FISIOLOGIA INTEGRATIVA

Knowledge of the mechanisms involved in the maintenance of homeostasis in relation to internal and environmental modifications. Knowledge of the mechanisms involved in autonomic nervous functions and endocrinology.

The different organs and systems are not isolated but they act as a unitary and integrated system, by means of the coordinating functions provided by the nervous and endocrine systems, which allow the maintaining of homeostasis and the right behavioural responses to the environmental stimuli. This series of lessons will explain the structure and functions of central nervous system and nerves, with a particular attention to sensory-motor integration and the control of homeostasis, by means of autonomic nervous system and hormones.

Students will familiarize themselves with different brain functions, including consciousness, sleep, learning and memory, and so on. They will also become aware that many biological problems are still unsolved and many other theories would probably change as a consequence of research advances.

The contents of the course will be illustrated by the teacher during seminars. All materials (slides) will be provided to the students. If necessary, teaching activity would be changed in accordance to the Covid-19 epidemiological situation. Should teaching be carried out in mixed mode or remotely, it may be necessary to introduce changes with respect to previous statements, in line with the programme planned and outlined in the syllabus. Learning assessment may also be carried out remotely, by using online platforms, should the conditions require it.

- The organism as an integrated system: omeostasis and regulatory mechanisms.

- Central nervous system: anatomical and functional organization. Cerebrospinal fluid: chemical and physical properties and its function. Blood-brain barrier.

- Cerebral cortex: structure and functional organization. Cortical areas. Intracortical, ascending and descending projections. Electrical activity of the cerebral cortex. Imaging systems.

- Diencephalic structures and their functions. Thalamus: nuclei and projections.

- Sleep and its stages. Electroencephalografic rhythms. Neural systems involved in sleep control and circadian rhytms. Hypotheses about the physiological role of sleep. Seizure activity of the cerebral cortex.

- Brainstem and spinal cord: lamination of grey matter and hodology of ascending and descending pathways. Cranial nerves and spinal nerves.

- Sensory systems: transduction of the stimulus. Receptors: classification, mechanisms of action, threshold, adaptation. Classification of nerve fibers.

- Somatic sensory system: skin, muscle and articular receptors. Pain. Receptive fields. Ascending pathways. Sensory cortex. Evoked potentials.

- The eye and vision: optical properties of the eye. The retina and the physiology of photoreceptors. Visual cortex. Stereopsis and binocular vision.

- Physiology of smell and taste.

- The ear: the coclear receptors and transduction of sound stimuli. Auditory cortex.

- Vestibular system: structure and function. Response to linear and angular acceleration of the head.

- Motor control. Spinal reflexes: extension and stretch reflex; alpha-gamma loop; withdrawal reflexes. Central pattern generators and their control.

- Descending pathways: corticospinal, rubro-spinal, vestibulo-spinal, reticulo-spinal pathways. Spinal cord hemisection and its sensory and motor effects. Spinal shock.

- Muscle tone and posture regulation. Segmental and suprasegmental regulation of muscle tone. Decerebrate rigidity.

- Vestibular reflexes. Kinetosis. Ocular movements.

- Cerebellum: functional anatomy of archi-, paleo- and neo-cerebellum. Effets of cerebellectomy.

- Basal ganglia and their anatomical and functional organization.

- Motor cortex and overview of the voluntary movement regulation and control.

- Neurophysiology of behavior: generalities. Limbic system. Emotions and their functional roles. Anxiety and aggression. Motivation, reward and addiction. Drinking, eating and sexual behavior.

- Higher functions of the central nervous system: cortical association areas and integrative processes. Learning and memory. Conditioning. Brain lateralization and dominance. Perception. Language. Consciousness.

- Regulatory systems: hypothalamus, autonomic nervous system, endocrine system. Definition and hormone classification. Biosynthesis, secretion, transport, activation and inactivation of hormones. Mechanisms of action.

- Sympathetic and parasympathetic systems. Catecholamines and adrenal medulla.

- Neuroendocrine systems: hypothalamus and posterior hypophysis.

- Adenohypophysis and its hormones.

- Adrenal gland and response to the stress. Chemical properties and functions of steroid hormones.

- Prostaglandins, endorphins ed endocannabinoids.

- Thyroid hormones and their functions. Physiopathology of the thyroid gland.

- Physiopathology of the endocrine pancreas and mechanisms of regulation of glucose levels.

- Calcium and phosphate metabolism; bone physiology. Hormonal control of the blood levels of calcium and phosphate ions.

- Physiology of human reproduction. Functions of female reproductive organs: ovarian, uterine and hormonal cycle. Contraception. Physiology of pregnancy and birth.Lactation and its neuroendocrine regulation. Functions of male reproductive organs: functional anatomy of seminal ducts and glands. Spermatogenesis. Hormonal regulation of male reproductive functions.

Suggested books:

- Human Physiology: An integrated Approach. By D.U. Silverthorn. Ed. Pearson. 8th edition.

- Textbook of Medical Physiology. By Guyton and Hall. Ed. Elsevier. 14th edition.