HUMAN PHYSIOLOGY
- Overview
- Assessment methods
- Learning objectives
- Contents
- Full programme
- Teaching methods
- Contacts/Info
To be admitted to the final exam of Human Physiology it is necessary to possess a positive evaluation of the exams of Human Anatomy and of Biochemistry
The assessment of the achievement of the objectives set by the Course requires a final exam on all the topics included in the program of the Neurophysiology and Physiology of Systems courses. The exam consists of a first test performed by computer support (PC) comprising 40 multiple choice questions, whose positive result (score greater than 18/30) allows access to the second test. The latter focuses on questions aimed at defining the knowledge and understanding of physiological mechanisms, the ability to apply knowledge and understanding, and the ability to learn the topics covered and is divided into: a) an oral examination of Physiology of Systems composed a question on the systems treated and b) a written Neurophysiology test consisting of an open question to be answered in 25 minutes.
The evaluation of the exam of the Human Physiology course will be calculated as a mena value of the scores attained in the Neurophysiology and Systems Physiology exams.
Physiology studies vital functions and analyzes how the living organism obtains and maintains the homeostasis of its internal medium at the molecular, cellular and tissue level, in the context of changes in the surrounding environment.
The objective of the Human Physiology 1 Course will therefore be to provide students with all the information necessary to understand, from a biophysical-quantitative point of view, the operating modes of the various organs and systems of the organism in normal conditions as well as their control. by the central and autonomic nervous system and the endocrine system. At the end of the course, the student will be able to:
1. describe the fundamental functional parameters that characterize the physiological conditions of cells, tissues and organs;
2. explain how cells and tissues function
3. use biophysical-quantitative tools (equations, graphs) to describe and analyze the physiological processes involved;
4. describe the correlations between structure, biophysical behavior and function of organs and systems.
5. describe the mechanisms underlying the coordinated and interactive functioning of several organs and systems
6. analyze the phenomena that lead to possible modifications of the quantitative and functional parameters as the organic conditions vary
7. discuss the topics addressed clearly and using the appropriate technical language.
8. explain how changes in the functional balance found in physiological conditions lead to the onset of physiopathological conditions of clinical interest for cells, tissues and organs.
The Course will deal with the biophysical mechanisms that guarantees the normal functions and omeostatic control in the following systems:
Cellular electrophysiology. Central and peripheral nervous system with particular focus on the trigeminal system. Autonomous nervous system.
Skeletal muscle and locomotion.
Cardiac muscle.
Vascular systemic circulation and lymphatic system.
Pulmonary and coronary circulation. Control of cardiovascular function.
Respiratory system, gas exchanges and transport.
Nervous and chemical control of respiratory function.
Renal system and regulation of volume and osmoticity in extracellular body fluids.
Acid-base equilibrium.
Metabolism.
Thermoregulation.
Digestive system.
Endocrine system.
NEUROPHYSIOLOGY.
Resting membrane potential. Time and space constant of nerve fibers. Action potential and its propagation. Synapses. Neuromuscular junction. Neuronal coding. Synaptic integration. Sensory systems. Monosynaptic and pluri-synaptic reflexes. Tactile and kinesthetic sensitivity. Tactile receptors. Neuromuscular spindles. Golgi muscle and tendon organs. Thermal sensitivity and pain relief. Vestibular system. Acoustic, visual, olfactory and gustatory sensitivity. Motor control. The neuromotor unit. Spinal reflexes. Maintenance of posture. Motor coordination. Afferent, efferent pathways. Voluntary movement. Cortical areas. Pain sensitivity. Trigeminal system. Nociception in the oral cavity.
SYSTEMS PHYSIOLOGY.
Muscle and locomotion. Isometric, isotonic and iso-velocity contraction. Force-length, force-velocity and dynamic force-velocity diagrams.
Heart. Cardiac pace-maker. Electrocardiogram. Control of cardiac function. Cardiac mechanics. Valves function. Ventricular pressure and volume during cardiac cycle. Cardiac stroke and cardiac output. Work output, cardiac efficiency and metabolism.
Distribution of blood volume. Velocity, cross section and pressure in the circulatory districts. Mechanical features of blood vessels. Laplace and Bernoully laws. Poiseuille law. Laminar and turbulent flow. Arterial and venous pulse pressure. Pressure distribution in the systemic and pulmonary circulation. Fluid and solute exchanges between microvasculature and interstitial space. Diffusion and convection. Control of interstitial volume and lymph formation. Oedema. Control of cardiovascualr function. Pulmonary and coronary circulation.
Respiratory system. Air composition and respiratory gasses. Spirometry, static lung volumes. Pulmonary and alveolar volume and flow. Static. Lung, chest and respiratory system pressure-volume curves. Intrapleural pressure and pneumothorax. Dynamics Mechanical work of respiration. Respiratory gas exchanges. O2 consumption and CO2. production. Respiratory ratio. Alveolar gas equation. Alveolo-capillary respiratory gas diffusion. O2 and CO2 transport in blood transport in blood. Ventilation-perfusion ratio. Artero-venous shunt, hypoxia. Nervous and chemical control of respiratory function.
Renal system. Glomerular filtration: composition of glomerular filtrate. Renal blood flow and filtration fraction. Glomerular auto regulation. Renal clearance. Proximal tubule Absorption of water, Na+, Cl-, bicarbonates, aminoacids, urea. Secretion of H+ and organic substances. Henle loop. Counter current mechanism. Osmolarity in tubular and extracellular fluid. Vasa recta. Distal convolute and collecting tubules. Absorption of water and Na+; excretion of H+, K+. Aldosterone and vasopressine. Regulation of volume and osmoticity in extracellular body fluids. Urine volume, pH and composition.
Acid-base equilibrium. Physiological buffer solutions. H+ production and its buffering. Respiratory and metabolic acidosis and alkalosis. Control of pH by renal and respiratory correction.
Metabolism. Energetic fuel: anaerobic and aerobic pathways. Energy available in food. Oxygen debt. Basal, rest ad exercise metabolism. O2 consumption.
Thermoregulation. Thermal equilibrium. Physiological mechanisms of heat production and dispersion. Nervous and endocrine control of heat production and dispersion.
Digestive system. General features of the digestive tube. Peristaltic movements. Salivary and gastric secretion and their nervous control. Bile secretion and functions. Composition and functions of pancreatic and intestinal secretion. Endocrine control of secretions. Digestion and absorption of carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, ions (Fe++, Ca++, etc.), vitamins, drugs and water.
Endocrine system. Mechanisms of hormone release and action. Pituitary gland. Anterior lobe. Hypotalamic neurosecretion and portal blood vessels. Releasing (RH) and inhibiting hormones (IH). Somatotropin, thyreotropin, corticotropin, gonadotropin,
Teaching takes place through lectures delivered with the aid of IT support materials. The student will be guided to the understanding of physiological processes through the presentation of images and general description schemes, accompanied by in-depth analyzes and explanations of biophysical-quantitative significance carried out using graphs, equations and numerical examples that lead to the understanding of the functioning mechanisms of cells, tissues and organs.
The teachers are available for the students by appointment taken at the e-mail address:
daniela.negrini@uninsubria.it and andrea.moriondo@uninsubria.it
Modules
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Credits: 5Place of teaching: Varese - Università degli Studi dell'Insubria
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Credits: 4Place of teaching: Varese - Università degli Studi dell'Insubria