthesis and analysis not articulated and / or a correct but not always appropriate language lead to discrete evaluations; training gaps and / or inappropriate language lead to grades that do not exceed sufficiency. Each of the two questions weighs for one half in the calculation of the final grade. Insufficient evaluation of the answer to even one of the two questions makes the test insufficient.

The final grade of the integrated course will be a mathematical average of the marks obtained in the tests of all three modules that make up the integrated course.

Teaching tools

The teaching material is available on the "Online teaching" website.

Office hours

See the website of Annalisa Bosco