Universitat Internacional de Catalunya - Barcelona

Structure and Function: Gastrointestinal and Reproductive Systems

• code 13485
• course 2
• term Semester 1
• type OB
• credits 6

Matter: STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION OF THE HUMAN BODY

Main language of instruction: Spanish

Other languages of instruction: Catalan, English

Head instructor

Dra. Mercedes FERNÁNDEZ - mfernandezlo@uic.es

Other instructors

Gda. Mireia ARMENGOL - marmengol@uic.es
Lda. Analía ELGUEZABAL - aelguezabal@uic.es
Dr. Salvador NARANJO - snaranjo@uic.es
Lc. Napoleon David DE LA OSSA - ndelaossa@uic.es

Office hours

Doubts will be resolved before or after class.

Teaching staff:

Mireia Armengol: mireiaarmengolalsina@gmail.com

Napoleon of the Ossa: napoleon.delaossa@gmail.com

Analía Elguezabal: aelguezabal@uic.es

Salvador Naranjo: salvadornaranj@gmail.com

Mercedes Fernandez (coordinator): mfernandezlo@uic.es

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 their 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 fetus during pregnancy, the conditions that lead to labor and delivery and the mechanisms involved in breastfeeding.

Basic knowledge on biochemistry, moelcular and cellular biology.

Understand the anatomy, histology and physiology of the digestive and reproductive systems.

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

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 aging.

PART I: DIGESTIVE SYSTEM

STRUCTURE OF THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM

-  MACROSCOPIC STRUCTURE: Mouth, pharynx, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine. Liver. Pancreas.

-  MICROSCOPIC STRUCTURE: Mouth and salivary glands. Esophagus and stomach. Small and large intestine. Liver and pancreas.

PHYSIOLOGY OF THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM

Motor activities. Functions of the digestive tract. Chewing, swallowing and esophageal 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 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 : testis and scrotum. Spermatic ducts , prostate, penis. Female reproductive system : ovaries , fallopian tubes and uterus , vagina. Mama.

- MICROSCOPIC STRUCTURE: 

Male reproductive system ( I). Testis 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 : espermatogéneis. Regulation. Ovarian function : oogenesis. Ovarian cycle regulation. Uterine cycle.

3. Sexual Response. Fertilization and implantation. Stages of sexual response. Reflection of erection. Ejaculation. Neurological Bases of sexual behavior.

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. Fertilization and implantation. Functions of the placenta. Key aspects in embrionary and fetal development. Maternal changes associated with pregnancy. Labor and delivery. Lactation.

• Master lectures: 50-minute presentation of a theoretical topic by the teacher.
• Clinical-scientific cases or case methods: Statement of a real or imaginary situation. Students work on the questions asked in small groups or in active interaction with the teacher and the answers are discussed. The teacher actively intervenes and if necessary brings 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 exposed.
• Virtual education: Online material that the student can consult from any computer, at any time and that will contribute to the self-learning of concepts related to the subject.

1) Students in first call:

• Participation in class and attitude: 5%
• Partial exam: 20%
• Resolution of clinical-scientific cases 15%
• Final exam: 60%

2) Students in second or subsequent call: the participation grade and class attitude and methods of the case will be saved, although whenever they wish, students may repeat class attendance and obtain a new grade. On the other hand, the students in the second call will be able to choose if they make the partial and the final, or if they only make the final, which will tell them 80% of the grade.

General evaluation requirements:

• In order to be able to average, in the final exam you must obtain a minimum grade 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, be it master lesson or case methods.
• The exams will be of the test types with 4 response options, counting +1 the hits and -0.25 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 not arriving on time, enter silently without disturbing or interrupting the class. Mute mobiles.

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).

E: exam date | R: revision date | 1: first session | 2: second session:

• E1 31/10/2019 14:00h A02
• E1 07/01/2020 14:00h A12
• E2 18/06/2020 14:00h