ANATOMIA - FISIOLOGIA A - L

Learning Objectives

• Anatomy

  The aim of the course is to provide the basic knowledge to understand the organization of the human body and the anatomical terminology. The concepts of organ, apparatus and system are deepened and the principal methods of investigation, macroscopic, microscopic and ultramicroscopic examination, are explained.

• PHYSIOLOGY
  • To gain a clear understanding of the cellular mechanisms and networks that enable the human body to function.
  • Knowing the integrated functioning of the different organs, apparatus and control systems through which the living organism obtains and maintains homeostasis.
  • Clear understanding of the mechanisms that, when abnormal, turn into pathological dysfunctions.

  Having participated to Physiology classes, students will achieve knowledge on the mechanisms governing the functioning of the various apparatuses of the body, also acquiring notions of anatomical organization and physiopathology.

Course Structure

• PHYSIOLOGY

  Lectures. Attendance is strongly recommended

Detailed Course Content

• Anatomy

  Histology

  Covering epithelium and glandular epithelium. Classification of exocrine and endocrine glands. Connective tissue: cells, fibres and amorphous fundamental substance. Classification of connective tissues. Blood and its components: plasma and figurative elements. Muscular tissue: histological characteristics of smooth muscle, striated and cardiac skeletal muscle. Nervous system: neurons, nervous fibres and synapses. Neuroglia. Structure of solid and non-solid organ.

  Tegumentary apparatus:

  The skin and its annexes. Structure of the epidermis.

  Skeletal apparatus

  Classification of the bones and macroscopic description of the bones of the head (neurocranium and splancnocranium), the trunk (vertebral column and rib cage), upper limb (shoulder girdle, arm, forearm and hand), lower limb (pelvis, thigh, leg and foot). The joints: classification of synarthroses, amphiarthroses and diarthroses. Morphology and function of the most important joints of trunk and limbs.

  Muscular apparatus

  Constitution of muscle, muscle belly, tendons, aponeuroses. Different kinds of muscles. Cutaneous and skeletal muscles. Insertion and functional role of the major muscle groups of trunk and limbs.

  Vascular apparatus

  Heart and blood vessels (arteries, capillaries and veins). Systemic loop and pulmonary loop. Gross anatomy of heart, pericardium and mediastinum. Anatomical conformation of atria and ventricles. The valves of the heart. The electrical conduction system of the heart. Microscopic organization of epicardium, myocardium and pericardium. The major arteries: pulmonary artery and aorta. Branches of ascending aorta, aortic arch, thoracic aorta and abdominal aorta. Microscopic organization of the artery wall. The main veins: the superior and inferior vena cava, the cardiac veins and the portal system of veins. Microscopic organization of the vein wall. Structure of the capillaries.

  Lynphatic apparatus

  Formation of lymph and course of the lymphatic vessels. The thoracic duct and its tributaries. The haematopoietic organs: marrow, spleen, lymph nodes and thymus.

  Digestive apparatus

  General considerations and organs that belong to it. The mouth with the teeth and the tongue. The salivary glands: parotid, submaxillary, and sublingual. The pharynx. The esophagus. The stomach. The small intestine and the large intestine. Structural features of the alimentary canal walls (mucous, submucous, muscular, serosa or adventitia layers). The glands of the digestive system: liver and biliary ducts, pancreas. The peritoneum.

  Respiratory apparatus

  General considerations. The nasal cavities. The larynx. The tracheo-bronchial tree. The lungs. Structural features of the walls of the respiratory tract and of the lung. Pleural serosa.

  Urinary apparatus

  General considerations on its organs. The kidney: macroscopic description, structure of the parenchyma (medullary substance and cortical substance), the nephron. The renal escretory ducts: calices, pelvis, ureter, bladder, urethra. Structural features of the walls of the renal escretory ducts.

  Genital apparatus

  The male genital organs: the testis and the spermatic ducts. The female genital organs: the ovary, the uterin tube, the uterus and the vagina.

  Endocrine system

  General considerations and structural features of the endocrine glands. The hypophysis. The pineal gland. The thyroid. The Parathyroids. The suprarenal glands. The endocrine activity of the gonads. The islets of Langerhans.

  Central nervous system

  General considerations on the parts of the cerebrospinal axis. Nevrax cavities. The meninges. The spinal cord: general features, structure, sensitive nuclei and motor nuclei, ascending and descending nerve fibres. Functional considerations on the spinal cord fascicles. The rhombencephalon: general features, structure, sensitive nuclei of medulla oblongata and pons. The cerebellum: external morphology, cyto- and myeloarchitectonics. Cerebellar functions. The mesencephalon: general features, cerebral peduncles and corpora quadrigemina. The diencephalon: epithalamus, metathalamus, optic thalamus, hypothalamus. The telencephalon: scissures, lobes, comvolutions and parts of the cerebral hemispheres. The grey matter of the cerebral hemisphere: cerebral cortex and corpus striatus. The white matter of the cerebral hemisphere: corona radiata and internal capsule. Corpus callosum, fornix, septum pellucidum. The pyramidal motor system. The extrapyramidal motor system. The general sensation pathways. The optic pathway. The auditory pathway. The vestubular pathway.

  Peripheral nervous system

  The spinal nerves and the cranial nerves.

  Visceral nervous system:

  Sympathetic nervous system, parasympathetic nervous system.

  Organs of the senses

  The organs of general sensations. Organs of taste. Organs of smell. Organs of sight: the eyeball and its accessory organs. Organs of hearing and of vestibular propriceptive sensation: external ear, middle ear and internal ear.

• PHYSIOLOGY

  General part

  • Compartmentalization: cells, tissues and organs
  • Homeostasis, adaptation and responsiveness.
  • Intercellular Communication and modulation of signal transduction.
  • Control systems: Feedback Loops.

  The Nervous System

  • Functional Classification: central and peripheral nervous system
  • Cells of the Nervous System.
  • Neurons: excitable cells.
  • Resting potential and action potential.
  • Chemical and electrical synapses
  • Post-synaptic responses.
  • The central nervous system
  • Afferent Pathways
  • Efferent Pathways: autonomic nervous system and the somatic motor system.
  • The control of body movement: integrated functions of the spinal cord, cerebellum and basal ganglia.

  The Endocrine System

  • Hormones, chemical characteristics, synthesis and secretion, transport in blood, mode of action.
  • Functions of the main endocrine glands: hypothalamus, pituitary, thyroid, adrenal, pancreas. Regulation of calcium metabolism.
  • The Hypothalamus: its fundamental role in the Regulatory Systems of the homeostasis.

  Muscle

  • Muscular system: functions and mechanism of skeletal, smooth muscle and heart.
  • Neuromuscular Junction.

  Cardiovascular system

  • General properties, electrocardiogram, mechanical cycle of the heart.
  • Cardiac output and its regulation.
  • Regulation of blood pressure: influence of the vessels and the renin-angiotensin system.
  • The baroreflex.

  Renal physiology

  • Urinary system, nephron, glomerular ultrafiltration, resorption processes and tubular secretion.
  • Antidiuretic hormone and aldosterone: the control of diuresis.
  • Regulation of acid-base balance. Buffers of human body.
  • Urination and its regulation.

  Respiratory system

  • Breathing and functions of the pleural space.
  • Functions of the lung in the regulation of acid-base balance.
  • Nervous control of breathing
  • Chemical control of breathing
  • Control of the respiratory center.

  Nutrition physiology

  • Digestion and absorption of carbohydrates, fats and proteins.
  • Basal metabolic rate, body masses and their determination.
  • Water balance: intake and elimination. Regulation of fluid and electrolyte balance by hormones: vasopressin, renin, angiotensin, aldosterone. The thirst center.

Textbook Information

• Anatomy

  1. L. Cattaneo - Compendio di Anatomia umana - Monduzzi

  2. G. Ambrosi et al.- Anatomia dell’uomo - Edi-Ermes

• PHYSIOLOGY

  1. Carbone, Aicardi, Maggi - FISIOLOGIA. DALLE MOLECOLE AI SISTEMI INTEGRATI – EDISES

  2. Silverthorn - FISIOLOGIA UMANA. UN APPROCCIO INTEGRATO - PEARSON