Sensory-motor integration. Integration among circulatory, respiratory, digestive systems and kidney for controlling physiological parameters in the body.
Physical properties of proteins and interactions between biomolecules.
Examples of biophysical methods applied to the study of Physiology.
-Berne, Levi et al. Physiology. Elsevier Inc.
- Autori Vari. Fisiologia, cellule e sistemi. A cura di D’Angelo e Peres. Edi-Ermes
-Silverthorn. Human Phsiology: an integrated approach. Pearson Education Inc.
-Randall et al. Eckert animal physiology: mechanisms and adaptation. Freeman & Company
- Kandel, Shwartz, Jandel. Principles of Neural Science. Elsevier
- Burton. Physiologu by numbers. Cambridge University Press
- S. Massari. Elementi di Biofisica. Piccin
- J. Howard. Mechanics of motor proteins and the cytoskeleton - Sinauer Ass. Inc.
Learning Objectives
Understanding the integration between the various systems in the body. Consider the elements for the control of a parameter in the body.
Capability to understand a biological problem and to find the adequate techniques and methods for quantitative modeling
Prerequisites
Basic knowledge of general physiology and biochemistry.
Basic knowledge of physics: mechanics and electrology.
Teaching Methods
Lessons and quantitative problems to verify the acquired knowledge
Type of Assessment
The final examination is intended to ensure the acquisition of knowledge and skills (i.e. the acquisition of learning outcomes) by conducting an oral examination consisting in the discussion of two topics presented in class
Course program
Somatosensory system. Motor system. Control and categories of movement. Sensory-motor integration. Cardiovascular system: principles of hemodynamics, electrocardiogram, cardiac mechanics, events of the cardiac cycle, internal and reflex regulation of cardiac activity, arterial and venous systems, microcirculation and exchange of substances. Respiratory system: chemical and physics characteristics of respiratory gasses, mechanical aspects of respiration, oxygen and carbon dioxide transport and exchange, control of respiration. Kidney and body fluids. Digestive system: gastrointestinal motility and secretion, digestion and absorption. Integration among systems to control blood pressure and composition of body fluids. Acid-base balance .
Magnitude of forces at cell and molecular level. Structure-function relation in the biological molecules: ion channels, muscle contraction and cell motility. Biophysical methods: Fourier Series and Fourier Transform and biological applications; structural studies with X-ray diffraction: introduction to protein crystallography, small angle scattering and fibre diffraction; fluorescence polarization and Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer applied to the study of the intra- and inter-molecular movements and in particular to molecular motors.