Physiology and Integrated Homeostasis

Three main topics are covered:

-A study of weight and thermal homeostasis in relation to a model of dysfunction: obesity. This will involve an examination of energy balance—including food intake and energy expenditure, which consists of basal metabolism, physical activity, and adaptive thermogenesis (AT)—and their respective regulatory mechanisms.

-Study of biological rhythms, including a description of the nature and properties of biological rhythms (ultradian, circadian, and infradian), a description of endogenous circadian oscillators, and a detailed presentation of the molecular mechanisms of circadian clocks.

-Study of the various stages and physiological principles of respiration. The theoretical lectures will be supplemented by tutorial sessions (TD). The tutorial sessions are based on the study of documents and the analysis of scientific articles in English. The selection of scientific materials is intended to illustrate the interplay among the various topics covered and, thereby, the concept of integrative physiology.

-Understand the cellular and molecular mechanisms that regulate energy balance.

-To discover how dysregulation of these mechanisms contributes to metabolic diseases such as obesity.

-Understand that circadian rhythms enable the body to anticipate—and thus respond in advance to—periodic changes in the environment, thereby ensuring relative stability of the internal environment (predictive homeostasis).

-Discuss the adaptive role of circadian rhythms in the body's functioning, a concept that forms the basis of chronopharmacology.

-Be able to trace the path of oxygen from ventilation to its consumption at the tissue level

Knowledge of the basic concepts of the physiology of major bodily functions, nervous system communication, and endocrine system communication.

-Final exam: 80% written

-Continuous assessment in tutorial sessions: 20%