Mammalian Physiology BSCI440 DETAILED SYLLABUS/LECTURE TOPICS
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General Principles/Cell Physiology
1. Overview (introductory lectures; chapters 3, 5)
Organization of a multicellular organism: basic principles, new abilities
Cellular specialization, organization, turnover
Body compartments, tissue and organ origination
2. Homeostasis, Control Systems, Signaling Pathways (lectures; chapters 6, 7)
Cell-to-cell communication, signaling molecules and receptors
Ligand-receptor interactions, affinities
Specificity, amplification, feedback
Major hormones and neurotransmitters
Secondary messenger cascades (G-proteins, PLC-InsP3, Adenylyl cyclase, TK, NO)
3. Membrane transport and properties of epithelia (lectures, manual)
Diffusion and passive permeability, facilitation
Active transport (Michaelis-Menten), symport and exchange
Epithelial cells: polarity, surface, types of junctions
4. Membrane potentials, impulse propagation and summation
(lectures, purple manual, Chapters, 8 and 13, Appendix A)
Distribution of ions, role of pumps. Nernst eqn, reversal potentials
Goldman eqn, relative permeabilities and role of leakage channels.
Voltage-gated channels, Na and K currents, spike formation, refractory period
Factors that determine velocity of spike propagation (lectures)
Synaptic receptors and transmission, graded potentials (EPSP, IPSP),
Spatial and temporal summation, pre- and postsynaptic inhibition
5. Organization of the nervous system
Neuronal structure & function, branches of nervous system, basic neuroanatomy
Afferent and efferent pathways, reflexes and voluntary control of body movement
6. Autonomic Nervous System (lectures; chapter 11)
Branches of ANS: anatomy, physiology & differences
Receptor types: characteristics & responses
7. Muscles and mechanisms of contraction (Chapter 12)
Skeletal muscle (anatomy, contractile elements, intracellular compartments
and mechanisms E-C coupling)
Cardiac muscle (in comparison to the skeletal)
Smooth muscle
8. Pharmacology (lectures)
General characteristics of pharmacological agents
Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics
Selected agents: how/ where do they act?
8. Blood (chapter 16)
Plasma and cellular components, regulation of blood cell production/differentiation/elimination
Hemostasis
9. Mechanisms of Immunity (chapter 22)
Cardiovascular Physiology
1. Hemodynamics (chapter 14)
Pressure, flow, resistance, vessel cross-section and blood velocity
Laminar and turbulent flow
Anatomy and properties of vascular walls and the law of
Blood as a non-ideal fluid
2. Heart (chapter 14)
Anatomy: chambers and valves, cardiac cycle, ECG
Autorhythmic & contractile cell mechanisms: the pacemaker
Innervation, sympathetic and parasympathetic control of heart activity
3. Systemic Circulation (chapter 15)
Blood flow and pressure profile across the systemic circuit
Starling's Capillary Hypothesis and colloid-osmotic properties of the blood
Role of lymph and causes of edema
4. Cardiovascular Function and Regulation (chapters 14, 25)
Systemic vs. pulmonary blood flow, Starling's Law of the heart
Cardiac output and venous return, effects of hypo- and hypervolumea
Effects of vascular compliance and resistance on blood pressure
Baroreceptor reflex and renal mechanisms of blood pressure regulation
Cardiovascular function during exercise
Cardiovascular disease (arrhythmias, ischemia, hypertension)
Respiratory Physiology (chapters 17, 18)
1. The anatomy of lungs and airways (chapter 17, lectures)
functions of pleura
diameters of airways and aerodynamic resistance
ciliary airway epithelium and its function
alveoli: surface area, structure of wall, cellular components
2. Mechanics of breathing
chest movements, cage muscles, diaphragm
lung volumes and different regimes of respiration
alveolar compliance and elasticity, surface tension and the role of the surfactant
3. Gas exchange and transport (chapter 18)
components of the air: partial pressures, solubilities and diffusibilities
transport of O2, Hemoglobin saturation curves, cooperativity, Bohr effect
transport of CO2, chloride shift, Haldane effect
4. Circulation and gas exchange in tissues
properties of the pulmonary circulation loop
autoregulation of microcirculation in lungs, paracrine effects of gases
pressures of O2 and CO2 in different body compartments
ventilation/perfusion ratio
5. Regulation of respiration
anatomical areas in the brain responsible for respiratory rhythm
chemoreceptors, their locations, connecting nerves and properties
6. Pulmonary diseases
compliance-related pulmonary disorders
asthma and obstructive pulmonary disease
pulmonary edema
cystic fibrosis
Renal Physiology (lectures, chapter 19)
1. Anatomy (Chapter 19)
urinary system and functions of kidney
anatomy of kidney and nephron: capsule, DCT, loop, DCT, CD, peritubular capillaries, vasa recta
structure of glomerulus
juxtaglomerular apparatus
2. Filtration
glomerular filtration: pressures, volumes , osmolarities
GFR regulation: myogenic, reflex, and tubuloglomerular mechanisms
3. Secretion and reabsorption (lectures)
properties of active and facilitated transport, competitive inhibition
types of molecules involved in epithelial transport:
pumps (ATPasas), co-transporters, exchangers
relationships between filtration, excretion, secretion and reabsorption
examples of substances handled differently by kidney (Na+, glucose, amino acids, organic ions, antibiotics, inulin)
renal clearance (concentrations, fluxes, rates, see Manual)
4. The nephron: functions of different parts, volumes, permeabilities and osmolarities
PCT, constitutive secretion and reabsorption
loop of Henle and vasa recta: role in generation of standing osmotic gradient
processes in DCT and collecting duct: regulation of water permeability (aquaporins, ADH)
5. Regulation of water and electrolyte homeostasis (Chapters 20, 23)
water balance and responses to changes of osmolarity and dehydration
Renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system
Na+ and K+ metabolism, Ca2+ metabolism, PTH
acid/base balance: body buffers, roles of kidney and respiration
Gastrointestinal Physiology (lectures, chapter 21)
1. Anatomy of the GI tract:
segments and sphincters.
pharynx and larynx
anatomy and histology of the intestinal wall
types of intestinal motility
2. Digestive enzymes and glands by which they are secreted.
salivary secretion
gastric juices
pancreatic secretion
intestinal secretion
ionic composition and pH in different segments of GI tract
mucus and its role
major types of digestive proteases and peptidases
fat digestion (role of bile)
intestinal absorption of amino acids,
peptides, sugars and lipid components. GLUT transporters.
3. Enteric nervous system (ENS) and regulation of digestion (see lectures)
functions of myenteric and submucosal plexi
ENS: long and short reflex loops
cephalic, gastric and intestinal phases of digestion
gastric hormones: gastrin, cholecystokinin, secretin, VIP, somatostatin
4. Mechanisms of taste perception (lectures)
5. Digestive disorders (lactose intolerance, gastritis, ulcers)
Regulation of Temperature, Metabolism & Growth (lectures, chapter 23)
1. Thermogenesis & Control of Heat Loss
2. Hyperthermia vs. Fever
3. Endocrine Control of Growth & Metabolism