The course aims to provide students the basic knowledge of cellular physiology and the mechanisms related to the physiology of excitable cells, endocrine, circulatory, kidney and immune system. This course also provide knowledge on the physiological systems by referring to animals (vertebrates and invertebrates) in their natural environment.

Introduction to animal physiology course.

Mechanisms of regulation and control of functions. Intra- and extra-cellular environment. Homeostasis. Thermoregulation.

Cellular physiology: references on the cell structure and function of subcellular organelles. The plasma membrane: structure, asymmetry, specialized regions. Transport across the cell membrane: osmosis, passive and facilitated diffusion, active transport. Endocytosis and exocytosis.

Physiology of circulation. The heart of the Mammals. Circulating fluids: blood, and hemolymph. The phases of the cardiac action potential and the mechanism of myocardial contraction. Conduction system of the electrical stimulus.

Physiology of excitable cells. Excitability and electrical properties of the plasma membrane. Genesis of the action potential and its propagation. Nerve fibers and their characteristics. Impulse transmission: electrical and chemical synapses. Sensory receptors: general properties, potential receptor, signal coding. The vision. The balance and hearing.

Endocrine physiology: general information on hormones and endocrine glands. Chemical nature of hormones. Regulation of hormonal secretion. Hypothalamic-pituitary axis. Mechanism of Action: hormones that act via intracellular receptors and hormones that act via membrane receptors.

Signal transduction: second messengers. Hormonal regulation of glycemia.

Renal function. Overview of structure and vascularisation of the kidney. The nephron and its functions: glomerular filtration, tubular reabsorption and secretion.

Immunobiology: the innate and adaptive immunity. Main stages in the evolution of immunity. Innate immunity components.

-Innate immunity cells: phagocytes and cytotoxic cells. Humoral factors in innate: Antibacterial peptides, lysozyme, lectins, and agglutinins, the complement system and its evolution.

- Cytokines and chemokines. Receptors for cytokines and chemokines and transduction pathways. Cytokines in invertebrates. Cellular components of adaptive immunity: lymphocytes and accessory cells. Lymphoid organs: bone marrow, thymus, lymph nodes, spleen, lymphoid organs associated with skin and mucous membranes.

Signal transduction in immune responses.

Dublin Descriptors

D1- KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING When the course is over, the student must demonstrate that they have acquired the knowledge about aspects related to concepts and physiological mechanisms.

D2- APPLY KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING The student will demonstrate the ability to apply the physiological mechanisms, especially related to animals (vertebrates and invertebrates) in their natural environment.

D3- MAKING JUDGEMENT The student will have acquired knowledge to enable them to independently assess and motivated any different opinions about the problematic aspects of animal physiology.

D4- COMMUNICATION SKILLS The student will have the ability to set the discussion of theoretical issues in a logical and comprehensive manner, with propriety of language and appropriate terminology.

D5- LEARNING SKILLS Students must be able to demonstrate that they have reached a good learning skills, not only in the form of storage of the information studied, but also in the form of organization of its opinion in relation to the acquired concepts.

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 using  slide material

Course books

Fisiologia animale. Meccanismi e adattamenti. Randall, Burggren, French - Zanichelli, 1999; 

Fisiologia animale. Hill, Wyse, Anderson - Zanichelli, 2006. 

Fisiologia degli animali. Dai geni agli organismi. Sherwood, Klandorf, Yancey - Zanichelli, 2006. 

Assessment

Oral exam addressed to monitor compliance with Dublin Descriptor requirements. The evaluation criteria for the oral exam, which lasts about 20- 30 minutes, will consider the relevance of responses inherent to the program, the ability to make links between the various subjects, and the use of proper scientific terminology. 

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.

Teaching

Lectures using  slide material

Course books

isiologia animale. Meccanismi e adattamenti. Randall, Burggren, French - Zanichelli, 1999; 

Fisiologia animale. Hill, Wyse, Anderson - Zanichelli, 2006. 

Fisiologia degli animali. Dai geni agli organismi. Sherwood, Klandorf, Yancey - Zanichelli, 2006. 

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Assessment

Oral exam addressed to monitor compliance with Dublin Descriptor requirements. The evaluation criteria for the oral exam, which lasts about 20- 30 minutes, will consider the relevance of responses inherent to the program, the ability to make links between the various subjects, and the use of proper scientific terminology. 

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.

The prerequisites for the study of animal physiology are the knowledge of anatomy and general biochemistry.