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 physiological studies with biophysical methods.
-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
Knowledge acquired. Understanding the integration between the various systems in the body. Evaluate the elements for the control of a parameter in the body.
Competence acquired. To know how the apparatus are able to control some biological parameters in physiological conditions.
Skills acquired (at the end of the course). 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
Lecture
Further information
Frequency of lectures:
Recommended
Type of Assessment
The final examination is intended to ensure the acquisition of learning outcomes by an oral exam. The exam consists in questions on parts of the programme carried out in class, in particular the description and interpretation of experiments using graphical representations of the results or in the semi-quantitative resolution of physiological problems.
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 applied to physiological studies.