ID:
501718
Duration (hours):
24
CFU:
3
SSD:
FISIOLOGIA
Year:
2025
Overview
Date/time interval
Primo Semestre (01/10/2025 - 16/01/2026)
Syllabus
Course Objectives
The course will teach students the phenomena occurring at molecular, cellular, tissue and organ level which support vital functions. At the end of the course, students will know how the organs and systems of the human body work, how their cooperate, and how their function is controlled to keep homeostasis. What is taught at all level of organisation of the living matter will be pout in the frame of the way the organism works. Students will learn the major correlations between the phenomena occurring in physiologic and pathologic conditions.
Course Prerequisites
The student of the Human Physiology course is required to possess the
following knowledge and skills:
- mathematics: knowledge of mathematics at secondary school level supplemented
by the skills acquired in the teaching of Medical Physics in the first year of the course
- physics: all the skills acquired in the teaching of Medical Physics in the first year of
the course with particular regard to the biophysical approach to the function of
tissues and organs.
- biology: physics skills at secondary school level supplemented by all the skills
acquired in the Biology teaching of the 1st year of the course with particular regard to
the genetic code, its transmission and mutations
- histology: all the knowledge acquired in the teaching of Histology and Embryology
in the first year of the course with particular regard to cellular functions and the
structure of tissues and organs.
- anatomy: all the knowledge acquired in the teaching of Human Anatomy in the first
year of the course with particular emphasis on the structure of organs and their
functional anatomy. Passing the Anatomy examination is a prerequisite for the
Human Physiology examination.
- biochemistry: all the skills acquired in the Biochemistry course of the first year with
particular emphasis on the metabolic pathways of energy metabolism, mitochondrial
function, the structure of proteins and their synthesis and degradation. Passing the
Biochemistry examination is a prerequisite for the Physiology examination.
following knowledge and skills:
- mathematics: knowledge of mathematics at secondary school level supplemented
by the skills acquired in the teaching of Medical Physics in the first year of the course
- physics: all the skills acquired in the teaching of Medical Physics in the first year of
the course with particular regard to the biophysical approach to the function of
tissues and organs.
- biology: physics skills at secondary school level supplemented by all the skills
acquired in the Biology teaching of the 1st year of the course with particular regard to
the genetic code, its transmission and mutations
- histology: all the knowledge acquired in the teaching of Histology and Embryology
in the first year of the course with particular regard to cellular functions and the
structure of tissues and organs.
- anatomy: all the knowledge acquired in the teaching of Human Anatomy in the first
year of the course with particular emphasis on the structure of organs and their
functional anatomy. Passing the Anatomy examination is a prerequisite for the
Human Physiology examination.
- biochemistry: all the skills acquired in the Biochemistry course of the first year with
particular emphasis on the metabolic pathways of energy metabolism, mitochondrial
function, the structure of proteins and their synthesis and degradation. Passing the
Biochemistry examination is a prerequisite for the Physiology examination.
Teaching Methods
Lectures, rehearsal and questions and answers to the class
Assessment Methods
For further information please see the Integrated Course Syllabus for “[506512] - FUNCTIONS OF THE BODY”
Texts
One of the following books
Vander's Human Physiology, 14th Edition - McGraw Hill
Ganong's Review of Medical Physiology, 25th Edition - McGraw Hill
Berne & Levy Physiology, 6th Edition - Elsevier
Vander's Human Physiology, 14th Edition - McGraw Hill
Ganong's Review of Medical Physiology, 25th Edition - McGraw Hill
Berne & Levy Physiology, 6th Edition - Elsevier
Contents
Cell and body fluid compartments
Levels of cellular organization
Cell types, tissue and organs
Extracellular matrix
Internal environment and body water
Homeostasis
Feed-back systems
Resetting of set points
Feedforward regulation
Regulation of body temperature
Reflexes
Local homeostatic responses
Adaptation and acclimatization
Biological rhythms
Balance of chemical substances in the body
Intercellular communications
Main methods of cell to cell communication
Signals and receptors
Hydrophobic and hydrophilic signals and receptors
Intracellular pathways initiated by lipid-soluble messengers
Intracellular pathways initiated by water-soluble messengers
Plasma membrane receptors and gene transcription
Modulation of intracellular pathways
Inactivation of intracellular pathways
Excitable tissues
Neurons and cells of the nervous system
Organization of the nervous system: general concepts
Morphology
Cytoskeleton & axon transport
Glial cells and myelinated and un-myelinated axons
Electrical phenomena in neurons
Resting membrane potential
Graded potentials
Action potentials
Action potential conduction
Synapses
Functional Anatomy of Synapses
Mechanisms of Neurotransmitter Release
Activation of the Postsynaptic Cell
Excitatory Chemical Synapses
Inhibitory Chemical Synapses
Synaptic Integration
Synaptic Strength
Modification of Synaptic Transmission by Drugs and Disease
Neurotransmitters and Neuromodulators
Acetylcholine
Biogenic Amines
Amino Acid Neurotransmitters
Neuropeptides
Gases
Purines
Cardiac Muscle
Cellular Structure of Cardiac Muscle
Excitation–Contraction Coupling in Cardiac Muscle
Regulation of force
Action potential
Levels of cellular organization
Cell types, tissue and organs
Extracellular matrix
Internal environment and body water
Homeostasis
Feed-back systems
Resetting of set points
Feedforward regulation
Regulation of body temperature
Reflexes
Local homeostatic responses
Adaptation and acclimatization
Biological rhythms
Balance of chemical substances in the body
Intercellular communications
Main methods of cell to cell communication
Signals and receptors
Hydrophobic and hydrophilic signals and receptors
Intracellular pathways initiated by lipid-soluble messengers
Intracellular pathways initiated by water-soluble messengers
Plasma membrane receptors and gene transcription
Modulation of intracellular pathways
Inactivation of intracellular pathways
Excitable tissues
Neurons and cells of the nervous system
Organization of the nervous system: general concepts
Morphology
Cytoskeleton & axon transport
Glial cells and myelinated and un-myelinated axons
Electrical phenomena in neurons
Resting membrane potential
Graded potentials
Action potentials
Action potential conduction
Synapses
Functional Anatomy of Synapses
Mechanisms of Neurotransmitter Release
Activation of the Postsynaptic Cell
Excitatory Chemical Synapses
Inhibitory Chemical Synapses
Synaptic Integration
Synaptic Strength
Modification of Synaptic Transmission by Drugs and Disease
Neurotransmitters and Neuromodulators
Acetylcholine
Biogenic Amines
Amino Acid Neurotransmitters
Neuropeptides
Gases
Purines
Cardiac Muscle
Cellular Structure of Cardiac Muscle
Excitation–Contraction Coupling in Cardiac Muscle
Regulation of force
Action potential
Course Language
English
More information
- The course offers tutoring focused on in-depth analysis and further understanding of the topics taught.
Degrees
Degrees
MEDICINE AND SURGERY
Single-cycle Master’s Degree (6 Years)
6 years
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People
People
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