Learning objectives
- To provide a rich understanding of the cellular/molecular/tissue mechanisms underlying dynamic functional processes in a complex living organism. Students will also acquire methodological expertise for measuring functional parameters in the different cell types (neurons, muscle cells)
- To acquire, based on theoretical and practical knowledge, the ability to plain experiments for measuring functional parameters in isolated cells and interpret the results in terms of underlying molecular mechanisms.
- To acquire the capacity of describing a cellular function clearly and with appropriate terminology.
Prerequisites
Physics, Biochemistry
Course unit content
The course provides an increased understanding of
functions common to all animal cell types as well as specific cell phenotypes
(epithelial cells, muscle cells, neurons).
Full programme
PART I:
a)Priciples of cell physiology
- cell membrane structure
- trans-membrane transport of molecules, ions and water
- epithelial tissues and trans-epithelial transports
PART II:
a) ion fluxes and transmembrane potentials
b) passive electrical properties of cell membrane
PART III: Excitable cells (neurons)
- neuron structural properties
- electrical messages (local potentials and action potentials)
- action potential propagation
- synaptic transmission
PART IV:
Excitable cells (sensory receptors)
- Sensory receptors: morpho-functional properties
- transduction and coding processes
PART V:
Excitable cells (muscle cells: skeletal cells, cardiac cells and smooth
muscle cells)
- structure
- electrophysiological properties
- Excitation-contraction coupling
- molecular mechanism of contraction and modulatory mechanisms
Bibliography
1.Robert M. Berne e Matthew N. Levy: FISIOLOGIA - Casa Editrice
Ambrosiana - (2010 or last edition)
2. Dee Unglaub Silverthorn:Fisiologia umana. Un approccio integrato. Pearson
Italia S.p.A. (2011 or last edition)
Teaching methods
- Lectures. Description of basic cellular functional properties: (1) common to all cell types constitung a complex living organism, and (2) specific of excitable cells (neurons, skeletal-cardiac-smooth muscle cells) and epithelial cells.
- 1 CFU will be devoted to provide technical knowledge (methodology and instrumentation)for (i) measuring cellular functional parameters, and (ii) processing functional data.
- Lecture contents will be available in the website of the course together with self-evaluation tests (PDF documents)
Assessment methods and criteria
Written and oral examination.
- The written test consists of one question requiring a detailed description of a cellular function and two multiple-choice tests. Reaching the sufficiency in the first question is mandatory for the admission to oral examination.
Criteria for evaluation of the written and oral examination:
a) very good knowledge and understanding associated with an appropriate terminology. Very good capacity of applying the knowledge (30-30 lode)
b) good knowledge and understanding associated with an appropriate terminology and good capacity of applying the knowledge ()27-29).
c) modest knowledge and understanding, appropriate terminology. Modest capacity of applying the knowledge (24-26).
d) sufficient knowledge and understanding, correct terminology
(21-23)
e) sufficient knowledge and understanding, poor terminology (18-20).
Other information
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