Learning objectives
see main form of the course
Prerequisites
see main form of the course
Course unit content
CARDIOVASCULAR APPARATUS
ELECTROCARDIOGRAPHY
RESPIRATORY APPARATUS
Full programme
CARDIOVASCULAR APPARATUS.
Physical principles of hemodynamics. Physical properties of blood. Myocardial properties: rhythm, conduction, excitability, contraction. Heart electrophysiology. Ionic theories of resting and action potentials. Electrocardiogram. Heart mechanics and the cardiac cycle. Cardiac output. Intrinsic and extrinsic regulation of heart activity. The vascular system. Passive mechanical properties. Vascular smooth muscles. Nervous and endocrine regulation of blood vessels. Blood pressure; systolic, diastolic, mean and pulsatory. Measuring blood pressure. Venous pressure and blood circulation. Arterial and venous pulse. Coronary circulation and heart metabolism. Local circulation: muscle, skin, kidney, splanchnic. Brain circulation: chemical, metabolic and nervous regulation.
ELECTROCARDIOGRAPHY AND POLYVAGAL THEORY
ECG: its history and basic principles of heart electrophysiology. P wave (electrogenesis; relation to the heart cycle, morphology, notion of its diagnostic features in relation to atrial heart pathology. PR interval (electrogenesis, relation to the heart cycle, morphology, notion of its diagnostic features in relation to heart pathology of conduction tissue. QRS complex (electrogenesis; relation to the heart cycle, morphology, notion of its diagnostic features in relation to the diagnosis of heart hypertrophy and infarct. ST segment (electrogenesis; relation to the heart cycle, morphology, notion of its diagnostic features in relation to the diagnosis of ischemia. T wave (electrogenesis; relation to the heart cycle, morphology, notion of its diagnostic features in relation to the diagnosis of heart overload. U wave. QTcB interval (absolute and relative refractory periods). ECG as prognostic tool (short excursus on the prognostic meaning of “traditional waves”, followed by the introduction of “alternative/innovative” measures applied to the ECG: waves dispersion in the spatial and temporal domains, post-potentials, etc.). ECG applied to the study of the autonomic nervous system. Hearth rate variability, HRV (temporal and spectral domains, notions of “complexity”): analysis methodology and its implications. The heart-brain relationship. The Polyvagal Theory of Porges.
RESPIRATORY APPARATUS.
Physical laws of gases. Chest and respiration muscles. Alveolar and pulmonary ventilation. Lung volumes and capacities. Anatomic and functional dead space. Mechanics of breathing. Intra-pulmonary and intra-pleural pressures. Compliance. Pressure-volume curves. Airway resistance. Work of breathing. Inspirated air, alveolar air, and expirated air. Blood-tissue gas exchange in the lung: relationships between ventilation and alveolar pressures of gases. Distribution of ventilation. Gas exchange between alveoli and capillaries. Blood transport of oxygen and carbon dioxide. Pulmonary circulation. Ventilation-perfusion relationships. Respiratory centers: Genesis of the rhythm of respiration. Ventilation responses to variation in alveolar pressures of oxygen and carbon dioxide. Chemical and central regulation of respiration. Hypoxia. Respiratory mechanisms controlling the acid-base status.
Bibliography
see main form of the course
Teaching methods
see main form of the course
Assessment methods and criteria
see main form of the course
