Universitat Internacional de Catalunya
Structure and Function: Cardiovascular, Respiratory, Renal Systems
Other languages of instruction: Catalan, English
Teaching staff
Contact the teacher via email bmezquita@uic.es
Introduction
This course offers an integrated view of the morphology and function of the cardiocirculatory, respiratory and renal systems. Knowing the function of these systems is essential to understand the diseases that affect a large part of the population. Our goal is that learning is not based solely on the acquisition of information. In this course, students will learn to define the determining variables of the different functions of the cardiocirculatory, respiratory and renal systems and will learn to establish cause-effect relationships between these variables. In this way we intend to strengthen the causal reasoning and scientific thinking of our students.
Pre-course requirements
As an optimal background for this subject, it is recommended that the student has obtained the credits of the biology and biochemistry subjects in the previous years.
Objectives
- To understand the role of the cardiocirculatory system in maintaining the organism's homeostasis and its implications in the pathophysiology.
– To know the anatomy of the cardiocirculatory system.
- The intrinsic, neural and endocrine mechanisms that regulate cardiac activity.
- The mechanisms that regulate blood pressure.
- The mechanisms that regulate angiogenesis and vasculogenesis.
- The mechanisms that regulate minute volumes in the different tissues of the body.
- To understand the role of the respiratory system in maintaining the organism's homeostasis and its implications for the pathophysiology.
– To know the anatomy of the respiratory system.
– To know the main ventilation control mechanisms.
– To know the main mechanisms that regulate the transport of gases and the pH of plasma.
- To understand the function of the renal system in maintaining the organism's homeostasis and its implications in the pathophysiology.
– To know the anatomy of the renal system.
- To know the main mechanisms of regulation of the glomerular filtration rate.
– To know the main systems that regulate the hydroelectrolytic balance through kidney function.
Competences/Learning outcomes of the degree programme
- Recognize the aspects that govern the pathological state and its implications at the clinical and diagnostic level.
- Identify the effects, mechanisms and manifestations of the disease on the structure and function of the human body at the molecular, cellular and tissue levels.
- Develop the organization and planning skills appropriate to the moment.
- Develop the capacity for analysis and synthesis.
- Using the internet as a means of communication and as a source of information.
- Reason and evaluate situations and results from a critical and constructive point of view.
- To be able to teamwork.
- Know how to communicate and make presentations.
- Being able to carry out autonomous learning.
- To be able to transmit information, ideas, problems and solutions to both a specialized and non-specialized audience
Learning outcomes of the subject
At the end of the course, the student: Has acquired an integrated vision, from the structural and functional point of view, of the cardiocirculatory, respiratory and renal systems. Knows how to define precisely the determining variables of the different functions of the cardiocirculatory, respiratory and renal systems. Knows how to establish cause-effect relationships between these variables. Knows the bases of the most prevalent human pathologies in relation to these systems.
Syllabus
TOPIC 1. INTERNAL MEDIA AND HOMEOSTASIS.
1.1- Contribution of the cardiocirculatory, respiratory and renal systems to the maintenance of homeostasis.
TOPIC 2. CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM.
2.1.- The heart
2.1.2- Anatomy of the heart. Location. Pericardium. Structure of the cardiac wall (epicardium, myocardium and endocardium). Cardiac cavities (atria, ventricles). Heart valves (pulmonary, aortic, mitral, and tricuspid). Coronary circulation. Myocardial histology.
2.1.3- Physiology of the heart.
Introduction to the circulatory system.
Electrical activity of the heart. Cardiac automation. Sinus node. Action potentials of fast fibers. Electrocardiogram.
Mechanical activity of the heart. Mechanism of contraction. Relaxation mechanism. Relationship between cytosolic calcium concentration and intensity of cardiac contraction. Relationship between oxygen supply, ATP production and intensity of contraction.
Regulation of cardiac activity. Regulation of electrical activity. Regulation of mechanical activity. Cardiac minute volume. Frank-Starling law. Preload, afterload and inotropism. Regulation of the cardiac minute volume. Cardiac hypertrophy and apoptosis of the cardiomyocytes.
Cardiac cycle. Phases of the cardiac cycle. Diastole. Systole. Variations of ventricular volume during the cardiac cycle. Ventricular pressure variations during the cardiac cycle. Blood pressure variations during the cardiac cycle. Atrial pressure variations during the cardiac cycle. Heart sounds. Pressure-volume diagram of the heart.
2.1.4- Related clinical cases.
2.2.- Vascular system
2.2.1- Anatomy. Basic structure of blood vessels. Arteries, arterioles, capillaries, veins. Anastomosis. Main branches of the aorta. Main veins of the circulatory system. Main components of the lymphatic system.
2.2.2- Physiology of the vascular system.
Distribution system. Function of the distribution system. Aortic pressure wave. Determining factors of blood pressure. Mechanisms involved in the contraction of the smooth muscle of the vessels. Mechanisms involved in the relaxation of the smooth muscle of the vessels. Regulation of blood pressure.
Exchange system. Function of the exchange system. Exchange mechanisms. Regulation of exchange by controlling blood flow to tissues.
Lymphatic and venous return systems. Functions of return systems. Function of the lymphatic system. Venous system function. Determinants of venous return.
Angiogenesis, vasculogenesis, and lymphangiogenesis.
Local circulations. Coronary circulation. Brain circulation. Circulation in the skeletal musculature. Splanchnic circulation. Skin circulation.
2.2.3- Related clinical cases.
TOPIC 3. RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
3.1- Anatomy and histology of the respiratory system. Nose and nostrils. Paranasal sinuses Pharynx. Larynx. Windpipe. Lungs Pleuras. Bronchi. Alveoli Breathing muscles.
3.2- Physiology of the respiratory system.
Respiratory function.
Ventilation. Spirometry Elastic properties of the lung. Elastic properties of the chest wall. Respiratory tract resistance. Perfusion. Characteristics of the pulmonary circulation. Ventilation-perfusion relationship.
Transport of gases through the blood. O2 transport in the lungs and CO2 transfer. CO2 uptake in the tissues and O2 transfer. CO2 and O2 transport curves. PH regulation.
Regulation of respiratory function. General characteristics of the regulation of respiratory function. Regulation by the decrease of PaO2. Regulation by increasing PaCO2. Regulation by the decrease of the pH of the plasma and of the cerebral extracellular fluid. Regulation of breathing during exercise. Nervous regulation of breathing.
3.3- Related clinical cases.
TOPIC 4. RENAL SYSTEM 4.1- Anatomy and histology of the renal system. Macroscopic and microscopic structure of the kidneys. Ureters. Urinary bladder. Urethra. 4.2- Physiology of the renal system. Functions carried out by the kidneys. Glomerular function. Glomerular filtration rate. Determining factors of glomerular filtration. Regulation of renal blood flow. Measurement of the glomerular filtration rate. Tubular function. Tubular reabsorption mechanisms. Tubular secretion mechanisms. Excretion and urination. Renal regulation of the hydroelectrolytic balance. 4.3- Related clinical cases.
Bibliography and resources
Mezquita. Fisiología Médica, 2ª ed. Panamericana (2018).
Stephanie McCann and Eric Wise. Anatomy Coloring Book, 5th ed. Kaplan (2014)
Tortora and Derrickson. Principios de anatomía y fisiología.15 ed. Ed. Panamericana (2018).
Vander’s Renal Physiology. 9th ed. McGraw-Hill Education (2018).
West's Respiratory Physiology: The Essentials.10th ed. Ed. Wolters Kluwer (2016).
Evaluation period
- E1 07/01/2021 I3 09:00h
- E2 16/06/2021 09:00h