FISIOLOGIA I - channel 1

To provide knowledge about the physico-chemical mechanisms and molecular bases of fundamental cellular physiological processes, such as the electrical polarization of the resting membrane, the genesis of the action potential (excitability), the communication between cells by means of synapses, the muscular contraction, the transduction of physiological stimuli in electrical signals by the receptor cells of sensory systems, useful for the medical profession.

Frontal lessons.

The cell as an integrated system

Dynamic equilibrium, the cell as a thermodynamic system, the cell as a chemical system, exchanges through the membranes of gas and solutes (Fick's law, passive diffusion, facilitated diffusion, regulated diffusion, primary and secondary active transport), homeostasis, regulation of cellular functions.

Water compartments and homeostasis

Large water compartments

The extracellular compartment and the intracellular compartment. Their volumetric size and methods used for the determination. Exchanges of water and electrolytes through biological membranes. Concentration gradient and electrochemical gradient.

Osmotic pressure

Definition, unit of measurement, plasma value. The physiological, isotonic and isoosmotic solutions, and their use. The colloidosmotic and oncotic pressure: plasma value and its oscillations. Consequences of changes in plasma oncotic pressure. The balance of water and salts.

Ionic channels and membrane potential

Ionic channels: voltage-gated ion channels (sodium, potassium, calcium, chlorine), chemiodependent channels, mechanosensitive channels, patch clamps, ion channels activated by phosphorylation, ion channels activated by electromagnetic waves. The canalopathies.

Cell excitability: polarization of the cell membrane (ion distribution on the two sides of the membrane and its genesis). Characteristics and genesis of potentials (membrane potential, graduated potentials, miniature potentials, action potentials). Technique for the derivation of bioelectric events. Repolarization of the membrane, excitability cycle and measurement of membrane excitability. Methods for electrical stimulation of excitable tissues. Current type and stimulus parameters. Law of "all or nothing". Conduction of excitation along excitable membranes. Point-to-point propagation and skipping conduction.

The nervous system: general

The transformation of the stimulus into a bioelectric event. Receptors: classification, mode of operation and adaptation. The information encoded as a discharge sequence. The nerve fibers. The neuron as a morphological, functional, biochemical and trophic unit of the nervous system. The axoplasmic flows. The glia.

The glia. Macrology and micrology. Myelin synthesis is both central and peripheral.

Synaptic transmission

Interaction between excitable elements. Transmission of excitation at the synaptic level. Chemical and electrical phenomena in the synaptic region. Excitement and inhibition. Synaptic integration. Neuromuscular junction, synaptic transmission in the CNS.

Neurotransmitters: Chemical mediators (transmitters) and their recognition. Liberation and secretion of neurotransmitters, neurotransmitter cycle, synaptic vesicle cycle, ionotropic and metabotropic receptors.

Synaptic plasticity

Synaptogenesis, Hebb's law, short and long-term plasticity (long-term potentiation and long-term depression).

Skeletal and visceral muscles

Skeletal muscles. The sarcomere and the contractile mechanism. Muscle energetics. Muscular fatigue. Isometric and isotonic contraction. Length-voltage diagram. Simple shock, muscular tetanus. Calorie production. Muscle work, muscle performance. Metabolism during and after muscle contraction. Innervation of skeletal muscles. Electromyelogram.

Smooth muscles. Generality, structure, contraction mechanisms, contraction regulation, biomechanics.

Principles of Hemodynamics and Hematology

General considerations on circulation

Entity and velocity of flow in the various districts of the vascular system.

Blood flow

Physical factors that influence blood flow. Bernoulli principle and piezometry. Pressure, resistance and flow: Hagen-Poiseuille's law. Viscosity: relationship between viscosity and hematocrit. Turbulence. Laplace law applied to arterial vessels. Critical closure of arterial vessels. Laplace law applied to capillaries.

Characteristics of the vessels

General characteristics of arterial, capillary and venous vessels.

Laws of gases and their applications

Equation of perfect gases: Boyle's Law, Charles's Law or Gay-Lussac's Law, second Gay-Lussac Law and Avogadro's Law; Dalton's Law; Graham's Law; Henry's Law; Laplace law applied to pulmonary alveoli.

Fisiologia Umana – A cura di F. Grassi, D. Negrini e C. A. Porro, Poletti Editore

Fisiologia – Silverthorn – Casa Editrice Ambrosiana