Curricular Unit:			Code:
General Physiology			843FGER
Year:	Level:	Course:	Credits:
1	Master	Pharmaceutical Sciences	5 ects
Learning Period:		Language of Instruction:	Total Hours:
Spring Semester		Portuguese/English	65
Learning Outcomes of the Curricular Unit:
Human physiology is a discipline whose subject is the study of the way in which the different organs and systems that constitutes the organism interact in order to maintain the corporal homeostasis. The main purpose of this course is that the information transmitted during the classrooms helps the student to acquire knowledge, which enables him to have a functional and integrate vision of the human body.
Syllabus:
Nervous system: Neurons and glial cells. Neuronal electric activity. Synapses. Synaptic transmission. Sensorial physiology. Receptors. Sensorial adaptation. Cortical plasticity. Muscle system. Skeletal muscles. Mechanisms of contraction. Cardiac and smooth muscles. Heart and circulation. Cardiac cycle and blood pressure. Electrical activity of the heart. Respiratory system. Mechanisms of breathing. Physical properties of the lungs. Pulmonary function tests. Gas Exchange in the lungs. Regulation. The digestive system: neural and endocrine regulation. Intestinal contractions and motility. Digestion and absorption. Appendice organs. Renal physiology. Function of the kidneys. Regulation. Reproductive system. Neuro-endocrine regulation. Endocrine system. Endocrine glands and hormones. Mechanisms of hormone action. Pituitary–hypothalamic control. The imune system and neuro-endocrine axis.
Demonstration of the Syllabus Coherence with the Curricular Unit's Objectives:
The students should recognize the basic concepts of the anatomy and function of the human physiology: organs and systems. They should, progressively, be able to describe the concepts and structure of each system and how they behave to maintain organic homeostasis. They should understand the variety of the physiological responses to daily aggressions and should point simple pathologies. In parallel with the global presentation of the concepts, and, from a practical point of view they should learn the basic physiology techniques to evaluate the integrity and regulation of each system pointing its several alterations to normal functioning.
Teaching Methodologies (Including Evaluation):
Exposure, in a descriptive and integrated manner, of the concepts, theories and mechanisms underlying in the theoretical program of discipline, in line with the adopted bibliography Approval is certified by two written tests (average rate of at least 10/20, weighing 70% of the final grade of the course). If not approved, student should perform an exam at the end of the semester. In the practical classes it will be used an Experimental Software of virtual Physiology that intends to simulate experiments providing the students with the skills and ability to consolidate the theoric knowledge. Approval to the practical component depends on the performance of 2 Teorical-practic tests. The student should obtain at least 10/20 average rate, weighing of 30% of the final grade of the course
Demonstration of the Coherence between the Teaching Methodologies and the Learning Outcomes:
Theoretical component aims the acquisition of general and specific technical scientific knowledge of this syllabus, good level of written communication and a good ability to relate concepts. In the practical component the objective is to improve the understanding and deepen the technical and scientific knowledge of the student on specific topics of the program as well as improve the operability, either in the organization/execution of the work or laboratory reasoning.
Reading:
1. Barrett, K & Brooks, H (2015). Ganong's Review of Medical Physiology. 25th ed, McGraw-Hill Education. 2. Hall JE (2015). Guyton and Hall Textbook of Medical Physiology. 13th ed, Saunders. 3. Fox S (2015). Human Physiology. 14th ed, McGraw-Hill Education. 4. Tortora, GJ & Derrickson BH. (2017). Principles of Anatomy and Physiology. 15th ed, John Wiley & Sons. 5. Zao P, Stabler T, Smith L, Griff E, Lokuta A (2018) PhysioEx 9.1 for Human Physiology: Laboratory Simulations in Physiology. Pearson Benjamin Cummings.