The course is aimed to provide knowledge of physiological processes and cellular mechanisms underlying the function of gastrointestinal system and its regulation, including food intake and body wheigt control. 

Transport across cell membrane: passive diffusion; facilitated diffusion; water channels; ion channels; active transport by ATP-powered pumps; cotransport by symporters and antiporters against a concentration gradient; transport across epithelia; endocytosis; exocytosis. Resting membrane potentials.
Elements of intercellular communication: paracrine, autocrine and endocrine signaling; membrane receptors: ion-channel receptors, G protein-coupled receptors, enzyme-linked receptors; intracellular receptors: cytoplasmic and nuclear receptors; signal transduction pathways.
Nervous system (cellular mechanisms): chemical synapses and electrical synapses; neurotransmitters and their receptors; post-synaptic potential; neuron integration function; action potential; myelin sheath and saltatory conduction; sensory receptors: stimulus transduction and codification, taste and sense of smell; reflexes. Autonomic nervous system.
Skeletal muscle: sarcomere; excitation-contraction coupling; muscle metabolism; isometric and isotonic contraction; twitch and tetanus; neuromuscular junction; motor unit; cardiac muscle; smooth muscle.
Endocrine system: hormones: classification, synthesis and release, action mechanisms; hypothalamus-hypophysis axis.
Gastrointestinal system: motility: electrical and mechanical activity of smooth muscle cells; mastication; swallowing; esophagus motility; stomach motility; movements of small and large intestine; defecation; secretory functions: salivary secretion; gastric secretion; pancreatic secretion; biliary secretion; intestinal secretion; digestion and absorption; nervous and hormonal regulation of gastrointestinal functions. Endocrine pancreas. Control of food intake and of body weight.

It is advisable to have passed the following exams: Animal Biology and Human Anatomy; Biochemistry.

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 cellular and organ 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 cellular and organ 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:

- Vander's Human Physiology. The mechanisms of body function. 14th Edition, 2016, McGraw-Hill Education

- Stanfield, Principles of Human Physiology, 4th Edition, 2010, Benjamin Cummings

- Guyton and Hall, Textbook of medical physiology, 13th Edition, 2015, Elsevier

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.