Programme of the course:

General Introduction:
basics of Physics and Chemistry (mass, force, acceleration, speed, work, concentration, density, osmolarity, osmotic pressure); compartments and body composition of body fluids (blood, plasma, interstitial fluid).

Cellular neurophysiology:
cell membrane, ion channels, transporters, flux; the resting potential of excitable cells, the action potential, propagation of the action potential; synapses.

Muscle (sarcomere, contraction cycle, diagrams, force-length and force-velocity) and motor descending pathways

Sensory systems:
transduction of the stimulus and psychophysical laws; tact and proprioception, dermatomes, afferent pathways; vision (physiological optics, retina, visual cortex, color vision); hearing; vestibular system; nociception; taste and smell.

Cardiovascular System:
hematocrit, hemostasis and coagulation; heart electrical/mechanical activity, heart work and cardiac output; blood circle (characteristics of the vessels, blood velocity, vessel cross-section, systemic pressures); mechanical, hydrodynamic and Fick’s definition of cardiac output; lymphatic system.

Respiratory System:
composition of air; static lung volumes, respiratory mechanics, role of surface tension, gas exchange, blood transport of O2 and CO2

Renal System – pH:
kidney; buffer systems, bicarbonate buffer, Henderson-Hasselbalch’s Law, compensation of acidosis and alkalosis

Digestive system:
motility and its regulation; secretions and their regulation; digestion and absorption of sugars, lipids and proteins