Studying at the University of Verona
Free choice courses
Physiology I and Biophysics (2022/2023)
Teaching code
4S01154
Credits
10
Language
Italian
Location
VERONA
Scientific Disciplinary Sector (SSD)
BIO/09 - PHYSIOLOGY
The teaching is organized as follows:
Lezioni di Fisiologia I
Esercitazioni di Fisiologia I
Credits
1
Period
1° semestre
Location
VERONA
Academic staff
Learning objectives
To understand the physico-chemical mechanisms of basic cellular processes: resting membrane polarization, action potential, synaptic communication, muscular contraction, stimuli transduction. To know the function of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems, their regulation mechanisms and coordination in specific tasks like the homeostasis of the internal environment, the regulation of cardiac output, arterial pressure, respiration and acid-base balance, muscular exercise.
Prerequisites and basic notions
What is Physiology? Physiology tries to understand how organs and systems integrate and interact to maintain the human body's homeostasis at rest and in response to stresses like environmental conditions, exercise, and even diseases. Physiology is a quantitative science since it tries to explain the functional characteristics and the functioning of the human body based on universal physical-chemical laws. As such, dimensional and graphical analyses are routinely utilized in physiology to describe the relationships between the variables at stake. The ultimate goal of physiology is to describe using predictive models the integrated functions that relate to organs and systems. Physiology completes and combines the knowledge gained by studying anatomy, biochemistry, physics, and chemistry.
To understand the course of Physiology, you must have first assimilated the basics of Chemistry, Physics, Biochemistry, and Mathematics, in particular:
• Chemistry: pH, molarity, colligative properties of solutions, osmolality and osmotic pressure, diffusion.
• Biochemistry: biological macromolecules, their classification and function, the main metabolic pathways, enzyme kinetics, and mitochondrial enzymes.
• Physics: physics of gases, electro-physics, surface tension, Laplace's law, the basics of mechanics, statics and dynamics of fluids, laws of thermodynamics.
• Biology: biophysical characteristics of the cell membrane; transport mechanisms through the membrane; mechanisms of cell regeneration.
• Mathematics: the concept of the logarithm, the concept of function and axes, functions, linear, power, exponential; methods of manipulation of logarithms, the concepts of derivative and integral; units of the international system.
Program
To understand the physico-chemical mechanisms of basic cellular processes: resting membrane polarization, action potential, synaptic communication, muscular contraction, stimuli transduction. To know the function of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems, their regulation mechanisms and coordination in specific tasks like the homeostasis of the internal environment, the regulation of cardiac output, arterial pressure, respiration and acid-base balance, muscular exercise.
Bibliography
Didactic methods
The teaching will consist of lectures. In addition to the lessons, at the end of each topic, multiple choice quizzes will be organized (https://kahoot.com). Furthermore, recorded lectures (in Italian and English) will be available on specific topics.
Practical activities in the classroom.
Practical activities and simulations of respiratory physiology and muscle exercise will be organized in front of the students in the classroom
Teaching materials
All class course materials will be available on the student teacher's page/course and appear on the University's e-Learning (Moodle) space. In addition to the slides in pdf format illustrated in class, the following material will be distributed:
1. Excel sheets with numerical questions that the students will be able to carry out independently;
2. In-depth study of specific topics;
3. Links to films and videos on scientific topics related to the topics covered.
If students need make-up lessons because of COVID quarantine, the teacher will deliver the lesson recording or organize a remote lecture with individual Zoom videoconference during the lesson time.
Learning assessment procedures
Oral examination on each of the three main topics (excitable membranes and skeletal muscle, cardiovascular system, respiratory system), with one question by each of three examiners, or two questions by each of two, depending on availability. There will not be intermediate examinations nor specific modalities for the not-attending students.
Evaluation criteria
The student will be asked to illustrate the main concepts related to the topics detailed in the program also with the aid of graphs and equations in order to highlight the quantitative aspects of physiology. Exposure skills and clarity of exposure will be evaluated, as well as the ability to quantitatively illustrate the mechanisms that regulate the physiological homeostasis of organs and systems. In particular, the student's ability to reason in an integrative way and, therefore, to illustrate the integrated physiological adaptations in response to perturbations will be appreciated.
Criteria for the composition of the final grade
The examiner will propose a mark in 30/30, which will result in a weighted average according to the CFU of the two modules and the mark of 30/30 proposed by the professor of the other module.
Exam language
Italiano o Inglese
