Physiology I
| Keywords |
| Classification |
Keyword |
| OFICIAL |
Medicine |
Instance: 2022/2023 - 1S 
Cycles of Study/Courses
Teaching language
Portuguese
Objectives
Common targets to Fisiologia I and II, since they complement each other. Students should be familiar with major and minor functions of physiological systems, by learning their mechanisms of action, understanding their interrelationships and their contribute to homeostasis, students should be able to point the differences and complementary characteristics of the two majors control systems of the body, i. e., nervous system and endocrine system, with special emphasis to the endocrine system. These skills will be important to the later study of physiopathology.
Learning outcomes and competences
The approach to the great physiological systems in Man, with strong interactions between them, demonstrates to students very clearly the importance of homeostasis. The strong emphasis on practical computer simulation (and also robot Simman 3G) of the functioning of large systems, with the student introducing the values of the system variables and inferring their consequences in the organism as a whole, seems to us a versatile way of simulating the real conditions of the system in the healthy individual and to predict dysfunction/disease when these variables exceed certain limits. The student will also learn to evaluate real variables (vital signs, ECG, spirometry, renal function, acid-base equilibrium...).
Working method
Presencial
Pre-requirements (prior knowledge) and co-requirements (common knowledge)
Cellular and Molecular Biology, Systematic Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Biochemistry...
Program
Introduction: homeostasis, general and cellular bases of medical physiology; cellular transport mechanisms; integration of transport systems at the cellular, tissue and organ levels; signal transduction pathways; electrophysiology and membrane potential; skeletal, cardiac and smooth muscle physiology.
Cardiovascular Physiology: the heart as a pump; hemodynamic principles; origin of the heartbeat and electrical activity of the heart; cardiac cycle; dynamics of blood and lymph flow; cardiovascular regulatory mechanisms; cardiac output and venous return; regulation of the arterial and venous system; circulation through special regions; short-term blood pressure regulation; cardiovascular homeostasis in health and disease; cardiovascular diseases.
Renal Physiology: organization of the renal system; Kidney structure and function; glomerular filtration; renal reabsorption and secretion; formation and excretion of urine; creatinine and urea; regulation of the composition and volume of extracellular fluid; control of excretion and homeostasis of sodium, water, potassium, magnesium, phosphorus and calcium; renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system; long-term blood pressure regulation; renal homeostasis in health and disease; kidney diseases and diuretics.
Respiratory Physiology: pulmonary ventilation; physical principles of gas exchange; diffusion of O2 and CO2 across the respiratory membrane; transport of O2 and CO2; respiratory volumes; pulmonary ventilation-perfusion coupling; nervous regulation of breathing; respiratory homeostasis in health and disease; respiratory diseases.
Regulation of Acid-Base Balance: importance of maintaining blood pH, CO2 and HCO3-; regulatory function of the buffer, lung and kidney systems; acidosis or alkalosis, respiratory or metabolic; compensatory mechanisms.
The inclusion of the 3 main systems (cardiovascular, renal and respiratory) in this curricular unit aims to allow the student to have a sequential and temporally cohesive approach to the main mechanisms characteristic of each system and their effects on other systems. When approaching a given system, the student is systematically encouraged to review the mode of action of other systems in order to internalize the concept of homeostasis and multi-systemic interdependence. The regulation of systems and their adjustments in health and disease will enable the student to understand pathologies. Examples of some pathologies and their relationship with Dentistry.
Physiological aspects of aging, namely the Cardiovascular, Renal and Respiratory System
Mandatory literature
Hall, John E.; Guyton and Hall Textbook of medical physiology, 13th ed. John E. Hall, Elsevier Saunders, 2016. ISBN: 978-1-4160-4574-8
Robert M. Berne;
Physiology. ISBN: 0-3230-3390-3
D.B. Ferguson;
Physiology for dental students. ISBN: 0-7236-0725-7
Teaching methods and learning activities
The theoretical lectures are the most feasible way to transmit to a large group of students the characteristics and mechanisms of the major physiological systems. In theoretical-practical classes more than the descriptive enumeration of the mode of operation we will try to stimulate the study of these topics to highlight the singularities and interactions between systems using clinical cases and questions. In practical classes, students will work in groups of 2-3 in order to stimulate themes discussion and team work. Along the UC and in parallel with the theoretical approach students are invited to simulate in computer changes or in medical simulator (robot Simman 3G) of physiological and biochemical parameters of the various systems, comparing results with the predictions made on the basis of theoretical knowledge. At the end of each workshop, students respond individually to a small questionnaire about what happened in class in order to evaluate the participation and degree of learning. In parallel (during the semester), each student group prepares the presentation for oral presentation, putting together knowledge and stimulating their transmission. With this type of evaluation (oral) we intend to offer a variety of assessment methods, in addition to the MCQ and short answer questions.
Evaluation Type
Distributed evaluation with final exam
Assessment Components
| Designation |
Weight (%) |
| Exame |
75,00 |
| Teste |
15,00 |
| Trabalho prático ou de projeto |
10,00 |
| Total: |
100,00 |
Amount of time allocated to each course unit
| Designation |
Time (hours) |
| Estudo autónomo |
63,00 |
| Frequência das aulas |
56,00 |
| Apresentação/discussão de um trabalho científico |
16,00 |
| Total: |
135,00 |
Eligibility for exams
Students will be admitted to exam if they are approved in the practical component. Defined by law (presence in 3/4 of practical classes).
Calculation formula of final grade
The evaluation is done by the sum of the grade obtained in the practical component (5 values) and by the grade obtained in the theoretical exam (15 values). In the Theoretical Evaluation the student can choose to perform the frequencies (2) or the final exam. The 1st frequency is performed during the intercalary week and the 2nd frequency is coincident with the final exam. Students who obtain at least 40% of the maximum mark of first frequency are exempt from evaluation in the final exam of the subject of the 1st frequency. The final exam (or frequencies) consists of a multiple-choice test. The students are approved in the theoretical exam (or the sum of the two frequencies) if they obtain a grade of 7.5 / 15 or higher. It is a condition of admission to exam the approval in the practical component. The Practical Assessment is done by the sum of the theoretical-practical mini-tests (3 values) and the presentation (~ 25 slides, 20 minutes) of a practical work (2 values). Students with a grade of 1.5 / 3 or higher in theoretical-practical tests, 3/4 attendance in practical classes and presentation of practical assignment are approved in the practical component. The theoretical-practical mini-tests are carried out at the end of each practical class in ICBAS. The best presentations of the practical work will be selected and presented in the last theoretical class for all students (adding 0.5 values to the final grade). These selected presentations will be the target of questions for the 2nd frequency and exam. The presence in theoretical and theoretical-practical classes (Tuesday and Wednesday) will be valued with a bonus (100% of theoretical classes will be 1 value; 90% will be 0.9 values; 80% will be 0.8 values...). The appeal exam covers the whole matter.
Examinations or Special Assignments
Oral presentation.
Classification improvement
Exam.