Degree Course: SCIENZE BIOLOGICHE (L-13) Syllabus for A.Y. 2016/2017  

1) Basic concepts. Homeostasis; negative and positive feedback: examples; cell metabolism and enzymatic actions.
2) Cell membranes and transport. Active and passive transport, epithelial transport; factors affecting transport; osmosis; sodium-calcium pump; membrane potential; equilibrium potential; electric, chemical, and electrochemical gradient; Nernst equation.
3) Intercellular communication. Chemical messengers: hormones, neurotransmitters, and mechanisms of signal transduction.
4) Endocrine system, glands and hormones. Endocrine organs; mechanisms of hormonal actions.
5) Nervous system physiology. Basis of neuroanatomy; the central nervous system and its organization in vertebrates. the neuron; action potential: temporal dynamic and ionic genesis; propagation of the action potential; myelin sheath and saltatory conduction. Receptors. Examples of neuropathologies and mechanisms of actions of drugs. Neurotransmission: chemical synapses and neurotransmitters. Reflexes: examples. Language; sleep; emotions; learning and memory; synaptic plasticity and molecular basis: long-term potentiation. Basics of sensoria physiology: stimuli, receptors, signal transduction and responses; nociception; vision; hearing, taste, olfaction: examples. Autonomic nervous system and its organization in vertebrates; effects on the different systems. Somatic nervous system, neuroanatomy and neuromuscular junction; neurotoxic subtances.
6) Muscular physiology. Basis of anatomy, histology and cytology of the skeletal muscle tissue. Contraction: molecular mechanisms. Sliding filament model and cross bridge cycle. Coupling of excitation-contraction coupling. Summation and tetanus. Types of muscular fibers.
7) Cardiovascular system. General anatomy, histology and morphology. The heart of mammals Cardiac cycle. ECG. Pacemaker cells and their action potential, electric activity and conduction. Ionic basis of contraction. Cardiac output. Blood vessels, hematic flow, blood pressure. Baroceptors. Regulation by the autonomic nervous system.
8) Physiology of respiration, transport and gas exchange. Anatomy of the respiratory trait. Mechanics of respiration; lung volume and capacity. Gas exchange in the lungs; blood transport of gas; hemoglobin: dissociation curve and factors of variability. Nervous control of respiration Chemoceptors.
9) Kidney physiology. Functional anatomy. The function of the kidneys. The nephrone. Filtration. Pressure gradients, regulation of the velocity of glomerular filtration; tubular reabsorption and secretion. Mechanism of the countercurrent multiplier. Regulation of the composition of the extracellular fluids. ADH and aldosterone. The renine-angiotensin-aldosterone system. Electrolyte regulation. Control of acid-base balance. Renal compensation.
10 Nutrition, digestion and absorption. Digestive system: generality. Digestion and absorption of nutrients and water. Gastrointestinal secretion and its regulation.
11) Regulation of energetic metabolism and growth. General concepts of energy balance. Pancreatic hormones: insulin and glucagon; growth hormone; thyroid hormones; glucocorticoids. Stress response. Oxidative stress. Basis of thermoregulation physiology.
12) Physiology of the reproductive system. Male system: spermatogenesis; androgens. Female system: menstrual cycle and ovulation; hormonal control; fecundation; gestation; parturition; lactation. Progesterone, oxytocine, and prolactin.

Stanfield Cindy L. Principles of Human Physiology, Pearson

General Ecology - The historical development of ecology; Ecology and its domain; Current state of ecological research in Italy. Ecology of the interactions between organisms and the physical environment: Conditions; Spatial and temporal variations; Adaptations in response to variations in environmental conditions; Limiting factors; Tolerance ranges; Environmental optima; Biological rhythms - climatic factors; Classification of climates; Phytogeographic zonation; Hints of paleoclimatology; Soil (solid, fluid and gaseous phase); Elements of paedogenesis; Soil classification; humus; Biological soil activity.
Evolutionary Ecology - Genetic analysis of populations; Hardy-Weinberg's law; Genetic variability; Evolutionary forces (mutation, selection, gene flow, genetic drift); inbreeding; Wahlund effect; Balanced polymorphisms; Linkage disequilibrium; supergenes; Genetic divergence; Species concept; Reproductive isolation mechanisms; Speciation mechanisms; Hybrid zones and reinforcement; Sibling species; Biodiversity at the genetic level.
Population ecology - Demography and dynamics: population structure and growth; Demographic parameters; Demographic tables; Intrinsic growth rate - numerical regulation of populations; Density dependent and independent factors; Exponential growth; environmental carrying capacity - logistic growth curve. Interspecific interactions: symbiosis; commensalism; inquilinism; antibiosis; parasitism; adaptations to parasitic life; coevolution; predation - adaptations to predation; cryptism; mimicry; intraspecific competition; interspecific competition; ecological niche; Principle of competitive exclusion; character displacement; r and K selection.

L. Bullini, S. Pignatti, A Virzo De Santo, "Ecologia Generale". UTET
E. Odum, "Basi di Ecologia", Piccin Editore.
M. L. Cain, W. D. Bowman, S. D. Hacker, “Ecologia”. Piccin Editore.
Krebs "Ecology", Neebo Ed.