Human Physiology 1 - Theory

Data

Official data in SubjectManager for the following academic year: 2025-2026

Topic

The most important mission of the Physiology Course in pharmacy 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. Functions of the respiratory tract, pressure changes during respiration, respiratory mechanics. - Környei József László
• 18. Respiratory function. Respiratory work. - Környei József László
• 19. Gas exchange in the lungs and tissues. O2 and CO2 transport. - Környei József László
• 20. Regulation of respiration. Acclimatization. - Pál József
• 21. Cardiac cycle. Formation and conduction of excitation. - Környei József László
• 22. Electrocardiogram. - Környei József László
• 23. Pressure and volume changes in the cardiac chambers. Heart sounds. - Szokodi István
• 24. Cardiac output. The work of the heart. Blood pressure, pulse. - Szokodi István
• 25. Basic hemodynamic concepts. - Kóbor Péter
• 26. Capillary circulation. Venous circulation. Lymphatic circulation. - Kóbor Péter
• 27. Circulatory regulation I. - László Kristóf
• 28. Circulatory regulation II. - László Kristóf
• 29. Coronary circulation. Pulmonary circulation. - Kóbor Péter
• 30. The blood circulation of the brain, skeletal muscle, splanchnic region, and skin. Redistribution of blood flow. - Kóbor Péter
• 31. The gastrointestinal tract. Digestive processes in the mouth. Digestive processes in the stomach I. - Sziládiné Fusz Katalin
• 32. Digestive processes in the stomach II. Exocrine pancreas. - Sziládiné Fusz Katalin
• 33. Digestion and absorption in the small intestine. - Sziládiné Fusz Katalin
• 34. Physiology of liver function. - Pál József
• 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 report.

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

The criterion of admission to the exam is the successful completion of the practice carried out in parallel (mid-term semester grade with the result different from "failed"). 

 

Topics of questions for the theoretical exam 

1. Principles of homeostatic regulations. 

2. Cellular transport processes. Humoral regulatory mechanisms. 

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

4. Significance of the inorganic and organic components of blood. 

5. Red blood cells. Hematocrit, anemia. 

6. Blood group systems. 

7. Physiological role of white blood cells. 

8. Platelets. Blood clotting. 

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

10. Generation and propagation of action potentials. 

11. Electrophysiology and neurochemistry of synapses. 

12. Functioning of the neuromuscular junction. Regulation of motor unit function. 

13. Molecular mechanism of muscle function. Mechanics, energetics, and heat production of muscle function  

14. Electrical phenomena of muscle function, muscle tone, fatigue. Function of smooth muscles . 

15. Functioning of sensory neurons. 

16. Functioning of the autonomic nervous system. Adrenal medulla. 

17. Functions of the respiratory tract, pressure changes during respiration, respiratory mechanics. 

18. Respiratory function. Respiratory work. 

19. Gas exchange in the lungs and tissues. O2 and CO2 transport. 

20. Regulation of respiration. Acclimatization. 

21. Cardiac cycle. Formation and conduction of excitation. 

22. Electrocardiogram. 

23. Pressure and volume changes in the cardiac chambers. Heart sounds. 

24. Cardiac output. The work of the heart. Blood pressure, pulse. 

25. Basic hemodynamic concepts. 

26. Capillary circulation. Venous circulation. Lymphatic circulation. 

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

28. Circulatory control: humoral and local control. 

29. Coronary circulation. Pulmonary circulation. 

30. The blood circulation of the brain, skeletal muscle, splanchnic region, and skin. Redistribution of blood flow. 

31. Digestive processes in the mouth. Swallowing. Motor functions of the stomach.  

32. Gastric secretion and its regulation. The exocrine pancreas. 

33. Digestion and absorption in the small intestine. 

34. Physiology of liver function. 

35. Role of the large intestine. Formation of feces, defecation. 

36. Basic principles of gastrointestinal system regulation. 

37. Nutrition: water, minerals, vitamins, dietary fibers. 

38. Functioning of the glomerulus. Blood flow in the kidney. 

39. Regulation of GFR and RBF. Quantitative characterization of kidney function . 

40. Renal tubular processes. 

41. Concentration-dilution in the kidney. Osmoregulation. 

42. Volume regulation. Mechanism of micturition. 

 

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
• Cziger-Nemes Vanda Ágnes
• Jandó Gábor
• Kecskés Miklós
• Kertes Erika
• Kóbor Péter
• Környei József László
• Kovács Gergely
• Kövesdi Erzsébet
• László Bettina Réka (Csetényi)
• László Kristóf
• Lengyel Ferenc
• Marosné Berta Beáta
• Mikó-Baráth Eszter
• Ollmann Tamás
• Pál József
• Péczely László Zoltán
• Péliné Kovács Anita
• Szabó István (Élettan)
• Sziládiné Fusz Katalin
• Szőcs Szilárd
• Tóth Attila
• Tóth István Balázs
• Varga Csaba (Élettan)
• Zagorácz Olga
• Zelena Dóra Tímea

Instructor / tutor of practices and seminars