B017128 -

Italian

The course gives basic notions to understand human vital functions.
- Cell physiology: membrane transport mechanisms. Electrical properties of excitable cells. Synaptic transmission. Mechanisms of contraction and mechanics of skeletal, smooth and cardiac muscle.
- Neurophysiology: sensory receptors and functions. Sensory systems. Spinal reflexes. Autonomic nervous system.
- Organ physiology: heart and circulation, respiration, body fluids and renal function, gastrointestinal function.

- W.J. Germann, C.L. Stanfield “Fisiologia” Ed. EdiSES
- D.U. Silverthorn “Fisiologia umana” Pearson
- L. Zocchi “Principi di Fisiologia” Ed. EdiSES
- D. Shier, J. Butler and R. Lewis “Hole’s Anatomia & Fisiologia” McGraw Hill

At the end of the course students should demonstrate to know the basic functions of the human apparatuses and their regulation to exert nurse profession.

Knowledge of physics, histology and anatomy.

Lectures with audio and video teaching material

The program and educational material are provided to students. Additional explanations and insights are provided by the teacher.

Written and/or oral examination.

ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES OF THE CELL MEMBRANE
Membrane potential - Selective membrane permeability. Intracellular and extracellular ionic concentrations. The resting membrane potential. Ion channels. Active and passive ion currents. Sodium-potassium ATPase.
Subthreshold graded potentials - Depolarization and hyperpolarization. Spatial and temporal summation.
Action potential - Characteristics. Ion movements. Refractory period. Conduction in myelinated and unmyelinated fibres. Classification of nervous fibres.

CELL-TO-CELL COMUNICATION
General properties of synaptic transmission.
Electrical synapses.
Chemical synapses – Excitatory and inhibitory postsynaptic potentials. Neurotransmitters and neurotransmitter actions. The neuromuscular junction: structure and function.

NEUROPHYSIOLOGY
Sensory systems - Sensory receptors. Sensory transduction and signal coding. Adaptation.
Somatic and visceral sensation – Peripheral mechanisms: receptors and afferent fibres for mechanic, proprioceptive, thermal and pain sensation. Central pathways of pain perception. Referred pain. Somatosensory cortex.

Motor systems - Spinal reflexes: definition and general properties. Muscular somatic reflexes: afferent and efferent fibres in reflex arcs. Muscle spindle reflex. Golgi tendon organ reflex. Flexor reflex.
Autonomic nervous system - Functional organization. Sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems.

MUSCLE PHYSIOLOGY
Skeletal muscle - Functional organization. Structure and mechanism of the contraction. Sliding filament theory. Cross-bridges cycle. Excitation-contraction coupling. Mechanics of muscle contraction. Twitch and tetanus. Isometric and isotonic contractions. Force-velocity relation. Length-tension relation. Fast and slow muscle fibres. Motor unit.
Smooth muscle - Functional organization. Excitation-contraction coupling. Regulation of the electrical and contractile activity.
Cardiac muscle - Functional organization. Similarities and differences compared to the skeletal and smooth muscle.

CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM
Heart - Cardiac conduction system and contractile myocardium. Excitation-contraction coupling. Cardiac electrophysiology – Myocardiac action potentials. Pacemakers and electrical conduction, refractory period. The electrocardiogram.
Contractility and cardiac cycle. Cardiac output. Regulation of the stroke volume and heart rate. Role of the autonomic nervous system. Frank-Starling’s law of the heart.

Circulation - Characteristics and function of the blood vessels. Pressure, volume, flow, and resistance. Poiseuille’s law.
Systolic, diastolic and mean arterial blood pressure. Measurement of arterial blood pressure.
Distribution of blood to the tissues and resistance in the arterioles. Exchange at the capillaries.
Regulation of blood pressure.

RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
Mechanical aspects of respiration – lung volumes and capacities. The spirometry. Respiratory muscles. Elastic properties of the lungs, intrapleural pressure, pressure-volume curve, surfactant. Compliance and resistance of the airways.
Gas exchange. Pulmonary and alveolar ventilation.
Gas transport in the blood. Alveolar ventilation/perfusion relationship.
Nervous control of respiration.

URINARY SYSTEM
Nephron. Glomerular filtration and glomerular filtration rate.
Tubular reabsorption and secretion. Water and electrolyte reabsorption. Antidiuretic hormone and aldosterone effects.
Excretion. Urination.
Use of renal clearance for kidney efficiency determination.

DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
General physiologic functions.
Regulation of intestinal motility and secretion. Cephalic, gastric, intestinal phases. Digestion and absorption.