Learning objectives
The course aims to provide students with the general principles of the organization of physiological functions, integrating knowledge acquired in previous courses.
Examples of integration of regulatory processes will be also provided.
The student will have to acquire the basic principles of ethology and gain insight on the applications in Veterinary Medicine, especially as regards to animal behavior , including wild ungulates, and animal welfare.
Learning outcomes:
.Knowledge and understanding. The student will gain knowledge of the main principles of cellular and general veterinary physiology, functions of the organs and systems in domestic animals, taking also into account comparative aspects. The understanding of integration odf the varous functions will also be necessary.
.Applying knowledge and understanding. The student will gain capacity to use knowledge in order to identify and evaluate experimental data and descriptive graphs of functional characteristics of organisms.
.Making judgements. The student will acquire ability to understand and critically and independently discuss data and different research topics.
Communication. The student should be able to correctly use specialized terminology during his speech and should gain capacity to analyze logically and sequentially cause/effect sequences of physiological processes
Prerequisites
- - -
Course unit content
. The digestive system
General overview of digestive functions and their control mechanisms.
Prehension, mastication and saliva.
Swallowing
Functions of the stomach
- Gastric juice
-Gastric motility
- Regulation of stomach emptying
Vomiting
Esocrine pancreas: pancreatic juice and its control
The liver: bile production and its regulation
Functions of the small intestine
-General aspecis of digestion and absorption
- Digestion and absorption of carbohydrates, proteins and lipids
- Absorption of water and electrolytes
- Motility of the small intestine
Functions of the large intestine
- Digestion in simple-stomached herbivores
- Motility in the large intestine
-Motility of forestomachs in ruminants.
- Ruminantion
. The nervous system
General overview and functional organization of the nervous system
Somatic sensory pathways
Pain pathways
Control of voluntary motor activity
Spinal reflexes
Autonomous nervous system: organization, functions, neurotrasmitters
Stress
The hypothalamus: homeostatic and behavioral functions
. General aspects of animal behavior and animal welfare
. General aspects on physiology and ethology of wild ungulates
.The regulation of body temperature
Nromal bosy temperature
Thermoneutral zone
Heat production and heat loss
Adaptation to a cold environment
Adaptation to a warm environment
Fever
Full programme
- - -
Bibliography
-"Fisiologia degli animali domestici",Sjaastad, Sand, Hove, Edizione italiana,Casa Editrice Ambrosiana.
-"Manuale di Fisiologia Veterinaria",Cunningham, Antonio Delfino Editore.
-"Fisiologia medica", Guyton and Hall, Piccin, Padova.
-"Fisiologia degli animali-dai geni agli organismi", Sherwood, Andorf, Yancey, Zanichelli.
Teaching methods
Course topics will be addressed in lectures. In addition, practical training, seminars and educational visits will be proposed to integrate teorical lectures.
Students will be also required to work in a group to manage and prepair an oral presentation of a research paper, available in scientific literature, on different aspects of ethology. A seminar lesson will deal with general aspects of the physiology and ethology of wild ungulates.
All course material will be made available to students.
Assessment methods and criteria
The acquisition of knowledge and understanding of the issues covered by the course will be tested by means of an oral examination of about 40 minutes which will be structured in 3 questions . During the exam, the student must also demonstratates the ability to make connections among
the various topics proposed.
Other information
- - -
2030 agenda goals for sustainable development
- - -
