GENERAL PHYSIOLOGY AND APPLIED TO THE ENVIRONMENT

Università degli Studi
"G. d'Annunzio"

Chieti - Pescara

Single discipline educational activity

Course Sheet

Course code:

TE0010

Academic Year of enrolment:

2021

Year of supply:

2022/2023

Type of Course:

Characterising

Degree:

Course of 1st Cycle Degree in SUSTAINABLE TECHNOLOGIES AND ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY

Disciplinary Sector:

PHYSIOLOGY

Language:

Italian

Location:

CHIETI

Credits:

Programme Year:

Professor and Collaborators:

MANCINELLI Rosa

Cycle:

First semester

Obligatory attendance:

Yes

Minimum hours of attendance:

Hours of classroom activity:

Individual study hours:

102

Prerequisites:

Anatomy, chemistry

Objectives

The teaching is configured as basic biological teaching designed to provide the fundamental functional principles of living matter through the analysis of functions both at the cellular level and at the level of the organism as a whole. Furthermore, the teaching is designed to provide knowledge on the adaptations implemented by living organisms in response to environmental stresses of natural and anthropogenic origin.

Educational objectives:
• know the basic mechanisms of the main physiological processes;
• acquire the fundamental notions of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, also in relation to the structural organization of the biological systems considered;
• achieve a knowledge of the physiology of the main body systems by integrating the different physiological functions;
• acquire basic knowledge on the interactions between organisms and the environment, with particular reference to the consequences of the impact of human activities on the physiology of living organisms;
• acquire theoretical and practical knowledge necessary to measure and predict the effects of anthropogenic activities on organisms, and on the use of biological data as part of risk assessment.

Skills acquired at the end of the course. At the end of the course the student must have acquired a general view of physiological mechanisms, from the molecular-cellular level up to that of organs and systems. In particular, the student will have to know the regulatory mechanisms that allow the different systems to work in a coordinated manner within the organism. Furthermore, the student must have acquired basic knowledge on the interactions between organisms and the environment.

Contents

Homeostasis. Cell Physiology. Nervous system. Muscle contraction. Cardio-Circulatory System. Respiratory function. Renal function. Gastrointestinal functions. Theoretical-practical part

Extended Syllabus

Homeostasis
Functional compartments of the organism.
Integration and coordination of physiological functions through the mechanisms of cellular communication. Feedback regulation.

Cell Physiology
· Cell membrane.
· Osmosis.
· Movement of solutes across membranes.
· Membrane potential at rest. Ion channels.
Excitability. Action potential. Conduction of the action potential.

Nervous system
Synapses. Neurotransmitters. Receptors. Synaptic activity modulation. Summation.
· Sensory receptors. Transduction mechanisms.
· General principles of functioning of the central nervous system. Afferent and efferent pathways, spinal reflexes.
· The hypothalamus in the control of vegetative functions and body temperature.

Muscle contraction.
· Cellular mechanisms of contraction of the skeletal muscle cell. Neuro-muscular junction. Excitation-contraction coupling. Skeletal muscle cell metabolism. Motor unit, recruitment. Control mechanisms of skeletal muscle contraction, force and speed. Tetanic contraction.
· Control of posture and movement, motor reflexes. Isometric and isotonic contraction.
Features of smooth muscle contraction.

Cardio-Circulatory System
Heart.
· Electrical activity of the heart. Action potential of autorhythmic cells, conduction tissue, heart rhythm. Action potential of contractile cells.
Mechanical activity of the heart. Cardiac cycle, systolic and cardiac output. Cardiac work, pressure volume diagram.
· Electrocardiogram.
· Mechanisms of regulation of the cardiovascular system in the maintenance of blood flow and arterial pressure.
· Hemostasis

Respiratory function.
· General principles of pulmonary respiration. Respiratory mechanics. Respiratory volumes. Diffusion of gases.
· Hemoglobins. Transport of O2 and CO2.
· Breathing control. Hypoxia.

Renal function
· Principles of glomerular filtration, tubular reabsorption, excretion. Clearance. Renal glucose threshold.
Integrated control of blood pH, composition of extracellular fluids, plasma volume and blood pressure.

Gastrointestinal functions.
Motility and secretions of the gastrointestinal tract
· Nervous and endocrine regulation of digestion and gastrointestinal motility.
Functions of the stomach, pancreas and liver in digestive processes. Bile formation; regulation of bile secretion.
· Digestion of carbohydrates, proteins and lipids. Absorption of nutrients, water, electrolytes, vitamins.
· Glycemic homeostasis and its phases.
· The metabolism of calcium and iron

Theoretical-practical part: Laboratory of biological in vitro assays (bioassay). Functional assessment of the individual

Recommended Bibliography

V. Taglietti e C. Casella: Fisiologia e biofisica delle cellule. EdiErmes
D.U. Silverthorn: Fisiologia. Pearson
D. Purves, G.J. Augustine et al. Neuroscienze, Zanichelli
B. Alberts, A. Johnson, J. Lewis, M. Raff, K. Roberts, P. Walter: Biologia Molecolare della Cellula, Zanichelli
C. L. Stanfield, N.J. German Fisiologia. EDISES

Methods of Provision

Conventional

Teaching Methods

Classroom lessons and theoretical-practical part.

Evaluation methods

Verification of learning:

Oral examination. The exam will focus on questions relating to basic physiology concepts, systems and the theoretical-practical part.

Università degli Studi
"G. d'Annunzio"

Chieti - Pescara

Aree