Teaching code

4S01154

Credits

10

Coordinator

Mario Rosario Buffelli

Language

Italian

Location

VERONA

Scientific Disciplinary Sector (SSD)

BIO/09 - PHYSIOLOGY

Courses Single

Not Authorized

Moodle Seminars 0

The teaching is organized as follows:

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

In order to understand the course of Physiology, you must have first assimilated the basic notions of Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Anatomy and Biochemistry, in particular:
• Chemistry: the concept of pH, diffusion, molarity, osmolarity and pressure osmotic;
• Physics: electro-physics, physics of gases, surface tension, Laplace's law, basic notions of mechanics, statics and dynamics of fluids;
• Biology: biophysical characteristics of the cell membrane, structure of the cell and cell organelles, the genetic code with transcription and translation, protein synthesis, membrane receptors, intracellular signals and second messengers;
• Anatomy: le basic anatomical characteristics of the main systems of the human body, such as the nervous, cardio-respiratory and renal systems;
• Biochemistry: the main metabolic pathways, enzymatic kinetics and mitochondrial enzymes, and oxidative phosphorylation.

Program

• Principles of biophysics and cellular physiology: membrane transport mechanisms, ion channels, resting membrane potential, postsynaptic potentials and action potential. • Synapses: electrical and chemical, excitatory and inhibitory, neurotransmitters, neuromodulators and membrane receptors, and synaptic plasticity.
• Skeletal Muscle: sarcomere structure, cross-bridge cycle, excitation-contraction coupling, isometric and isotonic contraction, frequency-tension and length-tension relationship. Structural changes in skeletal muscle with training and aging.
• Smooth muscle and the autonomic nervous system.
• Cardiovascular system: cardiac cycle, cardiac output and role of the autonomic nervous system. Circulation and regulation of blood pressure and tissue exchange.
• Respiratory system: organization of the conduction and gas exchange systems. Pressure gradients and air flows in inspiration and expiration. Mechanics of ventilation, volumes and lung capacity. Transport of gases in the blood. Nervous and chemical control of ventilation.
• Structural and functional changes of the cardiorespiratory system with training.
• The program will be integrated with an E-learning part (proposal of classical and updated scientific works, questionnaires) and a part of practical exercises on the three main topics, cardiovascular and respiratory membrane physiology).

Bibliography

Didactic methods

Physiology I Lessons: teaching will be provided through lectures.
Physiology I Exercises: Practical and simulated exercise activities will be organized in the presence of general, muscle, cardiovascular (ECG), respiratory, and muscle exercise physiology.

Learning assessment procedures

Oral interview. The student will be questioned on each of the two main topics (Physiology of neuron and muscle cells, Cardiorespiratory Physiology), with two or three questions from each of the two or three examiners. There are no ongoing tests.

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 exam will be oral and in the presence of the two or three teachers of the course in the same classroom. At the end of the interview the teachers will provide a final evaluation in thirtieths; arithmetic mean of the two votes proposed by the teachers. Each vote must be sufficient for the purpose of the final evaluation.

Exam language

Italiano

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