Lecturer: Valeria Merico   Franco Tanzi  

Course name: Applied Biology and Physiology
Course code: 503183
Degree course: Bioingegneria
Disciplinary field of science: BIO/06,BIO/09
The course relates to:
University credits: ECTS 6
Course website: n.d.

Specific course objectives

The course aims at providing graduates with basic knowledge in i) molecular and genetic mechanisms of the cell and tissue differentiation and animal development, and ii) the control mechanisms of human organism. For this purpose, it is divided into two modules: Cell Biology and Physiology. CELL BIOLOGY (Valeria Merico). The objective of this module is to provide the basis of structure and function of cells. The course focused on the characteristics of cells and the key roles that the cell-cell interactions play in animal tissues. PHYSIOLOGY (Franco Tanzi). The aim of the module is the study of a) the sensory and motor function of the nervous system, and b) the cardiovascular function.

Course programme

Module of Cell Biology

• Structure of the eukaryotic cell: relation between form and function.
• Plasma membrane.
• Structure and function of cellular organelles: the vacuolar apparatus (nuclear envelope, rough and smooth endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus, lysosomes), mitochondria, cytoskeleton.
• Role of the plasma membrane in the recognition between cells and the intercellular adhesion and cell-extracellular matrix;
• Role of the cytoskeleton in cell dynamics, interaction with the membrane and with the extracellular matrix;
• Extracellular matrix: function and role in the organization and tissue proliferation, migration, and cell differentiation.

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Module of Applied Physiology

Nervous System: the sensory function.
• The structure of central nervous system.
• Sensory receptors. Signal transduction.
• The auditory system.The structure of auditory system. Mechano-electrical transduction. Sound-elicited reflexes and sound analysis
• The vestibular system.The structure of vestibular system.Mechano-electrical transduction. Reflexes elicited by head movement.
• The visual system. The light. The eye structure. Photoreceptors. The retina.Analysis of light-elicited signals. Nervous System: the motor function.

Course entry requirements

Course structure and teaching

Lectures (hours/year in lecture theatre): 46
Practical class (hours/year in lecture theatre): 0
Practicals / Workshops (hours/year in lecture theatre): 0

Suggested reading materials

Estratto da: Mason K.A., Losos J.B., Singer S.R.: Biologia. Biologia cellulare. Piccin Editore.

Adamo et al. Istologia di Monesi. Piccin Editore.

Testing and exams

Written test and (optional) oral