Content and course program
Resting cell membrane potential. Time and space constant. Action potential and its propagation along myelinised and non-myelinized nervous fibres. Refractory period. Conduction speed. Synaptic functionand neurotransmitters. Unidirectional conduction, central delay, excitation and inhibition. Excitatory (EPSP) and inhibitory (IPSP) postsynaptic potential. Neuromuscular junction. Neuronal codification. Integration of postsynaptic signals:
Generator and receptor membrane potential. Receptor adaptation. Mono and pluri-synaptic reflexes. Interneurons and inhibitory circuits. Tactile and position senses. Neuromuscular spindles and Golgi tendon organs. Sensory pathways for transmitting somatic signals to central nervous system. Sensory cortex. Thermal receptors. Types of pain receptors. Referred and visceral pain. Endogenous control of pain. Vestibular apparatus. Function of utricule and saccule in static equilibrium. Function of semicircular ducts in detection of head rotation. Nistagmus. Transmission of sound through the outer and medium ear. Inner ear. Central auditory mechanisms. Accomodation, visual acuity. The retina as a receptor. Photochemistry of vision. Color vision. Neural function of the retina. Visual pathways. Organizations and functions of the visual cortex. Analysis of visual image. Eye movements and their control. Taste and smell signals.
The neuromotor unit. Organization of spinal cord for motor function. Flexor and withdrawal reflexes, crossed extended reflex. Primary motor cortex. Premotor area. Role of reticual and vestibular nuclei. Spinal, visual and vestibular components of postural control. Vestibolo-spinal projection. Cervical, visual and vestibular reflexes. Nistagmus. Vertigo. Cerebellum. Afferent and efferent pathways to the cerebellum. Cerebellar circuit. Basal ganglia. Motor functions. EEG. Association areas. Language input and output. Different function of the two emispheres. Short- term, intermediate–term and long-term memory.. Activating- de-activating systems of the brain. Vegetative and endocrine control function of the hypothalamus. Functions of the limbic system. The hemato-encefalic barrier and the cerebral liquor. General organization and characteristics of sympathetic and parasympathetic function. Autonomic reflexes. Control of the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems in distinct organs.
Subdivisions of body compartments. Functions of blood. Physical properties. Osmotic and oncotic pressure. Herithrocytes sediimentation. Hematocrit. Bood cells. Hemometry.
Muscle and locomotion. Function of skeletal muscle. Elastic and contractile components. Isometric, isotonic and iso-velocity contraction. Force-length diagram. Force-velocity diagram. Dynamic force-velocity diagram.
Cardiac pace-maker. Resting membrane potential and action potential in specialized and normal miocytes. ECG. Cardiovascular regulatory centres. Ventricular pressure and volume during cardiac cycle. Cardiac stroke and cardiac output. Work output, cardiac efficiency. Cardiac metabolism.
Distribution of blood volume. Velocity, cross section and pressure in the circulatory districts. Laplace law applied to vessels. Passive and active wall tension. Bernoully law. Orthostatic ipotension. Poiseuille law. Laminar and turbulent flow. Arterial and venous pulse pressure. Pressure distribution in the systemic and pulmonary circulation. Pulse pressure velocity and transit time. Fluid and solute exchanges between microvasculature and interstitial space. Control of interstitial volume. Lymph formation and propulsion. Oedema. Nervous and endocrine control of arterial pressure. Pulmonary and coronary circulation.

Teaching activity

Class lessons