Learning objectives
1. Knowledge and understanding of the molecular, cellular and tissue mechanisms underlying the vital functions that characterize
a complex organism.
2. Ability to describe clearly and with appropriate terminology a cellular function.
3. Methodological skills relevant to the measurement of functional parameters in different cell types (neurons, muscle cells, epithelial cells).
4. Ability to plan an experiment for measuring functional parameters
and interpreting the results critically (individually and in groups).
Prerequisites
Physics, Biochemistry
Course unit content
Major contents are related to:
1) molecular mechanisms underlying the the funtions of animal cells that constitute a complex living organism.
2) Functions common to all cell types will be analyzed, as well as functions of specific cell phenotypes (epithelial cells,
muscle cells, neurons).
Full programme
PART I:
Priciples of cell physiology; cell membrane structure; transmembrane
transport of molecules, ions and water; epithelial cells and trans-epithelial transports.
PART II:
ion fluxes and transmembrane potentials; 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:
Sensory receptors. Morpho-functional properties; transduction and coding processes; transmission of sensory information.
PART V:
Excitable cells (muscle cells: skeletal cells, cardiac cells and smooth muscle cells); structural properties; electrophysiological properties; Excitation-contraction coupling; molecular mechanism of contraction; intrinsic and neural modulation of contraction.
Bibliography
1. Dee Unglaub Silverthorn:Fisiologia
umana. Un approccio integrato. Pearson Italia S.p.A. (Last Edition)
2. Robert M. Berne e Matthew N. Levy: FISIOLOGIA - Casa Editrice Ambrosiana - (last edition)
Teaching methods
- Lectures. On-site lectures with the possibility to benefit from the lectures also remotely (recordings of lectures will be uploaded on the Elly page of the course).
The basic concepts of cell physiology will be described, specifically:
(1) the functional properties common to all cell types belonging to a complex living organism
(2) the specific functional properties of excitable cells (neurons, skeletal-cardiac-smooth muscle cells) and epithelial cells.
(3) One 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.
Assessment methods and criteria
The final evaluation will be carried out by means of a written test lasting 2 hours, on-site or remotely (via TEAMS).
The written test will consist of one open question on a specific topic of the course and 2 multiple choice tests. To pass the exam the student must achieve a sufficient evaluation in the first open question.
The final evaluation will be made on the basis of the criteria described below:
(a) Excellent knowledge and understanding of the topic and use of specific terminology. Excellent capacity to apply knowledge. Vote: 30/30 with praise.
b) Good knowledge and understanding of the topic. Good ability to apply knowledge. Mastery of terminology (27-29).
c) Discreet knowledge and understanding of the topic. Capacity to apply knowledge. Discreet mastery of specific terminology (24-26).
(d) Fully sufficient knowledge and understanding of the topic. Discreet capacity to apply knowledge (21-23).
(e) Barely sufficient knowledge and understanding of the argument with lacunae. Low capacity of application of knowledge and poor mastery of terminology (18-20).
Other information
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