Learning objectives
<br />Acquisition of the knowledge on the mechanisms at the basis of cellular and tissue homeostasis, on transport and communication mechanisms and on resting metabolic rate.<br />Acquisition of the knowledge on the functions of the different organs and apparata, their dynamis integration and the general mechanisms of corntrol of their functions in rest conditions and during physical activity.<br />To know the main functional parameters in healthy individuals.
Prerequisites
Achievement of the objectives of the Physics, Biology, Chemistry and Biochemistry courses
Course unit content
<br />GENERAL PHYSIOLOGY<br />The cell membrane<br />Cell membrane structure; membrane proteins; transport mechanisms across membranes.<br />Electrical properties of membranes<br />Electrochemical gradients; passive and active ion channels; resting membrane potential; passive electrical properties of the membrane; action potential, genesis and conduction; classification of nerve fibers.<br />Synaptic mechanisms<br />Electrical and chemical synapses; neuromuscular transmission; synapses in the central nervous system, neurotransmitters; receptors.<br />NEUROPHYSIOLOGY<br />Functional anatomy of the central nervous system; methodological approaches in neuroscience.<br />Somatosensory system<br />Principles of psychophysics; peripheral mechanisms of somatic sensation; sensory pathways and transport of somatosensory information; somatosensory cortex; pain; central mechanisms of modulation of pain sensation.<br />Visual system<br />Principles of optics; photoreceptors; visual pathways; subcortical processing of visual information; cortical processing of visual information; oculomotor control.<br />Audition, Taste and Olfaction<br />Basic principles of transduction and processing of auditory, taste and olfactory information<br />Reticular formation; state of alertness; sleep<br />Neurophysiology of the motor system<br />Hierarchical organization of the motor system; feed-back and feed-forward mechanisms in motor control; organization of the spinal cord; spinal reflexes; motor descending pathways; organization of the brainstem; control of the muscle tonus; vestibular system; vestibular and brainstem reflexes; cortical motor control; motor cortex; parietal cortex; sensory-motor transformations; cerebellum; basal ganglia.<br />Memory and learning, neurophysiological basis<br />Autonomic nervous system<br />Limbic system; hypothalamus and homeostatic control; autonomic nervous system; vegetative reflexes<br />MUSCLE<br />Muscular tissue; organization of the skeletal muscular tissue, contraction; excitation-contraction coupling; types of contraction; muscle performance: single muscle fiber, motor unit, tendon-muscle unit; energy production and metabolism of the skeletal muscle; physical exercise and muscle plasticity; smooth muscle.<br />BLOOD<br />Blood functions; general characteristics: liquid and corpuscular components; coagulation; blood volume.<br />HEART AND BLOOD CIRCULATION<br />Physical principles of hemodynamics; blood physical properties; properties of the heart muscle: autogeneration of action potentials, conduction of action potentials, excitability, contraction; electrophysiology of the heart muscle; ECG; mechanical events of the cardiac cycle; heart work and performance; cardiac output; regulation of heart functions; physical exercise and heart plasticity.<br />Circulation system; vasomotor regulation; arterial blood pressure; venous blood pressure and venous blood return; cardiac circulation and heart metabolism.<br />Skin, muscle, kidney, visceral and cerebral circulation.<br />RESPIRATION<br />Physical properties of gases; functional anatomy of the lungs; lung volumes and total lung capacity; mechanics of external respiration; lung compliance; respiratory resistances; alveolar and lung ventilation; inhaled, alveolar and exhaled air; gases exchanges through the alveolo-capillary barrier; gases transport in the blood; blood flow through the lungs; ventilation-perfusion relationships; regulation of respiration. Respiration in unusual environments.<br />KIDNEY<br />Functional anatomy; blood flow through the kidney; glomerulus and glomerular filtration; tubular reabsorption and secretion; clearance; urinary constituents; regulation of the kidney functions; micturition.<br />DIGESTIVE SYSTEM<br />Functional anatomy; hormonal and nervous control of digestive functions; motility of digestive tract: mastication, deglutition, gastric and intestinal motility; defecation; secretive functions: salivary, gastric, intestinal, pancreatic and bile; digestive and absorption processes.<br />ENDOCRINE SYSTEM<br />Hormones: structure and classification; synthesis and secretion, transport, hormone receptors and signal transduction in the target tissues; hormone catabolism; control mechanisms of hormones synthesis.<br />Hypothalamus and hypophysis<br />Adenohypophysis and hypothalamic control; hormones of the adenohypophysis and hypothalamic regulatory hormones; neurohypophysis.<br />Thyroid<br />Structure, function; thyroid hormone synthesis, action and regulation; parathyroid glands.<br />Endocrine pancreas<br />Insulin, glucagon, pancreatic hormones and physical activity.<br />Adrenals<br />Adrenal cortex and medulla; stress and adaptation to the external environment.<br />Gonads<br />Hypothalamus-hypophysis-gonads axis; sexual hormones synthesis and transport; reproductive functions of the gonads<br />pH HOMEOSTASIS<br />pH of the blood; blood buffers; kidney and respiratory regulation of pH homeostasis<br />WATER BALANCE<br />Water compartments; composition of water compartments; water exchange between compartments; water balance, thirst; sodium balance<br />ENERGETIC METABOLISM AND BALANCE<br />Principles of thermodynamics; energetic balance; resting metabolic rate and calorimetry; metabolic rate in physical activity; energy content of aliments; energy storage.<br />Nutrition: needs and standards<br />Energy balance regulation; body components; hunger and satiety.<br />Energetic metabolism and muscle activity<br />THERMOREGULATION<br />Heat production and loss; regulation of body temperature; thermoregulation and physical exercise
Bibliography
<br />Fisiologia dell’uomo, a cura di P.E. Di Prampero e A. Veicsteinas, Casa Editrice EDI-ERMES, Milano
Teaching methods
Written test and oral examination
