Physiology of major functions

Physiology of major functions (semester 4) aims to describe the role and interactions of the body's various systems in maintaining a constant internal environment. Acquisition of anatomical and functional knowledge of the cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive and renal systems and their nervous and hormonal controls. Understand the combined action of these major systems through examples of integrative physiology and pathologies: respiratory and cardiac insufficiency; hemorrhage; exposure to extreme environments.

-Knowledge:

The course will consist of 4 blocks of knowledge, described below.

1) The cardiovascular system (5.5h):

The heart. Anatomy of the heart: size, location and orientation; envelope of the heart; tunics of the heart wall; chambers and large vessels of the heart; blood flow in the heart; heart valves; coronary circulation. Physiology of the heart: electrical phenomena; regulation of basic rhythm: conduction system of the heart; modification of basic rhythm: extrinsic innervation of the heart; electrical activity and cardiac cycle; cardiac output; regulation of stroke volume; regulation of heart rate. Small and large circulation.

The cardiovascular system: blood vessels. Structure and function of blood vessels: structure of vascular walls; arterial network; capillaries; capillary beds; venous networks. Circulatory physiology: blood flow, blood pressure and resistance; systemic blood pressure: arterial pressure; venous pressure; factors favoring venous return; maintenance of arterial pressure. Cardiovascular nerve centers; cardiovascular regulation of high-pressure and low-pressure systems; examples of cardiac and vascular pathologies.

2) The respiratory system (4.5h) :

Atmospheric air and gas partial pressures. Anatomy of the respiratory system: general organization of the respiratory system; airways; site of gas exchange: alveoli and their vascularization; lung/thoracic cage relationship. Ventilation and pulmonary mechanics: muscles of respiration; lung volumes; ventilatory mechanics; surfactant. Gas exchange in the body: principles of diffusion; gas composition and partial pressures; gas exchange. Gas transport: oxygen transport in blood; carbon dioxide transport in blood. Respiratory control: motor and sensory innervation of the thoracic cage and lungs; location of respiratory centers; central and peripheral receptors; control of ventilation by PO2, PCO2 and [H+]. Adaptations of ventilation to mechanical and chemical constraints. Examples of respiratory pathologies.

3) The renal system (4.5 hrs): anatomy of the urinary tract and kidneys; urinary tract; kidney and its vascularization; nephron and its vascularization. Renal functions: urine production; glomerular filtration and its regulation; tubular reabsorption; tubular secretion. Composition of urine; Function of different tubular segments; Mechanisms of urine concentration; Study of renal function; Micturition: evacuation of urine. Regulation of renal functions: regulation of water and sodium: volemia/osmolarity; regulation of potassium; regulation of calcium; regulation of glycemia; regulation of pH: acidosis, alkalosis. Kidney failure and treatment (dialysis, diet, transplants, etc.). Diuretics. Nephropathies. Hemodialysis and transplantation

4) The digestive system (4.5h): anatomy of the digestive system and regulation of digestion. Auxiliary glands: pancreas and liver. Digestion and absorption of carbohydrates, proteins and lipids. Carbohydrates: structure of carbohydrates; enzymatic hydrolysis of carbohydrates; absorption of carbohydrates. Proteins: enzymatic hydrolysis of proteins; absorption of peptides and amino acids. Lipids: lipid structures; enzymatic hydrolysis of lipids; absorption of fatty acids and monoglycerides. Nutrient absorption and distribution. Autonomous function of digestive smooth muscle. Nervous regulation. Hormonal regulation: digestive hormones. Endocrine cells and hormones of the stomach: gastrin and G cell; histamine and ECL cell; somatostatin and D cell. Endocrine cells and hormones of the intestine: secretin; cholecystokinin; GIP and GLP-1. The different stages of digestion: cephalic phase, gastric phase and intestinal phase.

TD sessions (4 sessions of 1h30 each) are used to go into greater depth on concepts covered in lectures.

Practical exercises, divided into 3 sessions, to put into practice the concepts covered in class: TP1: study of the cardio-respiratory system; TP2: hemolysis; TP3: hydrolysis. Students will need to practise writing a practical report.

-Know-how :

Practical work and tutorials.

Understand, identify and describe the physiological mechanisms involved in cardiovascular, respiratory, renal and digestive functions.

Analyze experimental results.

Reposition theoretical acquisitions in an experimental context.

Master the written and spoken French language and its expression techniques.

Know how to respect syntax and spelling as well as the characteristics of the type of writing.

Take notes during lectures.

Write independently, demonstrating the ability to communicate thought, reason and organize knowledge.

Analyze experimental results.

Reposition theoretical acquisitions in an experimental context.

Research, analyze and use information from different sources and media (articles, etc.).

Develop critical thinking skills when analyzing scientific and non-scientific documents.

Write summary documents (presentations, notes, reports, etc.).

Build and illustrate a presentation.

Write summary documents (presentations, notes, reports, etc.).

Public speaking.

Take notes at conferences.

Work independently.

Reference

Identify and independently carry out the various stages of an experimental approach. Identify, select and apply a combination of analytical tools (current techniques, instrumentation) adapted to characterize organisms (from the biomolecule to the individual in all its complexity) and their functioning at different levels of analysis (intracellular metabolism, biology and physiology of complex organisms, interactions between individuals and groups, interactions with the environment).

Interpret experimental data to envisage their modeling. x Validate a model by comparing its predictions with experimental results and assess its limits of validity. Identify sources of error to calculate the uncertainty of an experimental result.

-People skills :

Respect instructions during practical work; Learn to work in a team; Know how to take notes during lectures; Be autonomous in work; Know how to be rigorous, know how to be autonomous. Be autonomous in writing and demonstrate the ability to communicate one's thoughts, reason and organize one's knowledge; Master the written and oral expression of the French language and its techniques of expression. Respect syntax and spelling as well as the characteristics of the type of writing; Complete work within deadlines; Take a rigorous approach to problems.

Reference

Work as part of a team as well as independently and responsibly on a project. Characterize and develop one's identity, skills and professional project in a given context. Take a step back from a situation, self-assess and question oneself in order to learn. Identify and select various specialized resources to document a subject. Analyze and synthesize data with a view to exploiting them. Develop arguments with a critical mind. Fluently use the different registers of written and oral expression in the French language. Fluency in written and oral comprehension and expression in at least one modern foreign language.

This course is open to students holding the 1st year of a Bachelor's degree in Life and Health Sciences (or another biology degree), or an IUT in biology which has enabled them to acquire notions of cellular and molecular physiology.