Integrated course: anatomy, physiology and Biochemistry

Module physiology

1. Knowledge and understanding

At the end of the course, the student should be able to:

•          know the fundamental principles of general physiology and of the main systems of the human body;

•          understand the physiological mechanisms of the visual system, with particular reference to the physiology of the eye and visual pathways;

•          describe the processes of retinal phototransduction and visual signal transmission;

•          know the physiological principles of oculomotor control and binocular vision.

2. Applying knowledge and understanding

The student will be able to:

•          apply physiological principles to the reading and interpretation of basic visual functional data;

•          correlate the physiological mechanisms of vision with simple functional conditions of orthoptic interest;

•          interpret visual function in relation to light stimuli (intensity, contrast, adaptation);

•          use physiological knowledge to understand the functional basis of the main orthoptic tests.

3. Making judgements

The student will be able to:

•          distinguish physiological conditions from basic functional alterations of the visual system;

•          critically evaluate simple physiological data under supervision;

•          integrate information from different sources (clinical and instrumental) to formulate an initial functional visual assessment;

•          recognize the limits of their professional scope.

4. Communication skills

The student will be able to:

•          use appropriate scientific terminology to describe visual physiological phenomena;

•          clearly communicate relevant physiological principles to colleagues and users;

•          describe in a simple way the main mechanisms of vision and ocular motility.

5. Learning skills

The student will be able to:

•          independently consult basic scientific sources in physiology;

•          integrate physiological knowledge with orthoptic professional coursework;

•          develop an autonomous and continuous study method in the biomedical field.

Frontal lessons. Should teaching be carried out in mixed mode or remotely, it may be necessary to introduce changes with respect to previous statements, in line with the programme planned and outlined in the syllabus.

Sensory Coding 
The Somatosensory System: Receptors and Central Pathways 
Touch

Pain

The Constructive Nature of Visual Processing

Low-Level Visual Processing: The Retina 

The Inner Ear 

The Auditory Central Nervous System 

The Organization and Planning of Movement 

Striated muscle
The Motor Unit and Muscle Action 
Spinal Reflexes 

The Control of Gaze 

The Vestibular System 
Posture 
The Cerebellum 
The Basal Ganglia 

Hormones

1) Silverthorn. Fisiologia. Un approccio integrato. Pearson.

2) Purves-Augustine-Fitzpatrick-Hall-LaMantia-McNamara-White: Neuroscienze. Zanichelli. 

Oral Examination. The assessment of learning may also be conducted online, should conditions require it. Evaluation is expressed on a scale of thirty. The examinee will be required to answer a minimum of three to four questions covering all parts of the syllabus. The student must demonstrate, with appropriate clarity and argumentation skills, an organic knowledge and understanding of the course content. The evaluation criteria are as follows:

i) Excellent (grade 30–30 with honors): thorough knowledge and understanding of the topics, excellent command of language, and advanced ability to apply knowledge to the resolution of proposed problems;

ii) Good (grade 26–29): good mastery of the topics and appropriate use of language, with a solid ability to apply acquired knowledge to problem-solving;

iii) Fair (grade 22–25): adequate knowledge of the course content, though lacking full understanding of its more complex aspects, and limited ability to autonomously apply knowledge to solve the proposed problems;

iv) Sufficient (grade 18–21): superficial understanding of the program, minimal basic knowledge of the topics, difficulties in solving exercises and problems, and limited language proficiency;

v) Insufficient: lack of understanding of the basic topics, limited and fragmented knowledge of the course content.

Students with disabilities or neurodiversity will be provided with compensatory tools and exemption measures as identified by CInAP – Center for Active and Participatory Inclusion of the University of Catania, based on their specific needs and in accordance with current regulations.

Exploring Action Potential Properties in Nerve Fibers: Delving into the Intricacies of Action Potentials within Nerve Fibers.

Shedding Light on Phototransduction Mechanisms in Rods and Cones: Unveiling the Mechanisms Behind Phototransduction in Rod and Cone Cells.

Navigating the Complexity of the Primary Visual Cortex Organization: Unraveling the Organization and Function of the Primary Visual Cortex.

The Foundations of Color Vision: Key Characteristics: Examining the Fundamental Principles Underlying Color Vision.