Teaching code

4S000621

Academic staff

Enrico Tam, Chiara Della Libera, Luca Ferrari

Coordinator

Enrico Tam

Credits

12

Language

Italian

Scientific Disciplinary Sector (SSD)

BIO/09 - PHYSIOLOGY

Period

1° semestre dal Sep 29, 2025 al Jan 16, 2026.

Location

VERONA

Courses Single

Authorized with reserve

Lessons timetable Moodle Seminars 0

Learning objectives

• Learn the basics of how the human body works as a set of organs and systems integrating and completing the knowledge already acquired in physics, chemistry, biochemistry, anatomy and biology. • Acquire a critical approach to knowledge deriving from the application of the scientific method, in particular applied to the analysis of physiological responses to exercise. • Identify the functional purpose of the organs and systems by understanding their role in maintaining the general homeostasis of the human organism. • To acquire the fundamental physiological bases of motor control in humans.

Prerequisites and basic notions

To understand the Physiology course, it is necessary to first have assimilated the basic notions of Chemistry, Physics, Biochemistry and Mathematics, in particular:
• Chemistry: the concept of pH, molarity, colligative properties of solutions, osmolarity and osmotic pressure, diffusion.
• Biochemistry: concepts of enthalpy, entropy, change in free energy (E); biological macromolecules, their classification and function, the main metabolic pathways, enzymatic kinetics and mitochondrial enzymes, oxidative phosphorylation
• Physics: gas physics, electrophysics, surface tension, Laplace's law, basic notions of mechanics, statics and fluid dynamics, laws of thermodynamics.
• Biology: biophysical characteristics of the cell membrane; structure of the cell and cellular organelles; the genetic code; transcription and translation; protein synthesis; membrane receptors; intracellular signals and second messengers (G protein, cyclic AMP, calcium, etc.); mechanisms of cellular regeneration.
• Mathematics: concept of logarithm, concepts of function and Cartesian axes, linear, power, exponential functions; methods of manipulating logarithms, concepts of derivative and integral; units of measurement of the international system.

Program

Topics
1. Principles of general physiology and biophysics of the cell
2. Physiology and biomechanics of striated muscle
3. Motor control (spinal and supraspinal mechanisms)
4. The autonomic nervous system
5. Physico-chemical characteristics of the blood; coagulation and hemostasis
6. Cardiovascular physiology: heart and circulation, Regulation of acid-base
7. Respiration
8. Renal Physiology: filtration, reabsorption, secretion and excretion
9. Acid-base regulation
10. Fluid and electrolyte balance
11. Metabolism and thermoregulation
12. Physiology of the endocrine system
13. Physiology of muscular exercise
14. Physiology of the Gastrointestinal system
Please have a look at the Course Contents (attached in MOODLE)

Bibliography

Didactic methods

Teaching will be delivered through face-to-face lectures. Classes will be held for the entire student group, including both freshmen with even and odd numbers. If the number of students attending exceeds the classroom's capacity, a second classroom will be set up, connected virtually to the main classroom. A tutor will be present to assist students.
Teaching materials (PDF slides, in-depth materials) will be made available to students.
Short content (presentations and videos, or any recorded lectures) may be made available.

Learning assessment procedures

The exam consists of a written test of 66 multiple-choice questions to be completed within 120 minutes. There are six bonus questions.
The examination methods are the same for attending and non-attending students.
During the course, examples of multiple-choice questions on the various topics covered in class will be available on the teacher/teaching page and on the University e-Learning space (Moodle).
The outcome of the written exam is communicated the same day in on-line mode on the notices page of the Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine and Movement; furthermore, the esse3.cineca application will directly notify the outcome of the vote to the student.
Candidates must accept or refuse the vote by means of the procedure provided for on the “esse3.cineca” application within the pre-established deadline. In the absence of communication on the matter, the corresponding evaluation out of thirty will be automatically recorded.

Evaluation criteria

The student must achieve a minimum score of 36/60 to pass the exam. This corresponds to a grade of 18/30 (eighteen/thirtieths).

Criteria for the composition of the final grade

The link between grades and the number of correct answers is calculated according to the ECTS conversion table (A-F) as follows:
• 30 cum lode: > 60 correct answers (A)
• 30: 60 correct answers (B)
• 29: 58 correct answers (B)
• 28: 56 correct answers (C)
• 27: 54 correct answers (C)
• 26: 52 correct answers (D)
• 25: 50 correct answers (D)
• 24: 48 correct answers (D)
• 23: 46 correct answers (E)
• 22: 44 correct answers (E)
• 21: 42 correct answers (E)
• 20: 40 correct answers (E)
• 19: 38 correct answers (E)
• 18: 36 correct answers (E)
• Failure (F): below 36 correct answers.

Exam language

Italiano ; Italian (Italian language)

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