1. INTRODUCTION TO PHYSIOLOGY.
1.1 Definition of Physiology and its areas of interest; concept of internal and external environment for the cell and for the organism; concept of homeostasis.
1.2 Relationship structure-function of physiological systems.
2. PHYSIOLOGY OF MUSCLE APPARATUS
2.1 The three types of muscle in our body: skeletal, cardiac and smooth; general structure.
2.2 Skeletal Muscle: anatomy. Molecular basis of contraction: general structure of skeletal muscle fibers: myofibrils, sarcomeres, and membrane systems.
2.3 The excitation-contraction (EC) coupling mechanism and the transduction of the electrical into a chemical signal; transversal tubules and sarcoplasmic reticulum; the voltage sensor (DHPR); the Ca2+-release channel of the sarcoplasmic reticulum (RYR); the triad or calcium release unit.
2.4 The sarcomere; the main sarcomeric proteins: contractile, regulatory and accessory; role of troponin and tropomyosin in the activation of the contraction; myosin head cycle; tension-length regulation curve of the sarcomere.
2.5 Classification of muscle fibers based on metabolism and speed of contraction; structural and functional differences between slow, intermediate and fast fibers; classification of fibers in red and white; concept of motor unit and motor unit recruitment; relationship between electrical and mechanical events; single twitch, summation mechanism, incomplete and complete tetanus; definition of fatigue; isometric and isotonic contractions (and role of elastic and contractile components). Muscle strength graduation mechanisms. Muscle plasticity.
3. PHYSIOLOGY OF THE CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM
3.1 Introduction to the cardiovascular system: anatomy and general functions.
3.2 The heart: pacemaker and contractile tissues; contractile myocardial cells and intercalated disks; the conduction system; the action potential of pacemaker cells; the action potential of contractile cells; the cardiac cycle explained with the 5 phases; the cardiac cycle explained with the pressure-volume curve of the left ventricle; cardiac output; Frank-Starling's law.
3.3 Large and small circulation; arterial pressure and its measurement (concept of systolic and diastolic pressure); mean arterial pressure and factors affecting it; structure of blood vessels: differences between arteries and veins; the role of arteries and veins in helping the heart to pump blood; regulation of arterial pressure and baroceptor reflex.
4. PHYSIOLOGY OF THE KIDNEY
4.1 Introduction to the urinary system: urinary tract and kidney; main function of the kidneys; cortex and medulla regions; the nephron: tubular and vascular elements; the structure of the renal corpuscle.
4.2 The nephron: the four basic processes (filtration, reabsorption, secretion, excretion); concepts of filtration fraction; and filtration pressure; self-regulation of glomerular filtration rate: myogenic response and tubulo-glomerular feedback; reabsorption (i.e.: sodium, glucose, urea).
