85910 - FISIOLOGIA DEGLI ANIMALI DOMESTICI

Learning outcomes

This course is designed to give students knowledge on cardiovascular, respiratory and renal functions as well as on endocrinology of pregnancy, parturition and lactation of domestic animals. The course will be focused on physiological controlling mechanisms and interrelationships among body systems.

Course contents

Physiology of the heart Organization of the circulatory system. Basics of hemodynamics. The heart: properties of the heart muscle. Excitability and contractility of the myocardium. Refractory period and its consequences. Cardiac electrophysiology. The cardiac cycle. Heart valve mechanics. Work of the heart. External manifestations of the cardiac cycle. Heart metabolism. Cardiac innervation: ANS. Mechanism of action of the cardiac nerves. Circulation in the arteries, veins and capillaries. Pressure, velocity and flow in the blood vessels. Cardiovascular regulatory mechanisms: local, systemic, nervous.

Kidney physiology Renal circulation. Glomerular filtration. Composition of the glomerular filtrate. Tubular reabsorption. Proximal convoluted tubule, loop of Henle and distal convoluted tubule. Renal pH regulation. Regulation of water and mineral exchange. Renal hormonal factors. Clearance. Urine, physical and chemical characteristics. Physiology of urination.

 Respiration physiology Pulmonary circulation. Respiratory mechanics. The respiratory movements. Types of breathing. Laws governing gas exchange. Gas exchanges in the pulmonary alveolus. Atmospheric air and breathed air. The respiratory function of blood and exchanges with tissues. Alveolar air and partial tension of gases in the air, mixed venous blood and arterial blood. Transport of oxygen in the blood. The dissociation curve of hemoglobin with oxygen. Biological significance of hemoglobin. Myoglobin and other respiratory pigments. The transport of carbon dioxide. The CO2 dissociation curve. Nervous regulation of breathing; the respiratory centers. Chemical control of respiration. Reflex regulation of breath. Breathing in different environmental conditions.

Endocrinology of pregnancy and lactation Maternal recognition mechanisms of pregnancy. Hormones of pregnancy. Diagnosis of pregnancy in the different species. Childbirth: endocrinological and behavioral aspects. Lactation and postpartum anestrus. Mammogenesis, lactogenesis, galactopoiesis and mammary involution. Milk ejection reflex. Synthesis of milk components.

 

Readings/Bibliography

Sjaastad, Sand, Hove. Fisiologia degli Animali Domestici. Ed. It. a cura di C. Tamanini. CEA (2013)

Teaching methods

Lectures and seminars

Assessment methods

The exam method will be agreed with the students.

Teaching tools

Multimedia classroom

Office hours

See the website of Maria Laura Bacci