76149 - Physiology

Learning outcomes

Identify the morphology and function of specific organs and apparatuses of biotechnological interest in the context of clinical applications. Correlate concepts of integrative physiology of the human organism with pathophysiology. Select and interpret scientific data relevant to physiology and pathophysiology.

Course contents

[http://www.unibo.it/it/didattica/insegnamenti/insegnamento/2021/445293]

 MODULE 1 (Prof. Chatzidimitrakis)

FUNCTIONAL ORGANIZATION OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM

General anatomy and functions of the central and peripheral nervous system. General principles of the organization of the central nervous system. The cerebral cortex: anatomy and functional organization. The autonomous nervous system: anatomical-functional organization and functions of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system.

SENSORY SYSTEMS

General principles of sensory coding. Receptive fields. Coding of the intensity of stimuli. Sensory receptors. Temporal mechanisms, adaptation, spatial sensory integration. Perception. Neuronal coding of somatosensory stimuli. Organization of the somatosensory circuit. Thalamic nuclei and somatosensory cortical areas. General organization of tactile perception and position senses. Psychophysics of tactile perception. Visual perception. Retina and photoreceptors. Organization of the visual pathway, lateral geniculate nucleus. Primary visual cortex: topographic organization and functional circuits. Visual maps, brain maps. Visual prosthetics.

 

SENSORIMOTOR INTEGRATION AND VOLUNTARY MOVEMENTS

Organization and functions of the dorsal visual stream. Lesions: optic ataxia, agnosia. Posterior parietal cortex: sensorimotor integration functions. Areas of the posterior parietal cortex and specific functions. Premotor and supplementary motor cortex. Parietofrontal circuits for reaching and grasping movements. Sensorimotor transformations. Organization of the prefrontal cortex. Eye movements: cortical and subcortical circuits. Hand movements: psychophysical aspects. Primary motor cortex and movement control mechanisms. Motor disorders, motor prosthetics.

CARDIOVASCULAR FUNCTION

Circulation and hemodynamic. Electrical activity of the cardiac muscle. Origin and propagation of cardiac excitation. Phases and mechanical events of the cardiac cycle. Stroke volume and cardiac output. Control of heart function. Principles of electrocardiography. Organizational and functional aspects of the circulatory system. Blood pressure and velocity across the different sections of the circulatory system. Functions of arteries and arterioles. Capillary exchanges. Nervous and humoral regulation of peripheral circulation. Blood pressure regulation.

RESPIRATORY FUNCTION

Respiratory muscles and respiratory cycle. Alveolar and pleural pressures. Pulmonary volumes and capacities. Composition of atmospheric and alveolar air. Diffusion of respiratory gases. Blood transport of oxygen and carbon dioxide. Chemical and nervous regulation of respiration: respiratory centers; peripheral and central chemoreceptors.

RENAL FUNCTION

General aspects of the renal function: ultrafiltration, secretion, reabsorption. Ultrafiltration process: pressure balance and net filtration pressure. Ultrafiltration rate. Mechanisms of urine concentration and dilution: optional reabsorption of water and its regulation. Primary active sodium reabsorption and coupling of water reabsorption to sodium reabsorption. Antidiuretic hormone. Aldosterone and the Renin-Angiotensin System.

 

MODULE 2 and MODULE 3

(Prof. Elisabetta Ciani and Dr Giorgio Medici)

Modulo 2 and 3 are complementary modules focusing on the applied portion of the course. These modules are mutually exclusive, meaning that students are required to complete only one of the two modules. Students will be divided into two groups, with each group assigned to one of the two modules to carry out the practical laboratory activities.

The module includes an initial series of classroom lectures on topics that will be the focus of the practical activities, which will then be followed by laboratory work.

NEUROGENESIS

Prenatal and postnatal neurogenesis. Modulation of postnatal neurogenesis. Alterations in neurogenesis in genetic and neurodegenerative diseases.

Laboratory: Immunostaining for the detection and quantification of hippocampal neurogenesis in the murine brain.

Pre-requisites:

Participation in this educational activity requires all students to complete specific health and safety training in study environments (Modules 1, 2, and 3) in a hybrid format (e-learning and in-person). Detailed information can be found on the course webpage in the “Studying - Health and Safety mandatory training” section.

 

[http://www.unibo.it/it/didattica/insegnamenti/insegnamento/2021/445293]

Readings/Bibliography

Kandel ER, Jessell TM, Schwartz JH, Siegelbaum SA, Hudspeth AJ. Principles of Neural Science, 5th ed. Mc Graw-Hill

Purves D, et al., Neurosciences, 6th ed. Sinauer Associates

Vander et al., Human Physiology: The Mechanism of Body Function; 8th ed; McGraw−Hill

Articles and reviews will be provided to supplement these texts.

Teaching methods

Teaching Mode: Traditional lectures (Module 1) Traditional lectures + laboratory activity (Module 2) Traditional lectures + laboratory activity (Module 3)

Teaching methods

Lectures, covering the whole Course Program. The Course consists of 5 CFU, corresponding to 36 hours of teaching held by Prof. Chatzidimitrakis. The Course is held in parallel with the Course of Applied Physiology (1CFU) consisting in 15 hours of Laboratory Activity for groups of students. The practical activity is divided into two tracks (Modulo 2 and Modulo 3) led by Prof. Elisabetta Ciani and Dr. Giorgio Medici. The Course is part of the Integrated Course of “Anatomical and Physiological Bases of Organ Pathologies”. Slides shown during lectures are mostly taken from suggested readings. If not, the reference is indicated. The Course is part of the Integrated Course of “Anatomical and Physiological Bases of Organ Pathologies”. Slides shown during lectures are mostly taken from suggested readings, otherwise a reference is indicated.

Assessment methods

The final evaluation for the Module of Physiology is made through a written multiple choice test based on the topics discussed during the lectures. The evaluation is made in concomitance with that of the other disciplines of the Integrated Course of “Anatomical and Physiological Bases of Organ Pathologies”. A single mark for the whole Integrated Course is given.

Teaching tools

Lectures will be conducted using a set of slides (powerpoint) concerning each topic of the Course Program. The material for the slides will be taken mainly from the suggested textbooks. All relevant teaching material can be downloaded from the website https://iol.unibo.it/ by students enrolled at the University of Bologna (University institutional username and password required).

In order to prepare for the exam, it is recommended that students attend the lectures, study from a textbook, and use both the notes taken during lectures and the IOL material.

Office hours

See the website of Konstantinos Chatzidimitrakis

See the website of Elisabetta Ciani

See the website of Giorgio Medici