Physiology
Code
11109
Academic unit
NOVA Medical School|Faculdade de Ciências Médicas
Department
CFAT
Credits
12
Teacher in charge
Prof. Doutor Pedro Freire Costa
Teaching language
Portuguese
Objectives
The study of normal function of tissues and organs in the human body. One aims at the essential functional aspects of tissues and organs in order to understand underlying mechanisms in pathology, mechanisms of action of drugs and therapeutics. The course establishes a relationship between the concepts and respective application and promotes the use of reasoning to explain mechanisms and functional integration.
Prerequisites
Subject matter
Explain functional and regulatory mechanisms. Point out reference values of physiological parameters concerning different organs and systems. Deal with values of physiological variables that have been disturbed and identify underlying regulatory mechanisms. Use tables to build graphics. Interpret graphs. Integrate data to explain functional and regulatory mechanisms.
Course contents
-Biophysics of excitability
-Mechanisms underlying muscle contraction
-Regulatory mechanisms (autonomic n.s. and hormone function)
-Functional aspects of the cardiovascular system
-Regulatory aspects in the cardiovascular system
-Physical aspects underlying the exchange of gases in the lung
-Mechanical determinants of ventilation
-Mechanisms underlying respiratory regulation
-Renal function
-Hormones and mechanisms underlying the function of the reproductive organs
Bibliography
Guyton, Arthur C. - Textbook of Medical Physiology
Ganong, William F. - Review of Medical Physiology
Berne, Robert M. and Levy, Mathew N. - Principles of Physiology
Boron and Boulpaep - Medical Physiology A cellular and molecular approach
Other:
Levick, J.R. - An Introduction to Cardiovascular Physiology
Levitzky, M.G. - Pulmonary Physiology
Teaching method
Lectures (3 per week) and practicals (two sessions of two hours per week) using numerical simulators of excitability, cardiovascular and respiratory system, kidney and hormones. The practical sessions include guidance and discussion by tutors.
Evaluation method
Credits- There are five thematic blocks in the practical sessions and an exercise in the end of each block, meant to provide credits for the final assement result. Each exercise is worth 5% of the total final result. Thus, during the semester, each student should obtain 25% of the total final assement. The final exam - A multiple choice test calibrated for a total of 75 points (75%). Thus, final score = final exam + credits. The final rating is normalized to a 0-20 scale.
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