SCV0124 - COMPARATIVE PHYSIOLOGY

courses

ID:

SCV0124

Duration (hours):

48

CFU:

SSD:

FISIOLOGIA

Year:

2025

Date/time interval

Secondo Semestre (02/03/2026 - 26/06/2026)

Course Objectives

A comparative physiology course intended for BSc students. The course is meant as follow up of the general physiology course and proposes up to date knowledge about comparative physiology. The structure function relationships of different organs will be approached considering also evolutionary aspects. Some examples in the animal kingdom will be exploited. The aim of the course is to promote a study across the borders based on the various preparatory “biological” disciplines, a prerequisite to understand comparative physiology. The course intention is to stimulate the student in the use of a logical approach and deductive reasoning instead of the pure mnemonic way, essential requirements in order to facilitate the comprehension of the topics.

Course Prerequisites

The course requires partial proficiency in main subjects of a biology course: english reading skills, mathematics, chemistry, physics, cytology and histology, comparative anatomy, genetics, biochemistry, microbiology, general physiology. Mandatory exams are not present in this degree course.

Teaching Methods

The teaching activity includes lectures (48 hours). Lectures in the classroom or remotely will be conducted with the aid of multimedia presentations.

Assessment Methods

The final oral examination will assess the achievement of the learning objectives and the ability to present the topics covered in the course of the course. The final assessment will take into account the ability to use deductive reasoning and the ability to communicate what has been learned in appropriate language. Estimated time 40 minutes. The final mark is expressed in thirtieths on the basis of the examination committee's assessment of the above aspects.

Fundamentals of physiology (2CFU): Animals and environments: function on the ecological stage Molecules and cells in animal physiology Genomics, proteomics, and related approaches to physiology Physiological development and epigenetics Transport of solutes and water Food energy and temperature (2CFU): Nutrition, feeding, and digestion Energy metabolism Aerobic and anaerobic forms of metabolism The energetics of aerobic activity Thermal relations Oxygen and carbon dioxide transport (1CFU): Introduction to oxygen and carbon dioxide physiology External respiration: the physiology of breathing Transport of oxygen and carbon dioxide in body fluids (with an introduction to acid-base physiology) Circulation Water salts and excretion (1CFU): Water and salt physiology: introduction and mechanisms Water and salt physiology of animals in their environment Kidneys and excretion (with notes on nitrogen excretion)