Medical Physiology

The student must know the scientific bases of Physiology. To do this, you must understand the functioning mechanisms of the organs and apparatuses of the human body and the flow of information that makes possible the regulation of their activity.

Block I. Physiology of the Cardiocirculatory System.
Cardiac cycle. Cardiac work. Local regulation of circulation. Regulation of blood flow by changes in vascularization
tissue. Collateral circulation.
Regulation of blood pressure. Regulation of peripheral resistance. Regulation of heart rate and contractility.
Regulation of Cardiac Output. Regulation of myocardial performance. Congruence of venous return and cardiac output.
Integrated control of the cardiovascular system. Bleeding and Exercise.
Special circulation.
Assessment of cardiac function. Normal electrocardiograhy and echocardiography.

Block II. Renal Apparatus Physiology.
Organization, anatomical-functional description and general functions of the urinary system. The nephron as a functional unit.
Glomerular filtration and renal blood flow: description and regulatory mechanisms.
Transport of sodium and chlorine and regulation of renal excretion.
Transport of glucose, urea, phosphate, calcium and organic solutes.
Potassium transport and regulation of renal potassium excretion.
Concentration and dilution of urine: hypertonic interstitium, countercurrent multiplier, role of the vasa rectum, ADH and aquaporins.
Control of extracellular fluid volume and control of extracellular osmolarity by the kidney.
Role of diuretics in kidney physiology.
Renal function parameters: clearance of inulin, creatinine, PAH, osmotic and free water; excretion fraction; filtration fraction.

Block III. Physiology of the Respiratory System.
Measuring scales of air composition and models of diffusion and solubility of gases in liquids.
Description of the elements of the respiratory system: air spaces, interpleural space, innervation, musculature, capacities and volumes.
Elastic models of the lung, surface tension and surfactant, compliance and static relationship between lung capacity and intrapleural pressure.
Models of lung dynamics, Poiseulle's law, respiratory work, obstructive or restrictive disease.
Models on the relationship between alveolar partial pressures and pulmonary ventilation.
Transport of oxygen and carbonic in the blood.
Pulmonary circulation.
Pulmonary diffusion, perfusion gases and dependent diffusion, carbon monoxide test for determination of DL.
Relationship between perfusion and ventilation. Dead space and shunt and their reflection in the blood gas analysis. Pure oxygen inhalation test.
Neurons related to the movements of pulmonary ventilation.
Generation of respiratory rhythm.
Chemical control of ventilation, chemoreception.
Integrated response to hypoxia, hypercapnia, and acidosis.
Modulation of ventilation, receptors to stretching and chemical irritants. Response to exercise.

Block IV. Physiology of the Digestive System
General functions of the digestive system, general functional anatomy and gastrointestinal vascularization.
General structure of the wall of the gastrointestinal tract.
General mechanisms of regulation of the digestive system:
Intrinsic and extrinsic innervation.
Endocrine and paracrine regulation. Gastrointestinal hormones.
Chewing, chewing reflex and chewing control.
Esophageal motility: esophageal sphincters, innervation, and functions
Swallowing: phases and control and peristaltic waves.
Stomach motility: storage, mixing and emptying, pacemaker activity and emptying control. Threw up.
Mixing and propulsion movements of the small and large intestine.
Salivary secretion: glands, mechanism, control and phases.
Gastric secretion: glands, composition and functions, mechanisms, regulation, phases of acid secretion.
Pepsinogen secretion and its control.
Protection of the gastric epithelium.
Intestinal discharge: composition, functions, control.
Biliary and pancreatic secretion: composition, mechanisms and regulation.
Small intestine adaptations for chemical digestion and absorption
Absorption and secretion of water and electrolytes (Na +, K + and Cl-) in the small intestine: balance, mechanisms and regulation.
Digestion and absorption of carbohydrates.
Digestion and absorption of proteins, peptides and amino acids.
Lipid digestion. Lipid absorption: stages.
Digestion and / or absorption of folic acid, vitamin B12, Ca ++, Fe ++ and Mg ++.

Basic Bibliography:
Fisiología Médica 3ª Ed. Walter F. Boron, Emile L. Boulpaep. Elsevier, 2017.
Fisiología. Berne y Levy. 7ª edición. Elsevier. 2018.
Complementary bibliography:
Fisiología Humana. Stuart Ira Fox, 15ª edición. McGraw Hill-Interamericana, 2021.
Tratado de Fisiología Médica. Guyton $ Hall. Elsevier. 2021.

Understand and recognize the normal function of the human body, at the molecular, cellular, tissue, organic and systems, in the different stages of life and in both sexes. Understand the mechanisms of adaptation and regulation of these functions and recognize the flow of information that makes such regulation possible.
Know, critically evaluate and know how to use the sources of clinical and biomedical information to obtain, organize, interpret and communicate scientific and health information.
Be able to formulate hypotheses, and collect and critically evaluate information for problem solving, following the scientific method.
Interpret a normal analysis (laboratory tests).

- Expository teaching in the classroom: 44 hours.
Interactive teaching:
- Seminars: 7 hours
- Practical sessions:6 hours.
- Mentoring: 3 hours
The inclusion in a group of practices can be modified if there is an exchange with a partner from another group. The students involved in the exchange must notify the coordinator of the subject in advance of the development of the practice.

The final grade will depend on a maximum of 20% of continuous evaluation (as long as the final exam score reaches 40%), and a minimum of 80% of the final exam.
In the continuous evaluation, participation in seminars, conducting exercises in person or independently, or answering questions in person or electronically may be considered.
The final exam will be made in premises. It may include questions on theory or from practical sessions. Answers from practical sessions will only compute if practical sessions have been attended.


In cases of fraudulent performance of exercises or tests, the provisions of the “Normativa de avaliación do rendemento académico dos estudantes e de revisión de cualificacións”.

Expository Classes: 44 hours.
Seminars: 7 hours.
Laboratory: 6 hours.
Tutorials: 3 hours.
Assessment test: 1 hour.
Individual work: 92 hours.

Students must work on textbooks and actively participate in the interactive activities proposed to them, with the aim of acquiring the general and specific competences of the subject. Likewise, they must prepare the expository classes before their delivery, through the resources made available to them in the Virtual Classroom of the subject.