Universitat Internacional de Catalunya
Structure and Function: Gastrointestinal and Reproductive Systems
Other languages of instruction: Catalan, English
Teaching staff
Doubts will be resolved before or after class.
Teaching staff:
Mireia Armengol:marmengol@uic.es
Napoleón de la Ossa: napoleon.delaossa@gmail.com
Salvador Naranjo: salvadornaranj@gmail.com
Inma Méndez: imendez@fphag.org
Mercedes Fernandez (coordinator): mfernandezlo@uic.es
Introduction
The objective of this course is to understand the anatomy, histology and physiology of the digestive and reproductive systems.
Digestive system: The human body needs a variety of nutrients to regenerate its structures and energy. This course provides the keys to understanding the mechanisms of ingestion, digestion and absorption of food.
Reproductive system: The human reproductive function allows the perpetuation of the species and the establishment of the conditions necessary for the survival of the offspring during the first stage of life. This course covers the anatomy and physiology of the reproductive system in both sexes, the maternal changes as a result of pregnancy, the development of the embryo and foetus during pregnancy, the conditions that lead to labour and delivery and the mechanisms involved in breastfeeding.
Pre-course requirements
Basic knowledge of biochemistry, molecular and cellular biology.
Objectives
Understand the anatomy, histology and physiology of the digestive and reproductive systems.
Competences/Learning outcomes of the degree programme
Understand and recognise the anatomy, histology and physiology of the human body, at different stages of life and in both sexes, with special emphasis in changes that occur during aging.
Develop and improve:
- Laboratory skills
- Problem-solving skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Planning and self-assessment skills
Learning outcomes of the subject
After completing the course, students will be able to:
- Recognise the microscopic structure of the tissues that make up the digestive and reproductive system, and identify them under the microscope.
- Understand the structure and functions of the human digestive and reproductive systems.
- Understand the changes that occur during ageing.
Syllabus
PART I: DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
STRUCTURE OF THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
- MACROSCOPIC STRUCTURE: Mouth, pharynx, oesophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine. Liver. Pancreas.
- MICROSCOPIC STRUCTURE: Mouth and salivary glands. Oesophagus and stomach. Small and large intestine. Liver and pancreas.
PHYSIOLOGY OF THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
Motor activities. Functions of the digestive tract. Chewing, swallowing and oesophageal transit. Motor activity of the stomach. Small intestinal motor activity. Motor activity of the colon. Vomiting.
Secretory activities of the digestive system. Salivary secretion. Gastric secretion. Pancreatic secretion. Biliary secretion. Intestinal secretion.
Digestion and absorption. Digestion and absorption of carbohydrates. Digestion and absorption of proteins, peptides and amino acids. Digestion and absorption of lipids. Absorption of water and electrolytes.
Functions of the liver. Functions of hepatocytes. Storage features of the liver. Functions of endothelial cells, Kupffer cells, stellate cells and cholangiocytes.
PART II: REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM
STRUCTURE OF THE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM
- MACROSCOPIC STRUCTURE: Male reproductive system: testes and scrotum. Spermatic ducts, prostate, penis. Female reproductive system: ovaries, fallopian tubes and uterus, vagina, mamma.
- MICROSCOPIC STRUCTURE:
Male reproductive system (I). Testes and epididymis.
Male reproductive system (II). Excretory ducts, prostate and penis.
Female reproductive system (I). Vagina and uterus.
Female reproductive system (II). Ovarian and breast.
Pregnancy: breast and placenta.
PHYSIOLOGY OF THE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM
1. Sexual reproduction. Sex determination and differentiation. Male and female sexual differentiation: factors involved. Phenotype and sexual identity. Disorders of sexual differentiation.
2. Testicular and ovarian function. Testicular function: spermatogenesis. Regulation. Ovarian function: oogenesis. Ovarian cycle regulation. Uterine cycle.
3. Sexual Response. Fertilisation and implantation. Stages of sexual response. Reflection of erection. Ejaculation. Neurological Bases of sexual behaviour.
4. Role of sex hormones. Types of steroid hormones. Mechanisms of action. Androgens: types and actions. Adrenocortical Steroids. Estrogen and Progesterone: actions on reproductive organs and players. Timeline of sexual development: puberty and Pausias.
5. Pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding. Fertilisation and implantation. Functions of the placenta. Key aspects in embryonal and foetal development. Maternal changes associated with pregnancy. Labour and delivery. Lactation.
Teaching and learning activities
In person
- Master classes: 50-minute presentation on a theoretical topic by the teacher.
- Clinical-scientific cases or case methods: Statement of a real or imaginary situation. Students work on the questions posed in small groups or in interaction with the teacher and the answers are discussed. The teacher actively intervenes and, if necessary, contributes new knowledge.
- Anatomy and histology laboratories: study micro and macroscopic anatomy through sheets of histological samples of different tissues and virtual or simulated models. The teacher distributes visual material and its structure and relationships are explained.
- Virtual education: Online material that the student can access from any computer, at any time, that will contribute to the self-learning of concepts related to the subject.
Evaluation systems and criteria
In person
1) Students in first sitting:
- Participation in class and attitude: 5%
- Partial exam: 20%
- Resolution of clinical-scientific cases 15%
- Final exam: 60%
2) Students in second or subsequent sitting: the mark for participation and class attitude and case methods will be saved, although, whenever they wish, students may attend the class again and obtain a new mark. Alternatively, the students in the second sitting will be able to choose whether they take the partial and the final exam, or whether they only take the final one, which will give them 80% of the mark.
General assessment requirements:
- In order to be able to move to a calculation of the average, in the final exam you must obtain a minimum mark of 5.
- Attendance at case and laboratory methods is mandatory.
- Participation in class means the contribution of interesting ideas or the raising of pertinent issues that help to improve the quality of the session, whether it is a master class or case methods.
- The exams will be of the test type with 4 response options, counting +1 for the correct answers and -0.25 for the errors.
- Attendance at the theoretical classes is not mandatory, but attendees will have to follow the rules indicated by the teachers. In case of late arrival, enter silently without disturbing or interrupting the class. Mute mobiles.
Bibliography and resources
G. Tortora. Principios de Anatomía y fisiología, 11a ed. Panamericana (2006).
Drake, R.L. et a. Gray Anatomía para estudiantes, 2a ed. Elsevier (2010).
A. Stevens. Histología humana, 3a ed. Elsevier (2006).
A.L. Kierszenbaum. Histología y Biología celular, 2a ed. Elsevier (2008).
Mezquita. Fisiología médica, 1a ed. Panamericana (2011).
Guyton y Hall. Tratado de fisiología médica, 13a ed. Elsevier (2016).
Evaluation period
- E1 15/01/2021 I1 14:00h
- E2 18/06/2021 16:00h