Human Physiology 1 - Theory

Data

Official data in SubjectManager for the following academic year: 2024-2025

Topic

The most important mission of the Physiology Course in medical education is to familiarize students with the attributes of healthy functions of the living organism.

While acquiring knowledge about the most important functional characteristics of the human body the students can rely on their prior studies in biology, biophysics, chemistry-biochemistry and anatomy.

During the semester we introduce the most important elements of functioning of the organs and organ systems, as well as their cooperation also required to adapting to the environment, and the factors affecting these processes.

Special emphasis is placed on the neural and humoral regulatory processes of these life-functions, which are vital to maintain and preserve the homeostasis of the organism.

With the transfer of all this knowledge we would like to mould a holistic attitude and thinking of students, which will enable them to better understand the functions of the now healthy, however, later dysfunctional human organism.

Lectures

• 1. Introduction. Principles of homeostatic regulations. - Buzás Péter
• 2. Cellular transport processes. Humoral regulatory mechanisms. - Tóth Attila
• 3. Fluid compartments. The blood. - Zagorácz Olga
• 4. Significance of the inorganic and organic components of blood. - Zagorácz Olga
• 5. Red blood cells. Hematocrit, anemia. - Péczely László Zoltán
• 6. Blood group systems. - Szabó István (Élettan)
• 7. Physiological role of white blood cells. - Kertes Erika
• 8. Platelets. Blood clotting. - Szabó István (Élettan)
• 9. Membrane phenomena of excitation: equilibrium potential, electrotonic potential. - Varga Csaba (Élettan)
• 10. Generation and propagation of action potentials. - Varga Csaba (Élettan)
• 11. Electrophysiology and neurochemistry of synapses. - Varga Csaba (Élettan)
• 12. Functioning of the neuromuscular junction. Regulation of motor unit function. - Varga Csaba (Élettan)
• 13. Molecular mechanism of muscle function. Mechanics, energetics, and heat production of muscle function. - Környei József László
• 14. Electrical phenomena of muscle function, muscle tone, fatigue. Function of smooth muscles. - Környei József László
• 15. Functioning of sensory neurons. - Kecskés Miklós
• 16. Functioning of the autonomic nervous system. Adrenal medulla. - Hormay Edina Emőke
• 17. Cardiac cycle. Formation and conduction of excitation. - Környei József László
• 18. Electrocardiogram. - Gálosi Rita
• 19. Pressure and volume changes in the cardiac chambers. Heart sounds. - Szokodi István
• 20. Cardiac output. The work of the heart. Blood pressure, pulse. - Szokodi István
• 21. Basic hemodynamic concepts. - Kóbor Péter
• 22. Capillary circulation. Venous circulation. Lymphatic circulation. - Kóbor Péter
• 23. Circulatory regulation I. - László Kristóf
• 24. Circulatory regulation II. - László Kristóf
• 25. Circulation of the liver, skin, and muscles. - Kóbor Péter
• 26. Cerebral circulation. Coronary circulation. - Kóbor Péter
• 27. Functions of the respiratory tract, pressure changes during respiration, respiratory mechanics, respiratory function. - Környei József László
• 28. Respiratory work. Circulation of the pulmonary circulation. - Környei József László
• 29. Gas exchange in the lungs and tissues. O2 and CO2 transport. - Környei József László
• 30. Regulation of respiration. Acclimatization. - Pál József
• 31. The gastrointestinal tract. Digestive processes in the mouth. Digestive processes in the stomach I. - Buzásné Telkes Ildikó
• 32. Digestive processes in the stomach II. Exocrine pancreas. - Buzásné Telkes Ildikó
• 33. Digestion and absorption in the small intestine. - Buzásné Telkes Ildikó
• 34. Physiology of liver function. - Lengyel Ferenc
• 35. Role of the large intestine. Formation of feces, defecation. - Pál József
• 36. Basic principles of gastrointestinal system regulation. - Pál József
• 37. Nutrition: water, minerals, vitamins, dietary fibers. - Péliné Kovács Anita
• 38. Functioning of the glomerulus. Blood flow in the kidney. - Kovács Gergely
• 39. Regulation of GFR and RBF. Quantitative characterization of kidney function. - Kovács Gergely
• 40. Tubular processes. - Kovács Gergely
• 41. Concentration-dilution. Osmoregulation. - Kovács Gergely
• 42. Volume regulation. Mechanism of micturition. - Kovács Gergely

Practices

Seminars

Reading material

Obligatory literature

John E. Hall & Michael E. Hall: Guyton and Hall Textbook of Medical Physiology (Elsevier), 14th Edition, 2020, ISBN: 0323597122 (Elsevier)

Literature developed by the Department

Figures of the lectures given are available on the homepage of Institute of Physiology and on the Neptun Meet Street.

Important messages on new information will be announced at the lectures and will be sent to you by course mails.

Please always find the current updated information and study materials on the homepage of the Institute of Physiology (physiology.aok.pte.hu).

Notes

Homepage of PTE ÁOK Institute of Physiology: Physiology Lab Practices 1, internet study material, printable notebook, 2024

Homepage of PTE ÁOK Institute of Physiology: Physiology Lab Practice Worksheets 1, internet study material, printable notebook, 2024

Recommended literature

Pocket Companion to Guyton and Hall Textbook of Medical Physiology (Guyton Physiology) 14th Edition by John E. Hall PhD, Michael E. Hall MD MSc. (2020)

Kim Barrett, Susan Barman, Jason Yuan, Heddwen Brooks Ganong's Review of Medical Physiology, McGraw-Hill Education 26th Edition (2019)

Thomas M. Jessell Steven A. Siegelbaum: Principles of Neural Science, Sixth Edition, 2021, ISBN: 9781259642234 (McGraw-Hill)

Conditions for acceptance of the semester

To have the semester signed, students must pass the oral lab exam on the 14th week at the time of their scheduled lab practice, where they have two chances to pass. Students with bonus points from both mid-term tests are not required to take the oral lab exam on the 14th week. If the student has missed between 15 and 25% of the practical classes, an additional test question will be asked in the oral lab exam.

Mid-term exams

Two written mid-term tests during the semester. Oral lab report on the 14th week of the semester.

Making up for missed classes

The missed lab practice is advised to be covered by joining another group while the same topic is on schedule.

Exam topics/questions

Topics of questions for the theoretical examination

1.     Homeostasis and principles of homeostatic regulation.

2.     Cellular transport processes. Humoral regulatory mechanisms.

3.     Membrane phenomena of excitation: equilibrium potential, electrotonic potential.

4.     Formation of action potential in nerve and muscle cells.

5.     Propagation of the action potential in nerve fibers. Classification of peripheral axons.

6.     Neurotransmission: function of synapses.

7.     Function of sensory neurons.

8.     General characteristics of the autonomic nervous system. Adrenal medulla.

9.     Body fluid compartments in humans, their definition, chemical composition.

10.  Inorganic and organic components of blood.

11.  Red blood cells, hematocrit, anemia.

12.  White blood cells (leukocytes) physiological role, blood picture.

13.  Blood group systems.

14.  Blood coagulation and properties of platelet.

15.  Functioning of the neuromuscular junction. Electromechanical coupling. Molecular basis of muscle function.

16.  Mechanics, energetics, heat production, and fatigue of muscle function.

17.  Muscle force regulation, the motor unit, types of skeletal muscle fibers.

18.  Electrical phenomena of muscle function, electromyography, muscle tone.

19.  Smooth muscle function. Comparison of muscle types.

20.  Structural and functional properties of cardiac muscle. The pacemaker and conduction system of the heart.

21.  Basics of electrocardiography, the electrocardiogram.

22.  The mechanical cardiac cycle: pressure and volume changes in the heart chambers. Heart sounds.

23.  Cardiac output. The function of the heart. Blood pressure, pulse.

24.  Basics of hemodynamics and hemorheology. Hemodynamic characterization of individual blood vessels. 

25.  Physiology of capillary circulation.

26.  The venous and lymph circulation. Edema formation.

27.  Circulatory regulation: short-term, nervous regulation of arterial blood pressure. 

28.  Circulatory control: humoral and local control.

29.  Circulation of the coronary arteries. Characteristics of cerebral blood circulation and cerebrospinal fluid.

30.  Blood circulation of skeletal muscle, splanchnic area and skin. Redistribution of circulation.

31.  Biology and functions of the airways, pressure changes during breathing, dead spaces.

32.  Respiratory mechanics, respiratory function, respiratory work.

33.  Pulmonary circulation 

34.  Gas exchange in lungs and tissues.

35.  O2 and CO2 transport in the blood, causes and types of hypoxia.

36.  Chemical regulation of respiration.

37.  Peripheral and central nervous system mechanisms of respiratory control. Respiratory control reflexes.

38.  The gastrointestinal system. Digestive processes in the mouth. Swallowing.

39.  Digestive processes of the stomach: Motor functions of the stomach. Gastric secretion and its regulation.

40.  The exocrine pancreas: secretion and regulation. Digestion and absorption in the small intestine: Functioning of the gastrointestinal smooth muscle. The surface of the small intestine and its function, digestion, and absorption of nutrients.

41.  Physiology of liver function: Bile production of the liver, role of bile acid salts, the gallbladder. The role of the liver in metabolism.

42.  Functions of the large intestine. Passage of stool.

43.  Basic principles of the regulation of the gastrointestinal system.

44.  The basic principles of proper nutrition: nutritional requirements, protein requirements, dietary fibers, body mass index.

45.  Nutrition: water, mineral salts, vitamins, regulation of iron turnover.

46.  Glomerular filtration: factors that determine the quantity and quality of the filtrate.

47.  Renal blood flow. Regulation of GFR and RBF.

48.  General characterization of epithelial transport processes in renal tubules.

49.  Tubular reabsorption and secretion. Renal clearance.

50.  Renal tubular transport processes of organic substances: glucose, amino acids, ketone bodies, proteins, uric acid, urea, UBG.

51.  Tubular transport processes of NaCl and water, formation of the medullary osmotic gradient.

52.  Concentration and dilution of urine, osmoregulation.

53.  Volume regulation (regulation of Na+ balance and extracellular fluid volume). Regulation of the K+ homeostasis.

54.  The function of the urinary tract. Regulation of urination.

Questions for the student lab report:

1. How to use workstations for electrophysiological registrations?

2. The muscle-nerve preparation. Registration of single twitch, superposition, incomplete and complete tetanus. Examination of effect of curare on a muscle-nerve preparation.

3. Effect of load and fatigue on muscle contraction.

4. Electromyography in humans

5. Contraction and regulation of smooth muscle

6. Hematocrit

7. Red blood cell counting

8. White blood cell counting

9. Differential leukocyte count

10. Determination of osmotic resistance

11. Determination of hemoglobin concentration

12. MCV, MCH, MCHC values

13. Bleeding time

14. Clotting time

15. Prothrombin time

16. Blood group determination (AB0 and Rh typing)

17. Recording of heart beats "in situ"; Effect of thermal stimulations

18. Electric stimulation of heart and demonstration of extrasystole

19. Investigation of pacemakers and electric conduction system of heart (Ligatures of Stannius)

20. Summation and the Bowditch's "All or nothing" law

21. Effect of ions on the isolated heart

22. Effect of adrenalin and acetylcholine on the isolated heart

23. Electrocardiography (ECG): the ECG leads and the normal electrocardiogram

24. Examination of the arterial pulse

25. Measurement of blood pressure in human

26. Exercise physiology and physical fitness index

27. Direct measurement of blood pressure: variations in the blood pressure

28. Direct measurement of blood pressure: investigation of the effects of adrenalin,

acetylcholine and stimulation of n. Vagus

29. Respiratory pressure and volume changes: Donders model

30. Pulmonary function tests: volumes and capacities of the human lungs

31. Pulmonary function tests: dynamic parameters of respiration.

32. Examination of the saliva: pH, digestive effect of alfa-amylase

33. Gastric juice: Determination of BAO, MAO, PAO

34. Feces: Detection of blood

Study material for the semester exam is the sum total of information covered in the obligatory textbook, on the homepage of the Institute, as well as knowledge given at the lectures and lab practices.

Examiners

• Barabás Klaudia
• Buzás Péter
• Buzásné Telkes Ildikó
• Gálosi Rita
• Jandó Gábor
• Kertes Erika
• Kóbor Péter
• Környei József László
• Kovács Gergely
• Kövesdi Erzsébet
• László Kristóf
• Lengyel Ferenc
• Ollmann Tamás
• Pál József
• Péczely László Zoltán
• Péliné Kovács Anita
• Petykó Zoltán
• Ráczné Mikó-Baráth Eszter
• Szabó István (Élettan)
• Varga Csaba (Élettan)
• Vértes Zsuzsanna
• Zelena Dóra Tímea

Instructor / tutor of practices and seminars

• Cziger-Nemes Vanda Ágnes
• Kecskés Miklós
• Péliné Kovács Anita