Cell Physiology The course will teach students the phenomena occurring at molecular, cellular, tissue and organ level which support vital functions. At the end of the course, students will know how the organs and systems of the human body work, how their cooperate, and how their function is controlled to keep homeostasis. What is taught at all level of organisation of the living matter will be pout in the frame of the way the organism works. Students will learn the major correlations between the phenomena occurring in physiologic and pathologic conditions. Course contents: Cell and body fluid compartments Levels of cellular organization Cell types, tissue and organs Extracellular matrix Internal environment and body water Homeostasis Feed-back systems Resetting of set points Feedforward regulation Regulation of body temperature Reflexes Local homeostatic responses Adaptation and acclimatization Biological rhythms Balance of chemical substances in the body Intercellular communications Main methods of cell to cell communication Signals and receptors Hydrophobic and hydrophilic signals and receptors Intracellular pathways initiated by lipid-soluble messengers Intracellular pathways initiated by water-soluble messengers Plasma membrane receptors and gene transcription Modulation of intracellular pathways Inactivation of intracellular pathways Excitable tissues Neurons and cells of the nervous system Organization of the nervous system: general concepts Morphology Cytoskeleton & axon transport Glial cells and myelinated and un-myelinated axons Electrical phenomena in neurons Resting membrane potential Graded potentials Action potentials Action potential conduction Synapses Functional Anatomy of Synapses Mechanisms of Neurotransmitter Release Activation of the Postsynaptic Cell Excitatory Chemical Synapses Inhibitory Chemical Synapses Synaptic Integration Synaptic Strength Modification of Synaptic Transmission by Drugs and Disease Neurotransmitters and Neuromodulators Acetylcholine Biogenic Amines Amino Acid Neurotransmitters Neuropeptides Gases Purines Cardiac Muscle Cellular Structure of Cardiac Muscle Excitation–Contraction Coupling in Cardiac Muscle Regulation of force Action potential Teaching modalities: Lectures, rehearsal and questions and answers to the class. Recommended or required readings: One of the following books: o Vander's Human Physiology, 14th Edition - McGraw Hill o Ganong's Review of Medical Physiology, 25th Edition - McGraw Hill o Berne & Levy Physiology, 6th Edition - Elsevier Assessment : written text (multiple choices) & oral exam .