Physiology of major functions

  • Level of study

    BAC +2

  • ECTS

    4 credits

  • Component

    Faculty of Science

Description

The Physiology of major functions (semester 4) aims to describe the role and interactions of the various systems of the organism that contribute to 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.

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Objectives

-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; heart envelope; 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: the blood vessels. Structure and function of blood vessels: structure of the vascular walls; arterial network; capillaries; capillary beds; venous networks. Physiology of circulation: blood flow, blood pressure and resistance; systemic blood pressure: arterial pressure; venous pressure; factors favoring venous return; maintenance of blood pressure. Cardiovascular nerve centers; Cardiovascular regulation of high and low pressure systems; Examples of cardiac and vascular pathologies.

2) The respiratory system (4.5h):

Reminder of atmospheric air and partial pressures of gases. Anatomy of the respiratory system: general organization of the respiratory system; airways; site of gas exchange: alveoli and their vascularization; relationship between the lung and the thoracic cage. Ventilation and pulmonary mechanics: muscles of respiration; pulmonary volumes; ventilatory mechanics; surfactant. Gas exchange in the body: principles of diffusion; gas composition and partial pressures; gas exchange. Gas transport: oxygen transport in the blood; carbon dioxide transport in the blood. Control of respiration: 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 (4,5h): anatomy of the urinary tract and the kidneys; the urinary tract; the kidney and its vascularization; the nephron and its vascularization. Renal functions: elaboration of the urine; glomerular filtration and its regulation; tubular reabsorption; tubular secretion. Composition of the urine; Function of the different tubular segments; Mechanisms of urine concentration; Study of the renal function; Miction: evacuation of the urine. Regulation of renal functions: regulation of water and sodium: blood volume/osmolarity; regulation of potassium; regulation of calcium; regulation of blood sugar; regulation of pH: acidosis, alkalosis. Renal insufficiency and treatments (dialysis, diet, transplants, etc.). Diuretics. Nephropathies. Hemodialysis and transplantation

4) The digestive system (4,5h): anatomy of the digestive system and regulation of digestion. Annexed 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. Absorption and distribution of nutrients. Autonomous function of the 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.

The TD sessions (4 sessions of 1h30) allow to deepen the notions seen in lectures.

Practical exercises, divided into 3 sessions, to allow the application of the notions seen in class: TP1: study of the cardio-respiratory system; TP2: hemolysis; TP3: Hydrolysis. The students will have to practice writing a report on the practical exercises.

-Know-how :

Practical work and tutorials.

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

Know how to analyze experimental results.

Know how to reposition theoretical acquisitions in an experimental context.

Master the written and oral expression of the French language and its techniques of expression.

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

Know how to take notes during lectures.

To be independent in the writing activity and to demonstrate the ability to communicate one's thoughts, to reason and to organize one's knowledge.

Know how to analyze experimental results.

Know how to 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 materials.

Know how to write synthetic documents (presentation, note, report, etc.).

Know how to construct and illustrate a presentation.

Know how to write synthetic documents (presentation, note, report, etc.).

Know how to speak in public.

Know how to take notes at conferences.

Be autonomous in work.

Referential

Identify and carry out independently the different steps of an experimental approach. Identify, choose and apply a combination of analytical tools (current techniques, instrumentation) adapted to characterize organisms (from the biomolecule to the individual in 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 consider their modeling. x Validate a model by comparing its predictions to experimental results and appreciate its limits of validity. Identify the sources of error to calculate the uncertainty on an experimental result.

-Know how to be :

Respect the instructions during practical interventions; 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. To be autonomous in writing and to demonstrate one's ability to communicate one's thoughts, to reason and to organize one's knowledge; To master the written and oral expression of the French language and its techniques of expression. Respect the syntax and spelling as well as the characteristics of the type of writing; Complete a work within the deadlines; Have a rigorous approach to the problems.

Referential

Work in a team as well as independently and responsibly in the service of a project. Characterize and develop one's identity, skills and professional project according to a context. To step back from a situation, evaluate oneself and question oneself in order to learn. Identify and select various specialized resources to document a subject. Analyze and synthesize data in order to use them. Develop an argument with critical thinking. To use the different registers of written and oral expression of the French language with ease. To use with ease written and oral comprehension and expression in at least one foreign language.

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Necessary pre-requisites

This course is open to students who have completed the first year of a Bachelor's degree in Life and Health Sciences (or another biology degree), or an IUT in biology, and who have acquired notions in cellular and molecular physiology.

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