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 the mean value of the scores obtained in the Neurophysiology and Systems Physiology exams.
The course aims to offer students a biophysical-quantitative view of the functioning mechanisms of cells, tissues and systems of the human body. In this way, the course intends to provide the skills necessary to understand in detail the complexity of vital functions in normal conditions and to make available to students the indispensable prerequisites for facing subsequent courses aimed at studying the pathological alterations of tissues and organs and their treatment. clinical and surgical. Therefore, teaching proves to be a fundamental pivot in building the professional profile of the student of Medicine and Surgery.
Expected Learning Outcomes
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 work
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 dealt with clearly and using the appropriate technical language.
8. explain how the changes in functional balance found in physiological conditions lead to the onset of pathophysiological 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:
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.
Detailed program:
Detailed schedule.
nervous system:
Resting membrane potential. Constant of time and space of nerve fibers. Potential for action and its propagation. synapse. Neuromuscular junction. Neuronal coding. Synaptic integration. Sensory systems. Monosynoptic and plurisynaptic reflexes.
Tactile and kinesthetic sensitivity. Tactile receptors. Neuromuscular spindies:. Musculoskeletal organs of Golgi. Thermal sensitivity and pain. Vestibular apparatus. Acoustic, visual, olfactory and taste sensitivity. Motor control. The neuromotor unit. Spinal reflexes. Maintaining posture. Motor coordination. Afferent, efferent ways. Voluntary movement. Cortical areas. Pain sensitivity. Trigeminal system. Nocietion in the oral cavity
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, gonadot
Teaching will be given through frontal lessons. With the aid of images, schemas, graphs and biophysical analysis of the functioning mechanisms of cells, tissues and organs, the student will be driven to the comprehension of the different but integrated physiological processes
Prof. Negrini and Prof. Moriondo are available for the the students by appointment taken at the e-mail address:
daniela.negrini@uninsubria.it
andrea.moriondo@uninsubria.it