General Physiology

Code:

MV123

Acronym:

FG

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Basic Sciences

Instance: 2024/2025 - 2S (of 17-02-2025 to 13-06-2025)

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Imuno-Physiology and Pharmacology
Course/CS Responsible:	Integrated Masters Degree in Veterinary Medicine

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
MIMV	1	Official Study Plan	1	-	4,5	56	121,5

Teaching language

Portuguese

Objectives

The aim of the General Physiology course unit (CU) is to study the normal functions of the organism of domestic animals, from the cell to the most complex organ systems. This CU is integrated with the CU Veterinary Physiology (1st semester of the 2nd year), so that the most relevant topics to understand the contents of the pre-clinical and clinical CUs of the Integrated Master in Veterinary Medicine (MIMV) are addressed.

Learning outcomes and competences

1. Knowledges: acquisition of fundamental knowledge of animal physiology, particularly in the areas of Cellular Physiology and Biological Transport; Neurophysiology (1st part); Physiology of the Endocrine System; Bioenergetics and Cellular Metabolism; Renal Physiology; Respiratory Physiology; Regulation of Acid-Base Balance; Blood and Hemostasis.


2. Acquisitions: understanding of biological systems studied, with emphasis on the respective homeostatic mechanisms.


3. Skills: stimulating curiosity and critical thinking; foster communication and the ability to work in a team; promote responsible and ethical attitudes.

Working method

Presencial

Program

In the CU of General Physiology, the following topics will be addressed and which will be related to some pathologies:

Theoretical classes:
1. Introduction to General Physiology.Homeostasis.
2. Cell Physiology and Biological Transport in Animal Cells: The cell membrane. Specific transport systems and cellular function. Important Gradients in Physiology. Integration of transport systems at the cellular, tissue and organ level. Transepithelial transport. Vector transport. Regulation of transport fees.
3. Neurophysiology (1st part): Neurons and fundamentals of neurophysiology. Electrochemical basis of nerve function. Synaptic transmission. Muscle physiology. Autonomic Nervous System.
4. Physiology of the Endocrine System: Principles of endocrinology. Mechanisms of hormonal action. Synthesis, secretion, transport and hormonal degradation. Hypothalamic-pituitary axis. Functions of endocrine glands: thyroid, adrenal glands, endocrine pancreas. Calcium and phosphorus metabolism.
5. Bioenergetics and Cellular Metabolism: Cellular metabolism, glycolysis and ATP synthesis. Carbohydrate metabolism. Lipid and protein metabolism. Metabolic functions of the liver. Bioenergetics and Metabolic Rate.
6. Renal Physiology: Fluid compartments of the organism. Organization of the renal system. Kidney structure and function. Urine formation. Glomerular filtration and its control. The creatinine. Tubular secretion and reabsorption. Mechanisms for regulating osmolality and sodium concentration of extracellular fluid. Mechanisms for regulating blood volume and extracellular fluid volume. Control of potassium, magnesium, phosphorus and urea excretion. Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System. Long-term blood pressure regulation.
7. Respiratory Physiology: Pulmonary ventilation. Physical principles of gas exchange. Diffusion of O₂and CO₂across the respiratory membrane. Transport of O₂ and CO₂. Respiratory volumes. Nervous regulation of breathing.
8. Regulation of Acid-Base Balance: Importance of maintaining blood pH. Effect of pH on some physiological processes. Regulatory function of the buffer, lung and kidney systems. Respiratory and metabolic acidosis and alkalosis.
9. Blood physiology  - Blood components.

 

Practical classes
1. Animals in biomedical research
2. Cell Physiology and Biological Transport (simulation).
3. Neurophysiology (simulation).
4. Muscle Physiology (simulation).
5. Endocrine Physiology (simulation).
6. Clinical Cases 1.
7. Clinical Cases 2.
8. Measuring the Metabolic Rate (simulation).
9. Renal Physiology (simulation).
10. Respiratory Physiology (simulation).
11. Blood Physiology (simulation).
12. Acid-Base Balance (simulation).
13. Blood collection and other procedures - training with simulation models

Mandatory literature

Bradley G. Klein; Cunningham`s Textbook of Veterinary Physiology, Elsevier, 2020. ISBN: 978-0-323-55227-1
William O. Reece; Dukes`Physiology of Domestic Animals, Wiley‐blackwell, 2015. ISBN: 978‐0‐1185‐0139‐9/2015
Hall John E.; Guyton and Hall textbook of medical physiology. ISBN: 978-1-4557-7005-2

Complementary Bibliography

Victoria Aspinall; Melanie Cappello; Introduction to Animal and Veterinary Anatomy and Physiology, CAB International, 2020. ISBN: 978 1 78924 115 0
Widmaier Eric P.; Vander.s human physiology. ISBN: 978-1-259-08082-1
Boron Walter F.; Medical physiology. ISBN: 978-1-4160-3115-4

Teaching methods and learning activities

. Theoretical classes (28 hours; 2 1-hour lessons per week)

Oral presentation of the proposed topics with evidence-based content, supported by educational materials (diagrams, animations, etc.), to stimulate discussion and active learning.

. Practical classes (28 hours; 1 class of 2 hours per week)

- Conducting practical laboratory work using simulation programs, aligned with the content developed in theoretical classes. Written assessment (mini tests) after the practical work.

- Discussion of the physiological mechanisms underlying clinical cases related to the theoretical topics taught. Individual written assessment (mini tests).

keywords

Health sciences > Medical sciences > Veterinary medicine > Animal health

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

Designation	Weight (%)
Exame	60,00
Trabalho laboratorial	40,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

Designation	Time (hours)
Estudo autónomo	37,50
Frequência das aulas	56,00
Trabalho laboratorial	28,00
Total:	121,50

Eligibility for exams

. Attendance in 75% of the practical classes taught.

. Approval in the practical assessment, that is, obtaining a grade equal to or greater than 4 out of the 8 total values, which result from the assessment carried out in practical classes (simulation classes and clinical cases).

Calculation formula of final grade

Final Classification (0-20 values) = Practical Assessment (maximum 8 values) + Theoretical Assessment (maximum 12 values)

. PRACTICAL ASSESSMENT - 40% of the final grade (8 out of 20)
- Practical Approval with a grade equal to or greater than 4 out of 8

. THEORETICAL ASSESSMENT - 60% of the final grade (12 out of 20)
- Theoretical approval can be achieved in 2 ways:
a) Normal season:
The evaluation of the Normal Season (Época Normal) runs in a distributed manner, the first part during the interim week (semanas intercalar) and the second part during normal exam season. For approval, the student must have a minimum grade of 8/20 values in each component and the average of the two components must be equal to or greater than 9.5/20 values.
b) Appeal Season: 
Students who failed in one or both components in the Normal Season evaluation (Época Normal) or who wish to improve their grades may do so in the Appeal Season (“Época de Recurso”).