Learning objectives
The “Systems Physiology” unit in the Integrated “Physiology” Course is designed to give students taking biomedical degree courses the fundamental information necessary for the study of mechanisms underlying the functioning of living organisms. The focus is on physiology, both human and animal/comparative, in order to meet the requirements of medical/pharmaceutical and biological/natural areas of study. <br />
The overall organisation of the unit is designed in such a way that the physiology of individual organs and systems is treated separately and with a predominantly analytical approach, so that the principal notions regarding a single specific subject can be brought together. In fact, the human body is a complex organism consisting of different systems (nervous, muscular, skeletal, endocrine, cardiovascular, respiratory, gastro-intestinal, reproductive and others), and the “systemic” approach appears as representing the most rational method of studying physiology. <br />
On the other hand, the body does not function as a series of independent systems, and in the maintenance of life, there is no one single system that is more important than another. On the contrary, the various systems operate as an integrated whole in order to provide the internal environment with the stability that is essential for good health. The control of the various systems and organs is ensured by a vast network of feedback mechanisms that perform the necessary adjustments, by means of which homeostatic regulation is achieved. Therefore, the unit also looks at the integration and coordination of the systems in the living organism, in order to gain an understanding of the homeostatic mechanisms that ensure the individual’s survival, and to provide the ability to anticipate its movements. <br />
In addition, because physiology is an eminently experimental science, during the course this aspect will be highlighted by means of many descriptions of key experiments that contributed to the understanding of fundamental features of physiological mechanisms. In this context, particular attention is dedicated to the unifying, fundamental process of biological phenomena constituting the molecular and cellular basis for physiological functions that may appear to be widely separated. <br />
Consistent reference is also made to fundamental concepts of mathematics, physics, chemistry and biochemistry. Considerable attention is dedicated to basic principles of anatomy, when knowledge of structure is indispensable for the understanding of functions. <br />
Another final objective is that of making reference, during the explanation of the organism’s homeostatic mechanisms, to their dysfunction in the case of disease. <br />
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Prerequisites
The following courses are recommended and/or obligatory prerequisites for the present course: <br />
- Elements of normal human anatomy <br />
- Cellular electrophysiological procedures <br />
- Histology <br />
- Biochemistry <br />
- General physiology <br />
- Molecular Biology <br />
Course unit content
The course is organized in such a way as to provide biology students, who will later work in the biomedical sector, with the fundamental knowledge necessary to understand the most important living processes in the organisms of mammals and man, and the physiopathological consequences of these processes. The physiology of individual organs and systems is first treated separately in an analytical fashion, and then study is completed by means of the analysis of interactions between the major systems including the cardiovascular system, the respiratory system, the urinary system and the digestive system <br />
a) Cardiovascular system: functional anatomy of the heart; cardiac properties; cardiac electrophysiology, myocardiac metabolism, the heart’s mechanical cycle, the heart’s mechanical work, circulation architecture, functional components of vascular walls, haemodynamic functions in the systemic arterial circulation, capillary circulation and interchange with interstitial spaces, the haemodynamic functions in the systemic venous circulation, the haemodynamic effects of gravity, neuro-humoral control of cardiovascular functions, control over the regional distribution of haematic flow, local circulation. <br />
b) Respiratory system: the morphological and functional organisation of respiratory structures, respiratory mechanics, pulmonary volume and capacity, pulmonary pressure, air flow in the respiratory passages, the work of respiration, the physical principles involved in respiratory exchange, pulmonary ventilation and dead space, the composition of air, gas diffusion across respiratory surfaces, the distribution of ventilation and alveolar perfusion, local perfusion differences, local differences in alveolar ventilation, nerve and chemical control of ventilation, transport of respiratory gases in the blood and bodily liquids, oxygen transport, carbon dioxide transport. <br />
c) Urinary system: the organism’s hydric compartmentation, renal morphology and functional, renal circulation, fundamental renal processes: glomerular filtration and tubular functions, regulation of the volume of extracellular liquid, the juxtaglomerular apparatus, tubular reabsorption of water and sodium, renal transport of potassium, calcium, magnesium and phosphate, renal regulation of urine concentration, renal water excretion: the role of vasopressin, renal clearance, the countercurrent multiplication mechanism, countercurrent exchange. <br />
d) Digestive system: functional anatomy of the alimentary canal, control of intestinal functions, nervous control, endocrinic/paracrinic control, gastrointestinal motility, motility patterns, stomach motility, small intestine motility, large intestine motility, secretions of the gastrointestinal system, the mechanism of gastric enzymatic secretion, the mechanism of hydrochloric acid secretion, the control of gastric secretion, stages in gastric activity, pancreatic secretion, composition and functions of pancreatic secretion, biliary secretion, composition of bile and the enterohepatic circulation of bile salts, the regulation of bile secretion, the morphological and functional organization of the small intestine, secretion in the small intestine, absorption in the small intestine, the morphological and functional organisation of the large intestine, secretion in the large intestine, absorption in the large intestine. <br />
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Full programme
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Bibliography
1) BERNE & LEVY PHYSIOLOGY. Koeppen BM, Stanton BA, Mosby Elsevier, 2008. <br />
2) FISIOLOGIA UMANA. DALLE CELLULE AI SISTEMI. Sherwood L, Zanichelli editore SpA, 2008. <br />
3) MEDICAL PHYSIOLGY. A CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR APPROACH. Boron WF, Boulpaep EL, Elsevier Saunders, 2005. <br />
4) FISIOLOGIA. MOLECOLE, CELLULE E SISTEMI. D'angelo E, Peres A., edi-ermes, 2006-2007. <br />
5) AN INTRODUCTION TO CARDIOVASCULAR PHYSIOLOGY, Levick JR, Arnold, 2003. <br />
6) RESPIRATORY PHYSIOLOGY, The Mosby Physiology Monograph Series, Cloutier MM, Mosby Elsevier, 2007. <br />
7) RENAL PHYSIOLOGY, The Mosby Physiology Monograph Series, Koeppen BM, Stanton BA, Mosby Elsevier, 2007. <br />
8) GASTROINTESTINAL PHYSIOLOGY, The Mosby Physiology Monograph Series, Johnson LR, Mosby Elsevier, 2007. <br />
9) LEZIONI DI FISIOLOGIA DEL SISTEMA GASTROENTERICO. Ziparo RM, Piccin, 2006. <br />
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Teaching methods
The course is taken by means of frontal lessons, using PowerPoint presentations (texts and diagrams) distributed to students at the end of each lesson. <br />
Assessment is performed by means of written tests during the course, with an oral exam at the end of the course. <br />
Assessment methods and criteria
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Other information
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