PHYSIOLOGY
cod. 08704

Academic year 2007/08
2° year of course - Second semester
Professor responsible for the course unit
GENTILUCCI Maurizio
integrated course unit
12.5 credits
hub:
course unit
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Course unit structured in the following modules:

Learning objectives

<br />The knowledge of the mechanisms by which the human organism obtains and maintains the homeostasis at level of cell and tissue, the mechanisms of transport and communication and the basal metabolism.<br />The knowledge of the functional mechanisms of the human body organs, the knowledge of their dynamic integration in apparatuses and the general mechanisms of functional control in normal conditions and in particular pathological conditions.<br />The knowledge of the main functional analyses in healthy humans. <br />

Prerequisites

<br />Successful examinations of Physics, Biochemistry and Anatomy

Course unit content

<br />Cardiovascular apparatus<br />Physical principles of hemodynamics. Physical properties of blood. Miocardial properties: rhythm, conduction, excitability, contraction. Heart electrophysiology. Ionic theories of resting and action potentials. Electrocardiogram. Heart mechanics and the cardiac cycle. Cardiac output.  Intrinsic and extrinsic regulation of heart activity. The vascular system. Passive mechanical properties. Vascular smooth muscles. Nervous and endocrine regulation of blood vessels. Blood pressure; systolic, diastolic, mean and pulsatory. Measuring blood pressure. Venous pressure and blood circulation. Arterial and venous pulse. Coronaric circulation and and heart metabolism. Local circulation: muscle, skin, kidney, splancnic. Brain circulation: chemical, metabolic and nervous regulation.<br />Respiratory Apparatus<br />Physical laws of gases. Chest and respiration muscles. Alveolar and pulmunary ventilation. Lung volumes and capacities. Anatomic and functional dead space. Mechanics of breathing. Intra-pulmunary and intra-pleural pressures. Compliance. Pressure-volume curves. Airway resistance. Work of breathing. Inspirated air, alveolar air, and expirated air. Blood-tissue gas exchange in the lung: relationships between ventilation and alveolar pressures of gases. Distribution of ventilation. Gas exchange between alveoli and capillaries. Blood transport of oxygen and carbon dioxide. Pulmunary circulation. Ventilation-perfusion relationships. Respiratory centers: Genesis of the rhythm of respiration. Ventilation responses to variation in alveolar pressures of oxygen and carbon dioxide. Chemical and central regulation of respiration. Hypoxia. Respiratory mechanisms controlling the acid-base status.<br /><br />Body Fluids and Renal Function<br />Physiology of the body fluids. Filtration and blood flow. Proximal tubule function. The loop of Henle and the distal nephron. Regulation of osmolarity and volume of the body fluids. Acid-base balance and regulation of H+ excretion. Potassium balance and regulation of potassium excretion. Regulation of calcium, magnesium and phosphate excretion.<br />Physical techniques<br />Electromagnetic waves. Optical (UV-Vis, fluorescence and circular dichroism) and magnetic spectroscopies (NMR). Tomographies.<br />

Full programme

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Bibliography

<br />R.M. BERNE, M.N. LEVY – FISIOLOGIA – CASA EDITRICE AMBROSIANA<br />M.G. LEVITZKY - FISIOLOGIA POLMONARE – MCGRAW-HILL EDITORE<br />A.L. VANDER – FISIOLOGIA RENALE – MCGRAW-HILL EDITORE<br />F. BALDISSERA ET AL. - FISIOLOGIA E BIOFISICA MEDICA – POLETTO EDITORE<br />J.B. WEST – LE BASI FISIOLOGICHE DELLA PRATICA MEDICA – PICCIN EDITORE

Teaching methods

<br />Teachers: <br /><br />SSD BIO/09:  V. Gallese, M. Gentilucci (Coordinator), F. Raschi, R. Sorbi, R. Tirindelli.

Assessment methods and criteria

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Other information

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