Bachelor's degree in Nursing (to qualify as a nurse) (Verona)

Morphological and functional fundamentals of life [Matricole pari] - FISIOLOGIA

Course code

4S000039

Name of lecturer

Chiara Della Libera

Number of ECTS credits allocated

3

Academic sector

BIO/09 - PHYSIOLOGY

Language of instruction

Italian

Site

VERONA

Period

INF VR - 1° anno 1° sem dal Oct 3, 2017 al Dec 21, 2017.

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Lesson timetable

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Learning outcomes

Students will acquire the fundamental notions about the life functions of healthy human beings, in order to understand the working of their organs and systems, of their regulation mechanisms and the main processes of integration and homeostatic control.

Syllabus

BASIC PHYSIOLOGY
Principles of cell functions. Homeostasis of body fluids. Signal transduction - membrane receptors, second messengers and regulation of gene expression.

INTERCELLULAR COMMUNICATION
Membrane potential. Graduate potentials. Action potential.
Classification of neural fibers.
Electrical and chemical synapses. Neurotransmitters and hormones.

NEUROPHYSIOLOGY
Sensory systems - Receptors and signal transduction. Receptors and afferent fibers for the processing of visual, auditory, tactile, proprioceptive, thermal and noxious stimuli. Central processing of sensory inputs. Pain.
Motor systems - Neuromuscular junction. Spinal reflexes.
Autonomous nervous system - Functional organization.

MUSCLE PHYSIOLOGY
Skeletal muscle- Functional organization. Structural and functional bases of muscle contraction. Classification of muscle fibers. Motor units.
Smooth muscle and cardiac muscle.

CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM
Circulation. Elements of cardiac function. Regulation of heart and vasculature. Integrated control of the cardiovascular system.

RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
Structure and function of the respiratory system. Static and dynamic mechanical properties of the lung and chest wall.
Ventilation, perfusion and their relationships. Oxygen and carbon dioxide transport. Control of respiration. Non-respiratory functions of the lung.

GASTROINTESTINAL PHYSIOLOGY
The gastrointestinal tract. Integrated responses to a meal: Cephalic, oral, esophageal, gastric and small intestinal and colonic phases. Transport and metabolic functions of the liver.

RENAL SYSTEM
Solute and water transport along the nephron: tubular function. Control of body fluid osmolality and volume. Potassium, calcium and phosphate homeostasis. Role of the kidneys in the regulation of acid-base balance.

ENDOCRINE AND REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEMS
Hormonal regulation of energy metabolism. Hormonal regulation of calcium and phosphate metabolism. Hypothalamus and pituitary gland. Thyroid glands. Adrenal glands. Male and female reproductive systems.

Assessment methods and criteria