Learning objectives
The course aims to provide students with the information useful to know and understand the physiological mechanisms of cellular physiology, blood physiology as well as nervous system and digestive functions.
Examples of integration of regulatory processes will be proposed in order to enable the students to use the knoledge and understanding gained in the course.
Prerequisites
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Course unit content
The concept of homeostasis and its implications for the study of physiology will be introduced in the initial part of the course. The course will continue with the description of the main functional aspects of cells, paying particular attention to the description of the eletrical phenomena, to introduce the descrition of neuron physiology. The next part of the course will be devoted to discuss blood physiology, illustrating the main features and describing in detial the events of hemostasis.
In the next part a general overview of the nervous system functional organization will be made, including general aspects of sensory, motor and integrative functions. The physiology of sensory receptors, sensory organs will be illustrated and an explanation of the somatic sensory pathways, as well as a description of the pain pathways will be provided. The control of voluntary and reflex motor activity will be also studied. A description of autonomic nervous systems, as regards to organization, functions and neurotransmitters will be provided. Homeostatic and behavioral functions of hypothalamus will be also studied. In the final part of the module, some aspects of animal behavior will be studied.
A general overview of digestive functions and their control mechanisms will then be given. Thereafter, secretion and motility throughout the gastrointestinal tract will be described, as well as the digestive functions of pancreas and liver. Digestion and absorption of the nutrients will also be studied. A description of fermentative processes in herbivores and motility of forestomachs will also be provided.
Full programme
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Bibliography
-"Fisiologia degli animali domestici",Sjaastad, Sand, Hove, Edizione italiana,Casa Editrice Ambrosiana.
-J.G. CUNNINGHAM "MANUALE DI FISIOLOGIA VETERINARIA" , ANTONIO DELFINO EDITORE;
-GUYTON AND HALL "FISIOLOGIA MEDICA", PICCIN, PADOVA;
-M.J. SWENSON, W.O. REECE "DUKE'S FISIOLOGIA DEGLI ANIMALI DOMESTICI", IDELSON-GNOCCHI, NAPOLI;
-G. AGUGGINI, V. BEGHELLI, L.F. GIULIO " FISIOLOGIA DEGLI ANIMALI DOMESTICI CON ELEMENTI DI ETOLOGIA", UTET,TORINO;
-SHERWOOD, ANDORF, YANCEY "FISIOLOGIA DEGLI ANIMALI- DAI GENI AGLI ORGANISMI.
Teaching methods
Course topics will be addressed in lectures. In addition, practical training, seminars and educational visits will be proposed to integrate teorical lectures. All course material will be made available to students.
Assessment methods and criteria
The acquisition of knowledge and understanding as regards to issues covered by the course will be tted by means of an oral examination. During the interview, the student must also show the ability to make connections among the various topics proposed.
Other information
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