Learning objectives
At the end of the course the student has the knowledge and capacity of understanding the mechanisms underlying the cellular homeostasis e the electrical properties of membranes, the mechanisms underlying the activity of the muscle tissue, the mechanisms underlying the regulation of visceral functions, the principles of nutrition physiology and the neural mechanisms underlying sensory, motor and higher-order functions.
The student will be able to describe these phenomena and to use afterwards this information for the physiopathological interpretation of signs and symptoms.
Prerequisites
Students must possess basic and fundamental notions of Anatomy, cell and tissue biology and biochemistry of the organs and systems which are the topic of this part of the course.
Course unit content
This frequency-only first course of Physiology focuses on arguments of general physiology, muscle physiology, neurophysiology, physiology of the digestive system and nutrition
Full programme
GENERAL PHYSIOLOGY (Giuseppe Luppino)
Cell membrane. Mechanisms of passive permeability. Selective permeability. Simple diffusion. Facilitated diffusion. Active transport. Osmosis. Filtration.
Electrical properties of the biological membranes. Electrochemical gradient. Nerst equation. Properties of cell channels. Action potential. Properties and mechanisms of gating of cell channels. Voltage-gated channels. Slow potential. Propagation of the slow potentials and of the action potentials. Synaptic transmission. Neurotransmitters. Membrane receptors. Reflexes. Flexion and stretch reflexes.
MUSCULAR PHYSIOLOGY (Giuseppe Luppino)
Functional properties of nerve fibers. Basic anatomy and functional properties of skeletal and smooth muscles. Synaptic transmission. Neurotransmitters. Membrane receptors.
Principles of anatomical and functional organization of the central nervous system (Giuseppe Luppino)
Hierarchical and parallel organization of the CNS. Sensorimotor intgration. Models of elementary neural circuits. Anatomical and functional organization of the cerebral cortex. Methods for studying the CNS. Organization of the spinal cord, spinal reflexes and spinal shock. Descending motor pathways. Brainstem organization. Motor functions of the brainstem. Decerebrate rigidity. Vestibular apparatus and vestibular reflexes. Postural control. Sensory systems: general characteristics, receptors and transduction mechanisms. Peripheral and central mechanisms of somesthesia. Visual system: peripheral and central mechanisms. Auditory functions: peripheral and central mechanisms. Cortical motor control, parietal cortex and parieto-frontal circuits. Cerebellum. basal ganglia. Mechanisms of learning and memory. Hemispheric specialization. Language. Emotions. Sleep wake cycle. EEG. Visceral nervous system and homeostatic processes
PHISIOLOGY OF NUTRITION AND GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT (Stefano Rozzi)
Food intake: consequences of overfeeding and deficiency of food intake. Neural and hormonal control mechanisms of GI functions. Motility of GI: chewing, swallowing, gastric and intestinal motility, defecation. Secretions of GI: saliva, gastric secretion, intestinal secretion, pancreatic secretion and biliary secretion. Digestion, absorption and transport of carbohydrates, lipids, proteins and vitamins.
Bibliography
FISIOLOGIA MEDICA a cura di Fiorenzo Conti, Ed. Edi-Ermes
Teaching methods
Oral lessons with Powerpoint presentation
Assessment methods and criteria
The content of this frequency-only course course will be object of the final exam planned at the end of the second course of physiology (III semester, II year)
Other information
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