The course aims to provide knowledge about the functioning of some organs of the human body and the general mechanisms of control of their integrated working under normal conditions.

Central control of homeostasis: 1. Homeostasis, homeostatic control mechanisms; 2. Hypothalamus: general organizational principles and functional organization, effector systems; 3. General organization of autonomic nervous system: sympathetic division, parasympathetic division, enteric division, neurotransmitters and receptors, pharmacology outline, autonomic control of homeostasis; 4. Neuroendocrine systems: posterior pituitary gland and its relation to the hypothalamus, hypopthalamus-pituitary-target gland (organ) axis and its regulation.

Cardiovascular system: 1. Physiologic anatomy of heart; 2.  Electrical activity of cardiac cells: action potentials and its conduction, electrocardiography; 3. Fundamental properties of cardiac activity and their regulation: chronotropism, batmotropism, dromotropism, inotropism; 4. Mechanical activity of heart: cardiac muscle cells, excitation-contraction coupling, length-tension relationship; the cardiac cycle: diastole, presystole, systole, function of the valves, blood pressure and volume curve, heart sounds, arterial pulse, venous pulse, cardiac output and its regulation; 5. Blood circulation: overview of the circulation, histo-functional characteristics of vessels; arterial system: elasticity of arteries, arterial pressure and its regulation; microcirculation: morpho-functional organization, microvascular exchange, regulation of microcirculation; venous system: morpho-functional organization, venous return mechanism.

Gastrointestinal system: 1. Motility: electrical and mechanical activity of smooth muscle cells, propulsive movements – peristalsis – mixing movements, mastication, swallowing, esophagus motility, stomach motility, movements of small and large intestine, defecation; 2. Secretory functions: salivary secretion, esophageal secretion, gastric secretion, pancreatic secretion, biliary secretion, intestinal secretion; 3. Digestion and absorption; 4. Nervous and hormonal regulation of gastrointestinal functions. 

According to Dublin descriptors, at the end of the course and for passing the exam, students are expected to fulfill the following requirements:

D1- KNOWLEDGE AND CAPACITY OF UNDERSTANDING: to possess good knowledge and understanding of human physiology topics, so as to be able to set a logical and complete discussion about theoretical aspects of the discipline, being also able to make connections among the treated topics;

D2- CAPACITY TO APPLY KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING: to apply the acquired knowledge to the discussion of different issues within human physiology;

D3- JUDGEMENT AUTONOMY: to have acquired autonomy in the application of knowledge, making independent decisions and choices in the face of different aspects inherent human physiology.

D4- COMMUNICATION  SKILLS: to be able to communicate, clearly and comprehensively, the acquired knowledge, exposing with language property and scientific terms, elaborating an autonomous thinking using the provided information about the diverse issues presented during the course

D5- LEARNING ABILITY: to analyze and understand scientific texts/articles, also in English, about the topics inherent human physiology and to use them for study and research.

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

Teaching

Lectures

Course books

In alternative:

- Guyton and Hall, Textbook of Medical Physiology,Thirteenth Edition, 2016, Elsevier

- Berne & Levy, Physiology, Seventh Edition, 2018, Elsevier Inc.

For further information: Principi di Neuroscienze, E. R. Kandel, J. H. Schwartz, T. M. Jessel, S. A. Siegelbaum, A. J. Hudspeth, IV Edizione, 2014, CEA 

Assessment

Oral exam addressed to monitor compliance with Dublin Descriptor requirements. Particular attention will be paid to the verification of the student's ability to make connections among the various topics of course program. 

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.