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

The physiology. Concept of homeostasis and adaptation to environments (terrestrial, aquatic). Intra- and extra-cellular environment

Cell membrane and transport.

The membrane as a two-dimensional fluid that generates gradients and regulates flows. Simple diffusion and permeability of the bilayer, ion channels and electrochemical gradient. Osmosis and osmotic pressure. Membrane transport: concept of carrier and allosterism; passive transport; primary and secondary active transport. Endocytosis and phagocytosis. Exocytosis. The polarization of epithelial cells and the transports through the epithelia.

Excitability.

The neuron as an excitable element: structure and properties. Ionic permeability of membranes: the equilibrium potential and the membrane potential. Action potential and ionic theory. Membrane excitability and passive properties: resistance, capacity and integration of local potentials, spatial and temporal summation, macro EPSP. Impulse conduction in unmyelinated and myelinated fibers.

Intercellular communication and signal transduction.

Synaptic communication: electrical synapses; chemical synapses, structure, the neurotransmitter and the presynaptic mechanism, the receptors and postsynaptic mechanism, excitatory synapses and inhibitory synapses.

Paracrine communication and second messenger pathways: signal molecules, G proteins, cyclic AMP pathway, inositol triphosphate pathway, catalytic receptor pathway. Hormones and hormonal communication.

Neuromuscular communication.

Electro-mechanical transduction in the striated muscle cell: cytoskeleton and characteristics of the muscle fiber and structure of the sarcomere; the electro-mechanical coupling, mechanism of muscle contraction. Muscle mechanics. Smooth muscle, structure and functions.

Sensory organs and motor control

Sense receptors: reception and transduction, receptor potential and coding of sensory information; threshold, specificity, adaptation, receptive field. Somesthetic sensitivity: touch, proprioception (muscle spindle, tendon organ, T-shaped neurons and reflex arcs), thermal and nociceptive sensitivity.

Cones, rods, retinal cells and mechanisms of photoreception. Hair cells and mechanisms of phonoreception.

From sensitivity to motor control: ventral and dorsal stream, integration and passage of information, hierarchical and parallel organization, the motor plan and its feedback and feedforward control. Mechanisms of learning and motor learning.

Apparatus physiology

Cardiovascular system: electrical and mechanical activity of the heart, cardiac output; electrocardiogram; hemodynamics and microvascular exchanges; nervous and hormonal regulation of blood volume and blood pressure.

Renal system: basics of kidney anatomy. The nephron and its structure. Glomerular filtration and regulation, nephron secretion and reabsorption phenomena and urine formation. Renal control of blood osmolarity, blood volume and blood pressure. Electrolyte control. Renal control of blood pH.

Respiratory system: transport and exchange of respiratory gases, respiratory mechanics, nervous and chemical control of respiration. Respiratory control of blood pH.

It is not possible to sustain the exame of Physiology befor of Human Anatomy. It is strongly recommended to have passed the exame of 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 and seminars, slide available.

Teaching

Lessons and lectures

Attendance

No

Course books

- Different authors, Fisiologia Umana, Fondamenti, edi-ermes, 2018.

Texts for further study
- B. Alberts, A. Johnson, J. Lewis, M. Raff, K. Roberts, P. Walter. Biologia molecolare della cellula, Zanichelli, Bologna, 2016.
- E.R. Kandel, J.H. Schwartz, T.M. Jessel. Principi di neuroscienze, Casa Editrice Ambrosiana, 2014.

Assessment

Oral examination (in Italian or in English).

The exam consists of at least three / four questions. The candidate must demonstrate knowledge of the topics, the ability to link between different subjects, the ability to communicate using a correct scientific language, according to Dublin descriptors.

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

Please, see the attending students box.

Attendance

No

Course books

- Different authors, Fisiologia Umana, Fondamenti, edi-ermes, 2018.

- Whatever book of Human Physiology, provided it is recent.

Texts for further study
- B. Alberts, A. Johnson, J. Lewis, M. Raff, K. Roberts, P. Walter. Biologia molecolare della cellula, Zanichelli, Bologna, 2016.
- E.R. Kandel, J.H. Schwartz, T.M. Jessel. Principi di neuroscienze, Casa Editrice Ambrosiana, 2014.

Assessment

Oral examination (in Italian or in English).

The exam consists of at least three / four questions. The candidate must demonstrate knowledge of the topics, the ability to link between different subjects, the ability to communicate using a correct scientific language, according to Dublin descriptors.

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.