05181 - Physiology

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, the student is able to: understand the main functions of bodily districts (organs, bones, muscles, joints, vessels, nerves) that constitute the primary targets of occupational and environmental risk factors.

Course contents

EXCHANGE PROCESSES BETWEEN CELLS AND THE EXTRACELLULAR ENVIRONMENT: Composition of extracellular and intracellular fluids. Passive and active exchange processes.

RESTING MEMBRANE POTENTIAL AND ACTION POTENTIAL: Membrane ion channels. Resting membrane potential. Excitable cells. Generation and propagation of the action potential.

SYNAPTIC TRANSMISSION: Types of synapses, conduction velocity. Overview of neurotransmitters and receptors.

GENERAL OVERVIEW OF THE MUSCULOSKELETAL SYSTEM: General principles of neuromuscular transmission and the contraction process in striated and smooth muscle.

FUNCTIONS OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM: Anatomical-functional organization of the central and peripheral nervous systems. Autonomic nervous system.

CARDIOVASCULAR FUNCTION: Electrical activity of the specific and common myocardium. Origin and propagation of cardiac excitation. Mechanical phases and events of the cardiac cycle. Stroke volume and cardiac output. Regulation of cardiac activity. Principles of electrocardiography. Organizational and functional aspects of the blood circulation. Blood pressure and velocity in different sections of the circulatory system. Function of arteries and arterioles. Capillary exchanges. Nervous and humoral regulation of peripheral circulation. Arterial pressure and its regulation.

RESPIRATORY FUNCTION: Respiratory muscles and respiratory movements. Alveolar pressure and pleural pressure. Lung volumes and capacities. Composition of atmospheric air and alveolar air. Diffusion of respiratory gases. Transport of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood. Nervous and chemical regulation of respiration: respiratory centers and peripheral and central chemoreceptors.

RENAL FUNCTION: General aspects of renal function: ultrafiltration, secretion, reabsorption. Ultrafiltration process: pressure balance and effective filtration pressure. Ultrafiltration rate. Mechanisms of urine concentration and dilution: facultative water reabsorption and its regulation.

Readings/Bibliography

Reference book: Zocchi L. Principi di fisiologia. Casa Editrice EDISES

Alternative book: Battaglia E, Amici R. Fisiologia umana per le professioni sanitarie. Ediz. illustrata. Casa Editrice Mc Graw Hill

Assessment methods

TRUE/FALSE written test.

Office hours

See the website of Timna Hitrec