Syllabus Information

5.1. Methodological overview

The learning process designed for this course follows an orderly step-wise process, so that the course starts with the study of basic and integration concepts which are mainly worked through lectures, then it introduces the student to develop skills involving procedural, integration and understanding skills of the applications of the subject to be worked through various activities in small groups in practical sessions.

To better track the learning process students will be encouraged to use the tutoring/office hours through various systems and methods: conventional tutoring or more specific assistance related to practical work.

Communications, announcements, and supplementary materials will be provided via Moodle in the Anillo Digital Docente (intranet ADD).

5.2. Learning tasks

Participatory lectures: basic concepts of the subject are showed, directing students towards the acquisition of skills and learning outcomes. Audiovisual support material will be used and students could find it in the intranet ADD. During these activities, students will be encouraged to be participatory and dynamic. This activity occupies 4 ECTS, 40 hours in the lecture room.

Practical sessions occupying 2 ECTS, 20 hours spread over six sessions of 2 hours including:

a) Laboratory sessions: students will have the opportunity to perform functional examinations of the main physiological parameters on animal or human samples.

All students will be informed about the risks that may have the realization of the practices of this subject, and if dangerous products are handled, and what to do in case of accident. To perform them is compulsory to sign a commitment to comply with lab standards and safety. It is the student's responsibility to be aware of all such issues and act in an extremely cautious manner to avoid any potential causes for accidents in the laboratory. For more information, see the information for students of the Occupational Health and Safety Unit: http://uprl.unizar.es/estudiantes.html

b) Physiology cases: the student should solve problems about cases of alteration or adaptation of function, in order to integrate and apply his theoretical knowledge.

c) Computer simulations: analysing physiological parameters under simulation and different experimental conditions, the student is able to understand how the different systems and organs are integrated and regulated.

Before each session, students will have available the protocol of the practice. At the end of it, students submit to the teacher a laboratory assignment with answers to questions about the practice performed and the results obtained. Along with the degree of participation and teamwork done, this assignment will grade this part of the course.

Tutorials: both individual and grouped, for guidance in the teaching-learning of the subject.

Personal Study: From all other activities, students should be responsible for creating diagrams and structured work programs.

5.3. Syllabus

LECTURE TOPICS:

I. General Physiology

1- The concept of Physiology. Homeostasis. Internal environment and body fluids.

2.- Organic fluids: Body compartment volumes and composition. osmosis and osmotic pressure.

3.- Membrane transport.

4.- Physiology of excitable tissues. Membrane potential. Action potential. Conduction and transmission of nerve impulses. Synapses.

5.- Skeletal muscle contraction.

6.- General mechanisms of the endocrine system.

7.- Regulation of the vegetative functions. The autonomic nervous system.

II. Blood Physiology

8.- The general functions of blood. Components: Plasma and blood cells. Hematopoyesis.

9.- Erythrocytes: Characteristics and functions.  Iron metabolism.

10- Physiological hemostasis. Coagulation. Fibrinolysis. Anticoagulants.

11.- Immunity

III. Cardiovascular Physiology

 
12- General functions of the cardiovascular system

13- Electrical and mechanical activity of the heart. Regulation of cardiac activity

14- Arterial circulation and arterial pressure.

15- Microcirculation. Venous and lymphatic return.

16- Endothelial function. Blood flow regulation. Regional blood circulation

IV. Respiratory Physiology

17.- General functions of the respiratory system. Functions of the upper airways. Mechanics of respiration.

18.- Respiratory membrane. Transport of gases. Regulation of respiration.

V. Renal Physiology

19.- Functions of the kidneys and urinary system. Micturition.

20.- Ultrafiltration and tubular function. Renal clearance.

21.- Renal regulation of the volume and composition of extracellular fluid. Mechanisms of concentration and dilution of urine.

22.- Sodium, Chloride and potassium homeostasis. Renin-Angiotensin-aldosterone system.

23.- Regulation of acid-base balance.

VIII. Digestive Physiology

24.- Introduction to digestive processes: motility, secretion, absorption and regulation

25.- Oral cavity functions. Functions of esophagus. Functions of the stomach.

26.- Functions of the pancreas exocrine. Liver and gallbladder digestive functions.

27.- Small and large intestine functions. Defecation.

28.- Other physiological functions of the liver.

IX. Endocrine system Physiology

29.- Hypothalamic-pituitary axis.

30.- Thyroid hormones.

31.- Hormones of the adrenal gland.

32.- Endocrine function of gonads. General characteristics of the reproductive function. Pregnancy, parturition and lactation

33.- Hormones of the endocrine pancreas.

X. Physiology of the nervous system

34.- Functional organizations of the nervous system. Sensitive functions: Sensory receptors. Receptors classification.

35.- Sensitive functions: Hearing sensitivity. The vestibular system. Photoreception.

36.- Reflex action: properties and classification of the reflexes. Motor control.

37.- Superior functions of the nervous system. wakefulness and sleep.

X. Integrative Physiology

38.- Body temperature: control and regulation.

5.4. Course planning and calendar

The theoretical lectures will begin the first day of class assigned to the theoretical teaching of the subject. In this first day of class it will also be communicated practices, seminars dates and tutored project deadline, according to the academic calendar. Those dates will be posted on the official Faculty or Departmental notice boards.

5.5. Bibliography and recommended resources

• Fox, Stuart Ira. Fisiología humana / Stuart Ira Fox ; [traducción, José Manuel González de Buitrago ; revisión, Virginia Inclán Rubio] . 2ª ed., [española de la 10ª ed. en inglés] Madrid [etc.] : McGraw-Hill Interamericana, cop. 2008 (B.B.)Silbernagl, Stefan. Atlas de bolsillo de fisiología / Stefan Silbernagl, Agamemnon Despopoulos . 5a. ed., corr. y renov Madrid [etc.]: Harcourt, D.L. 2001 (B.B.)
• Silbernagl, Stefan. Atlas de bolsillo de fisiología / Stefan Silbernagl, Agamemnon Despopoulos . 5a. ed., corr. y renov Madrid [etc.]: Harcourt, D.L. 2001 (B.B.)
• Bases fisiológicas de la práctica médica / directores, Mario A. Dvorkin, Daniel P. Cardinali, Roberto H. Hermoli . 14ª ed. en español Buenos Aires [etc.] : Editorial Médica Panamericana, cop.2010 (B.C.)
• Compendio de fisiología para Ciencias de la Salud / A. Cordova ... [et al.] . 1a ed., 2a reimp. Madrid [etc.] : McGraw-Hill-Interamericana, 1998 (B.C.)
• Costanzo, Linda S.. Fisiología : temas clave / Linda S. Costanzo ; [traducción, Beatriz Magri Ruiz ; revisión científica, Jordi Palés Argullós] . 4ª ed. [Barcelona] : Wolters Kluwer : Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, cop. 2007 (B.C.)
• Costanzo, Linda S.. Physiology/ Linda S. Costanzo . 2nd ed Philadelphia: Saunders, 2002
• Fisiología / editores, Bruce M. Koeppen, Bruce A. Stanton. 6ª ed. Barcelona [etc.] : Elsevier, D.L.2009 (B.C.)
• Fisiología humana / [director], Jesús A. Fernández Tresguerres, [coordinadores], Carmen Ariznavarreta Ruiz ... [et al.] . 4ª ed. México ; Madrid [etc.] : McGraw-Hill, cop. 2010 (B.C.)
• Fisiología humana de Houssay/ [directores] Horacio E. Cingolani, Alberto B. Houssay y colaboradores . 7a. ed., 2a reimp. Buenos Aires: El Ateneo, 2002  (B.C.)
• Fundamentos de fisiopatología / coordinadores, A. Esteller Pérez, M. Cordero Sánchez . 1a. ed., 2a. reimpr. Madrid [etc.] : McGraw-Hill Interamericana, D.L. 2002  (B.C.)
• Ganong, William F.. Fisiología médica / William F. Ganong ; traducción ... por Mario Alejandro Castellanos Urdaibay ; editor responsable Martín Martínez Moreno . 20ª ed., traducida de la 22ª en inglés México, D.F. : El Manual Moderno, cop. 2006
• Guyton, Arthur C.. Manual de fisiología médica / Arthur G. Guyton, John E. Hall ; [traducción, Jesús Benito Salido ... [et al.] ; revisión, José Manuel González de Buitrago] . - 10ª ed., 2ª ed. en español, 1ª reimp. Madrid [etc.] : McGraw-Hill Interamericana, D.L. 2003
• Guyton, Arthur C.. Tratado de fisiología médica / Arthur G. Guyton, John E. Hall . 11ª ed., [2ª reimp.] Madrid [etc.] : Elsevier, D.L. 2009
• Pocock, Gillian. Fisiología humana : la base de la medicina / Gillian Pocock, Christopher D. Richards . 2ª ed. Barcelona [etc.] : Masson, 2005 (B.C.)
• Rhoades, Rodney A.. Fisiología médica / Rodney A. Rhoades, George A. Tanner . Barcelona [etc.] : Masson - Little, Brown, cop. 1997 (B.C.)
• Schmidt, Robert F.. Fisiología humana / R. F. Schmidt, G. Thews . [1a. ed., traducida de la] 24a. ed. [en alemán] Nueva York ; Madrid [etc.] : Interamericana McGraw-Hill, 1993 (B.C.)
• Segura Cardona, Ramón. Prácticas de fisiología / Ramón Segura Cardona . [1a. ed., reimp.] Barcelona [etc.] : Ediciones Científicas y Técnicas, 1994 (B.C.)
• Tortora, Gerard J.. Principios de anatomía y fisiología / Gerard J. Tortora, Bryan Derrickson . 2ª reimp. de la 11ª ed. México [etc.] : Editorial Médica Panamericana, 2008 (B.C.)