The aims of the course are to provide students with the tools  to understand fundamentals of General Physiology starting from lab experiences. Some pivotal topics will be discuss in lecture form.

Cell membrane and membrane transports: chemical and electrical gradients and diffusion of ions and water; the ion channels and their activity; osmosis and osmotic pressure, transport by carriers; endocytosis, exocytosis; trans-epithelial transports.
Cell excitability: neurons as excitable cells, the equilibrium potential and the Nerst equation; membrane potential and the Goldmann law; the action potential and ion movements across the membrane. Passive properties of membrane and the signal integration; macro EPSP. Nerve stimulation, threshold of excitability and the influence of the time and intensity of the stimulus. The action potential conduction in the myelinated fibres.

Synaptic communication: electrical and chemical synapses, neurotransmitters and receptors; excitatory and inhibitory synapses; neuromuscular synapse.
Metabotrophic receptors and signalling: G protein, cAMP and IP3. Trk receptors and signal transduction.
Synaptic plasticity: pre and post synaptic potentiation and inhibition, LTP and LTD.

Sensibility: the receptors and the signal transduction, threshold, specificity, adaptation.
The somaesthesic sensibility: tact,  proprioception and the reflex activity, the thermic sensibility, the nociception.
The retina and the phototransduction. The Corti organ and the phonotransduction.
The neuromuscular system: the electromechanical transduction, muscular contraction and the control of the movements.

The homeostasis
The nephron and the glomerular filtration, tubular secretion and absorption, the urine formation. The renal control of blood osmolarity, volume, electrolytes and pH.
Respiration and respiratory gases: blood transport of O2 and CO2; respiratory muscles and the respiratory control.

It is strongly recommended to have passed Anatomy and Biochemistry.

Learning Outcomes (Dublin Descriptors)

Q1-KNOWLEDGE AND CAPACITY 'OF UNDERSTANDING The student must demonstrate the knowledge of the physiology in order to set a full discussion of theoretical issues.

D2-CAPACITY 'TO USE THE KNOWLEDGE The student must demonstrate the ability to set the discussion of practical problems in the field of general and human Physiology.

D3-AUTONOMY the student will have acquired knowledge to enable him to describe the mechanisms underlying the phisiological functions and to be able to independently evaluate and motivate any different opinions about the problematic aspects of Physiology.

D4-COMMUNICATION ABILITY After completing the course, the student must have achieved an appropriate organization of their knowledge around to the different themes of the course, to enable him to present the arguments in organic form and with appropriate scientific language.

D5-'LEARNING CAPABILITY The student will be able to examine and understand scientific texts, in order to use them in everyday contexts of the profession and research activities.

The teaching material prepared by the lecturer in addition to recommended textbooks (such as for instance slides, lecture notes, exercises, bibliography) and communications from the lecturer specific to the course can be found inside the Moodle platform › blended.uniurb.it

Lectures

Teaching

Lessons and lectures

Attendance

No

Course books

- D'Angelo e Peres, Fisiologia, edi-ermes, 2011
- Berne & Levy, Fisiologia, CEA, 2010
Testi di integrazione:
- V. Taglietti, C. Casella. Principi di fisiologia e biofisica della cellula (Vol II e III), La Goliardica Pavese, Padova, 2005, 2006.
- B. Alberts, A. Johnson, J. Lewis, M. Raff, K. Roberts, P. Walter. Biologia molecolare della cellula, Zanichelli, Bologna, 2008.
- E.R. Kandel, J.H. Schwartz, T.M. Jessel. Principi di neuroscienze, Casa Editrice Ambrosiana, 2003.
Ulteriori indicazioni verranno fornite all'inizio del corso
Textbooks: - Berne & Levy, Physiology (latest edition)

Assessment

Oral exam (either in Italian or English).

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.

Attendance

No

Course books

- D'Angelo e Peres, Fisiologia, edi-ermes, 2011
- Berne & Levy, Fisiologia, CEA, 2010
Testi di integrazione:
- V. Taglietti, C. Casella. Principi di fisiologia e biofisica della cellula (Vol II e III), La Goliardica Pavese, Padova, 2005, 2006.
- B. Alberts, A. Johnson, J. Lewis, M. Raff, K. Roberts, P. Walter. Biologia molecolare della cellula, Zanichelli, Bologna, 2008.
- E.R. Kandel, J.H. Schwartz, T.M. Jessel. Principi di neuroscienze, Casa Editrice Ambrosiana, 2003.
Ulteriori indicazioni verranno fornite all'inizio del corso
Textbooks: - Berne & Levy, Physiology (latest edition)

Assessment

Oral exam (either in Italian or English)

Disability and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD)

Students who have registered their disability certification or SLD certification with the Inclusion and Right to Study Office can request to use conceptual maps (for keywords) during exams.

To this end, it is necessary to send the maps, two weeks before the exam date, to the course instructor, who will verify their compliance with the university guidelines and may request modifications.