FISIOLOGIA AMBIENTALE

BIO/09 - 6 CFU - 2° Semester

Teaching Staff

VENERA CARDILE


Learning Objectives

To study how natural and non-natural environments characterized by extreme conditions may alter the normal physiological mechanisms. To examine the effects of various agents highly stressful on mammals, and especially on humans.


Detailed Course Content

Introduction to Environmental Physiology: general characteristics - biological adaptation and acclimatization: potentiality and limitations - Regulation of gene expression.Temperature and energy - Metabolism and body mass - ectothermic endothermic and heterothermic animals - adaptation to low temperatures - Evolution of endothermy in birds and mammals - temperature regulation: neural, endocrine and behavioral mechanisms - The hypothalamic thermostat - The cold acclimatization - Lethargy, hibernation, aestivation - Seasonal temperature changes in polar Mammals - Tolerance limits animal hyperthermia and hypothermia - Maintaining thermal balance of terrestrial animals in a dry or wet hot environment.Radiant energy - Effects of ionizing and non-ionizing radiation on the Earth's surface and in space.Microgravity - Adaptations respiratory, cardiovascular, skeletal, neuromuscular and vestibular - Effects of short-and medium-term stay in space.High altitude - Compensation in the short and long-term - Respiratory, cardio-circulatory, endocrine and metabolic effects – Erythropoiesis changes - normal acclimatization and altitude sickness.Hyperbaric environment - Physiology of gas in diving - diving in apnea: alveolar gas, resurfacing risks, acclimatization - Scuba breathing: cardio-vascular functions under hyperbaric conditions – Renal, endocrine and hemodynamic effects in apnea and scuba breathing diving.Under-and supernutrition - Changes in functional, metabolic and behavioral induced by short-term and chronic malnutrition.Noise pollution.


Textbook Information

R. Hill, G. Wyse, M. Anderson, Fisiologia animale, Zanichelli; D. Schimdt-Nielsen, Fisiologia animale, Piccin; G. Ferretti, C. Capelli, Dagli abissi allo spazio. Ambienti e limiti umani, Edi ermes.



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