FISIOLOGIA UMANA I M - Z
Academic Year 2025/2026 - Teacher: FILIPPO TORRISIExpected Learning Outcomes
Knowledge of human physiology topics with a focus on the pharmacological context. Therefore, understanding physiological processes and the importance of morpho-functional aspects of organs as a preparatory approach to understanding pathological aspects requiring pharmacological interventions.
Knowledge of how the body functions, from basic molecular mechanisms to the functions of cells and organs, and the integration of organ function in complex organisms.
Analytical ability to understand the physiological mechanisms of organs, systems, and organs and to identify the purpose of their function.
Ability to present topics appropriately, both analytically and concisely.
Understanding of the importance of a thorough knowledge of physiology topics for medical and pharmaceutical professions.
By the end of the course, students will possess the knowledge necessary to understand the mechanisms underlying the functioning of the human body's systems and systems, while also acquiring advanced notions of anatomical organization and pathophysiology.
Course Structure
Required Prerequisites
Attendance of Lessons
Detailed Course Content
1) INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY OF PHYSIOLOGY:
- Levels of organization of living organisms and organization of the vertebrate organism.
- Body compartments and a review of molecular interactions. Transport processes.
- Osmosis and tonicity. Osmotic pressure.
- Signaling pathways and signal transduction.
- Nervous and hormonal communication. Resting membrane potential and introduction to the action potential. Overview of neurotransmitters and receptors.
2) MUSCULAR SYSTEM:
- Structure of skeletal, smooth, and cardiac muscle.
- Mechanisms of muscle contraction with excitation-contraction processes.
- Somatic and visceral motor neurons.
3) CARDIOCIRCULATORY SYSTEM:
- Overview of the cardiovascular system.
- Pressure, volume, flow, and resistance.
- Morpho-functional aspects of the vessels.
- Microcirculation, lymphatic function, and edema.
- Morpho-functional aspects of the myocardium and heart.
- Electrical function of the heart: excitability, cardiac automaticity, cardiac pacemakers, and refractory period.
- Mechanical function of the heart: cardiac cycle, volume changes in the atria and ventricles during the phases of the cardiac cycle with generation of heart sounds, cardiac output, Starling's law of the heart. End-systolic and end-diastolic volume.
- Nervous control of the heart: ANS, medullary and hypothalamic centers, reflex regulation of the cardiovascular system.
- Electrocardiography: Einthoven's triangle, leads and analysis of the most common tracings, determination of the heart axis and its functional significance.
- Systemic blood pressure: systolic, diastolic, pulse, and mean. Short- and long-term regulatory mechanisms of systemic blood pressure; determination of systemic blood pressure.
- Pharmacological approaches in the cardiovascular field
4) BLOOD
- Blood composition: corpuscular and liquid components, hematocrit, plasma proteins and protein electrophoresis, complete blood count.
- Red blood cells: erythropoiesis and hemocataresis, heme metabolism (recovery in the digestive tract with bile salts), respiratory functions of red blood cells, hemoglobin affinity for respiratory gases, oxygen uptake and release by hemoglobin. Physiopathological implications: anemia.
- Oxygen dissociation curves.
- Platelets: functions, hemostasis, and coagulation.
5) RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
- Functions of the upper airway.
- Generation of pressure gradients: inspiration and expiration.
- Role of the respiratory muscles and importance of the pleura.
- Definition of the concepts of lung compliance and elasticity. Airway resistance to flow.
- Effects of surface tension on breathing and the role of surfactant.
- Definition of the concepts of lung compliance and elasticity and applications to clinical practice.
- Spirometry: lung volumes and capacities.
- Regulation of breathing: pneumotactic and apneustic centers, dorsal and ventral respiratory groups.
- Nervous signal generation and mechanical transduction: rate and depth of breathing.
- Central and peripheral chemoreceptors.
- Hypothalamic and emotional regulation of breathing.
- pH regulation.
6) URINARY SYSTEM
- Functions and anatomy of the kidney.
- The nephron. Differences between cortical and juxtamedullary nephrons. The renal vascular bed.
- Glomerulus and glomerular filtration. Filtration and glomerular filtration rate (GFR).
- Regulation of GFR by myogenic mechanisms and tubuloglomerular feedback.
- Clearance: definition and clinical use. Difference between inulin/creatinine clearance and paraaminohippuric acid clearance. The concept of renal threshold and maximum tubular transport. Glucose reabsorption and the onset of glycosuria.
- Functions of the tubules. Water and solute transport processes. Loop of Henle and countercurrent multiplication mechanism with the role of the vasa recta. Role of vasopressin and aldosterone.
- Control of systemic blood pressure. Control of osmolarity. Regulation of the composition and volume of body fluids. Endocrine functions.
- Pharmacological approaches.
- pH regulation.
- Physiology of the urinary bladder, filling and emptying. Action of the nervous system.
7) GASTROENTERIC SYSTEM, METABOLISM, AND NUTRITION
- Metabolism and biochemical aspects. Calorimetry and nutritional and energy requirements.
- Anatomical and functional organization of the digestive system.
- Identification of the enteric nervous system, including references to the autonomic nervous system with its sympathetic and parasympathetic components. Long and short reflexes. Cajal cells, slow-wave potential, and function of the nerve network.
- Gastrointestinal motility
- Digestive processes: digestive tract. Chewing. Salivary secretion. Composition and function of saliva. Conditioned reflexes. Swallowing. Gastric filling.
- Nervous and humoral regulation of gastric secretion. Pancreatic secretion. Pancreatic juice. Secretion of the small intestine and colon.
- Liver: the functional unit of the liver. Hepatic portal system. Overview of the main functions of the liver. Bile synthesis and excretion. Hepatic bile and cystic bile. Enterohepatobiliary circulation. Hemoglobin degradation.
- Defecation and vomiting.
- Hunger and satiety centers. Nervous and hormonal involvement in hunger and satiety processes.
- Notes on thyroid hormones and cortisol in energy, metabolic processes, and thermoregulation.
Textbook Information
Carbone, Aicardi, Maggi - FISIOLOGIA EdiSES
Silverthorn - FISIOLOGIA Pearson Italia
Stanfield - FISIOLOGIA EdiSES
Fox- FISIOLOGIA UMANA Piccin
Guyton & Hall - FISIOLOGIA MEDICA EdiSES
Course Planning
| Subjects | Text References | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Topics covered in the program | The same ones indicated as reference texts |
Learning Assessment
Learning Assessment Procedures
Information for students with disabilities and/or learning disabilities (LD)
To ensure equal opportunities and in compliance with applicable laws, interested students may request a personal interview to plan any compensatory and/or extenuating measures, based on their educational objectives and specific needs. Students may also contact the CInAP (Center for Active and Participatory Integration - Services for Disabilities and/or Learning Disabilities) representative at the Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences.
Examples of frequently asked questions and / or exercises
The questions will reflect all the topics listed in the syllabus.
Examples of questions may include:
1) Describe the processes of renal filtration, starting with the structure of the nephron.
2) Discuss the processes of systemic blood pressure regulation.
3) Present the characteristics of gastrointestinal motility.