INTRODUCTION TO PHYSIOLOGY AND HOMEOSTASIS: Description of physiological mechanism. Structure-Function relationships of the body. Levels of organization in the body. Concept of Homeostasis. Homeostatic Control Systems.
CELL PHYSIOLOGY AND PLASMA MEMBRANE: Membrane transport of ions and molecules. Membrane potential and action potentials. Synapses and neuronal integration. Intercellular communication and signal transduction. Neurotransmitters.
MUSCLE PHYSIOLOGY: Motor unit, neuromuscular junctions. Excitation and contraction of skeletal muscle tissue. Skeletal muscle contraction and mechanics. Physiology of skeletal, smooth and cardiac muscle.
PHYSIOLOGY OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM: Functional organization of central nervous system and peripheral nervous system. The peripheral nervous system: afferent and efferent divisions. Role of glia cells. Autonomic nervous system. Integrative functions of nervous system.
CARDIAC PHYSIOLOGY: Anatomy and electrical activity of the heart. Mechanical events of the cardiac cycle. Cardiac output and its control. General principles of hemodynamics. Blood vessels and blood pressure. Blood and hemostasis.
PHYSIOLOGY OF ENDOCRINE SYSTEM AND REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM: General principles of endocrinology. Principles of general functioning of hormones. Central and peripheral endocrine glands and their hormones. Hypothalamic-Pituitary Axis. Control of calcium and phosphate metabolism. Physiology of male and female reproductive system.
PHYSIOLOGY OF RESPIRATORY SYSTEM: Respiratory anatomy and mechanic. Gas exchange and transport of oxygen and carbon dioxide. Control of respiration.
PHYSIOLOGY OF URINARY SYSTEM: Elements of renal function: kidney and nephron. Glomerular filtration. Tubular reabsorption and tubular secretion. Urinary tract. Ureter, bladder and urethra. Urine excretion and plasma clearance.
PHYSIOLOGY OF DIGESTIVE SYSTEM: Digestive tract and accessory digestive organs. General aspects of digestion. Secretory function of digestive system. Motility of digestive tract. Nutrient digestion and absorption.

“Fondamenti di Fisiologia Umana”. Sherwood. Editore: Piccin.
“Berne & Levy Fisiologia”. Koeppen and Stanton. Editore: Casa Editrice Ambrosiana. “Fisiologia Medica”. Guyton and Hall. Editore: Edra.

Elements of chemistry: Atoms and molecules, Chemical reactions, Ionic balance in solution, Water. Elements of organic chemistry: Carbohydrates, Lipids, Nucleic acids, proteins, Food digestion. Amino acids: general structure and classification. Proteins: structure and function. Structural levels. Protein folding. Fibrous proteins: structure of alpha-keratin, collagen and silk fibroin. Globular pro- teins: structure and function of myoglobin and hemoglobin; the heme group; saturation curve; regu- lation of the affinity of hemoglobin for oxygen. Enzymes: general characteristics; activation energy and reaction rate; general concepts on enzymatic kinetics. Regulatory mechanisms: competitive and non-competitive inhibitors; allosteric enzymes and enzymes regulated by covalent modifications. Catalytic strategies. Catalysis of serine-proteases. The blood coagulation cascade as an example to clarify determinants of specificity, the role of cofactors and the formation of macromolecular com- plexes.
INTRODUCTION TO METABOLISM: general organization. Catabolism and anabolism. Bioener- getics. Energetically relevant molecules. Use of energy within the cell. Examples of regulation of metabolic processes.
Glucose as a fuel for energy production. Hormonal control of glucose metabolism. Glycolysis - phases and regulation. The pentose phosphate pathway and its biochemical importance. Degrada- tion of glycogen - glycogen phosphorylase and its hormonal control. Gluconeogenesis and other biosynthetic pathways of carbohydrates.
Lactic fermentation and alcoholic fermentation. Anaerobic metabolism. Pyruvate oxidation mecha- nism - the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex.
The citric acid cycle - Functions, energy balance and cycle regulation. Oxidative Phosphorylation - The mitochondrion as the cell's powerhouse. The machinery for transporting electrons: structure and function of complexes I, II, III and IV. The electrochemical potential in the transport of elec- trons. Use of oxygen. ATP synthase: structure and mechanism of action. Stoichiometry of electron transport, proton transport, oxygen consumption and ATP production. The catabolism of lipids - β-oxidation. Ketogenesis. Synthesis of fatty acids - Regulation of the metabolism of fatty acids.

“Chimica e Biochimica”. Massimo Stefani, Niccolò Taddei; Zanichelli editore

Solutions
Concentration, molarity, molality, molar ratio, dilution, stoichiometry.
Immunochemistry.
General aspects of the immune system, production of antibodies, immunochemical assays, Elisa, immunohistochemistry.
Electrophoretic techniques
General principles, supports used in electrophoresis, polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE), SDS-PAGE, Western blot.
Molecular biology techniques
General aspects of the genetic, mutations and clinical significance, PCR, sequencing, principle of genomic and NGS sequencing.

”Biochimica Applicata”, Monica Stoppini, Vittorio Bellotti; Editore. EdiSES.
”Biochemistery”, Terry A. Brown; Scion Publishing.

Basic principles of microbiology Morphology and structure of the bacterial cell Bacterial spore structure and sporulation process Gram stain and stain for acid resistance Metabolism, growth and bacterial replication Sterilization, disinfection, asepsis Structure, replication and pathogenic mecha- nisms of fungi Morphology of viral particles Cell tropism and host spectrum Viral enzymes Virus classification Stages of viral replication Basic concepts of the immune response The host's natural immune response Acquired humoral immune response Cell-mediated acquired immune response Immune responses against infectious agents Mechanisms of action of Interferon Vaccines and pas- sive immunoprophylaxis Bacterial pathogenesis mechanisms Demonstration of the causal nature be- tween pathogen and disease: Koch's postulates Normal microbial flora of our organism Host-micro- organism interactions: Commensalism-Mutualism - Parasitism Factors that influence the "host- microorganism" balance Method of transmission of the infection Stages of the infectious process Bacterial virulence factors Mechanisms of viral pathogenesis and interaction with the host: Trans- mission mode Stages of the infectious process Localized and disseminated infection Persistence and latency status Viral oncogenesis Cytopathic effect induced by viruses Alteration of expression of genes and / or cellular proteins LABORATORY MEDICINE Organization of a laboratory Knowledge of the main laboratory instruments Types of test tubes (with and without anticoagulant) used in analytical investigations CBC and basic concepts of blood tests The various stages of an analytical process.

“Le basi della Microbiologia”. Richard Harvey, Pamela C. Champe, Richard D. Fisher; Zanichelli editore.

Organization of a laboratory
Knowledge of the main laboratory instruments
Types of test tubes (with and without anticoagulant) used in analytical investigations CBC and basic concepts of blood tests
The various stages of an analytical process.

The student will be provided with educational material.