05181 - Physiology

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course the student has the ability to acquire the notions that deal with the functions of the organism in its various and progressively more complex levels of cellular, tissue, organ and system organization and constitute the prerequisite for understanding the processes inherent in the pathological functioning of the organism.

Course contents

Cell physiology

Diffusion and membrane transport: the cell membrane, movements across membranes, diffusion osmosis and ion balances, active and passive transport, generation and measurement of membrane potential, transmembrane potentials.

Action Potential: ionic bases of the action potential, generation of the action potential, voltage-dependent channels, propagation and transmission of nerve signals, action potentials and graded, speed of propagation, saltatory conduction, myelinated and unmyelinated fibers.

Synaptic transmission: chemical synapses functional anatomy, synaptic transmission, neurotransmitters, synthesis, release, inactivation and interaction with their receptors.

Striated muscle: striated muscle cell structure, molecular mechanisms of contraction, excitation-contraction coupling, control of skeletal muscle, synaptic transmission in the neuromuscular junction.

Smooth muscle: smooth muscle classification, smooth muscle cell structure, contractile process, smooth muscle contraction control.

System physiology 

Cardiovascular system: general scheme of the cardiovascular system, functional anatomy of the heart, structure of the myocardium, small large circulation, change in blood pressure and volume in the atria and ventricles, genesis of the heart rhythm and electrical conduction in the heart, refractory period of the heart , control of excitation and conduction in the heart, cardiac output.

Respiratory system: functional anatomy of the respiratory system, characteristics and functions of the upper airways and alveolar tissue, mechanics of pulmonary ventilation, changes in intrapulmonary and intrapleural pressure during the respiratory cycle, changes in oxygen and carbon dioxide pressure in the lungs and in the tissues, gas exchange, oxygen and carbon dioxide transport in the blood, oxyhemoglobin dissociation curve and its functional significance.

Renal system: water and saline homeostasis, functional anatomy of the urinary system, processes of urine formation, glomerular filtration, tubular reabsorption, urine concentration.

Facultative focus on autonomic nervous system: anatomical-functional organization of the central and autonomic nervous systems (sympathetic and parasympathetic sections).

Readings/Bibliography

Required textbook:

FISIOLOGIA dalle molecole ai sistemi integrati. Carbone, Cicirata & Aicardi et al., EdiSES 2018

Recommended books:

- VANDER FISIOLOGIA. Widmaier Eric P., Raff Hershel, Strang Kevin T.; Ambrosiana Editori, 2018.
- Fisiologia, Cindy Stanfield. EdiSES 2017.
- Fisiologia medica. Guyton & Hall, Edra Ed., XIII edizione italiana, 2016

Teaching methods

Frontal lessons using Power point presentations. Interactive methods learned in recent didactic laboratories of UNIBO will also be added (E.g. Kahoot, Quizizz, etc..).

Assessment methods

The final examination consists in an oral test in which the student will discuss two different topics taken from the program. The exam will be considered passed if the student has demonstrated sufficient knowledge in each topic.

The exam points to verify the reaching of didactic objectives: a) knowledge of the mechanisms of generation and transmission of electric signals in the tissues; b) knowledge of the functional mechanisms of the organs and their control.

The student’s ability to move across various topic of the physiology program will be also evaluated. The student’s achievement of a comprehensive view of the topics addressed in class, together with their critical thought, the ability to make associations, the demonstration of rich and intelligible expression and use of appropriate language will be evaluated with scores of excellence.

The final score will be the arithmetic average of the scores obtained in all courses of the Integrated course.

Office hours

See the website of Marina De Vitis