Animal Physiology
Presentation
Sustainable Development Goals
Learning Goals
2. Comparative approach in the study of fundamental physiological mechanisms that reflect adaptations to different environments.
3. Problem-solving based learning to stimulate application of acquired theoretical knowledge and development of abstractive, deduction and results interpretation skills.
4. Understanding of the scientific method.
5. Development of communication and synthesis skills through oral communication.
6. Promote reading and understanding of the English language.
7. Promote the use of generic software (e.g. Excel, Powerpoint, Word) and specific software (experiment simulators for animal physiology).
8. Promote research of information in databases available on the internet (e.g., b-On e Web of Knowledge).
Contents
2. Neuron physiology.
3. Information flow between neurons (synapses and neural networks).
4. Sensory physiology.
5. Nervous system.
6. Physiology of muscle contraction.
7. Glands and endocrinology.
8. Circulatory system.
9. Gas exchange and acid-base balance.
10. Ionic and osmotic balances.
11. Feeding, digestion, and energy metabolism.
Simulated virtual experiments on the computer to consolidate knowledge on the following topics: neuron physiology (action potential); synaptic transmission at the neuromuscular junction; regulation of the skeletal muscle contraction; neuroendocrine regulation of the mammalian cardiovascular system.
Teaching Methods
The evaluation is quantified on a scale of 0-20 values; approval requires a grade equal to or higher than 10 values in each element of evaluation. Students are assessed individually and can choose either continuous assessment or a final exam. Continuous assessment consists of two written tests, in the middle and at the end of the semester, with equal weight in the final grade. The final exam is a written test.
Recommended Reading
Hill, R.W., Wyse, G.A., and Anderson, M. (2012). Animal Physiology, 3rd Edition, Sinauer Associates, Inc., Sunderland, Massachusetts, USA.
Marieb, E. N. and Hoehn, K. N. (2014). Human Anatomy & Physiology, 10th Ed. Pearson Education, Inc, N.Y., USA.
Randall, D.; Burggren, W. and French, K. (2002). Eckert Animal Physiology. Mechanisms and Adaptations, 5th Ed., W.H. Freeman and Company, New York.
Squire, L. R., Bloom, F. E., McConnell, S. K., Roberts, J. L., Spitzer, N. C. and Zigmond, M. J. (2002). Fundamental Neuroscience. Academic Press, London.
Wilmer, P.; Stone, G. and Johnston I. (2005). Environmental Physiology of Animals, Blackwell Publishing, London.
Bibliographic research using data bases in the internet: b-ON; Web of Knowledge. Reading of relevant papers published in Nature and/or Science.