HUMAN ANATOMY

Cell excitability: physiology of the neuron; physiology of synapses; neurotransmitters and neuromodulators; the neuromuscular junction; muscle contraction. Basic principles on the autonomic nervous system function.
Cardiovascular physiology: heart excitability; electromechanical coupling; basic of EKG; blood pressure; capillary pressure and peripheral exchange mechanisms; nervous regulation of heart rhythm.
Respiratory system physiology: breathing; the mechanical ventilation and the physical principles involved (elasticity and pressure gradients); pneumothorax; gas exchange in the lung and peripheral tissues; the transport of gas (hemoglobin); spirometry and respiratory volumes; nervous and chemical control of the breath; signs of obstructive respiratory disease.
Renal Physiology: structure of kidney and nephron; physiology of the nephron; processes of homeostasis, filtration, re-absorption, secretion and excretion; passive and active transport mechanisms; re-absorption of sodium and glucose; basic knowledge on the renin-angiotensin system.
Somatosensory system: principles of physiology of the sense organs; physiology of mechanoreceptors; organization of the somatosensory system; the dorsal and anterolateral ascending systems; hemisection of the spinal cord; somatotopic organization and sensory homunculus; epicritic sensibility; plasticity of the somatosensory systems.
Pain, nociception, placebo effect and empathy: classification of pain and its characteristics; nociceptors; nociceptive pathways (protopathic sensibility); nociception vs. pain and emotional component; phantom pain; placebo effect; concept of empathy.
Physiology of the digestive system: the structure of the digestive system, chewing, bolus formation and swallowing; digestion in the stomach; digestion and absorption in the small intestine; peristalsis; the liver and bile; pancreas and pancreatic juice; the large intestine and the formation of feces.
Thermoregulation.