Ateneo - UPO

Major physiological changes in the systems and apparatuses of the human body following exercise, exposure to hyperbaric conditions, microgravity, and high altitude

Power Point slides
Scientific reviews and reports

Fisiologia: dalle molecole ai sistemi integrati Carbone, Aicardi, Maggi EdiSES

Human Physiology in Extreme Environments, Gunga H. Academic Press

The aim of the course is, for each female and male student, to understand how the human body is able to adapt to particular environmental conditions and what are the variations and adaptations of physiological parameters and the main mechanisms of functioning of various systems and apparatuses, with special emphasis on the cardiovascular and respiratory systems, excretory system, nervous system and musculoskeletal system.

The student population is advised to have a good knowledge of human biology and physiology, with special emphasis on cardiovascular and respiratory systems, excretory system, nervous system, and musculoskeletal system

Teaching will be delivered in the classroom using Power Point files in two-hour blocks. The slides presented in the classroom will be made available on the DIR platform a day or two after the lecture. Discussions with students/students on the topics covered will be open at the same time as the lecture to provide insights of interest

Students with physical disabilities, Learning Disabilities or Special Education Needs can request specific services and tools via the Staff Sviluppo e Coordinamento Carriere e Servizi alle Studentesse e agli Studenti, consulting the University webpage: https://www.uniupo.it/en/services/services students-physical-or-learning-disabilities Students with disabilities, learning disabilities or special education needs, once they have contacted the University Staff, can refer to the tutor in charge of the course to define the examination modalities, concerning academic aspects. A lecture regarding different performance in competitive physical activity in males and females will also be given during the course A two-hour lecture will be given on aspects of physical activity in female and male athletes.

The exam consists of a 20-minute PowerPoint presentation on a topic of your choice, which does not necessarily have to be covered in class. Some questions will be asked about the program covered in class. The presentation must refer to scientific articles and be presented with care and attention. This guarantees a score between 25 and 27/30 based on the topic, accuracy, and presentation skills. The ability to answer questions with good reasoning skills and the ability to navigate between homeostatic physiology and allostatic physiology will guarantee the maximum score. In exceptional cases where the topic is treated superficially, with little consultation of scientific literature, but with reasonable presentation skills, a passing grade will be achieved.

Exercise: effects of physical activity on the brain, changes in metabolism. Changes in the respiratory and cardiovascular systems with examples from different sports. Effects on the excretory and reproductive systems. Dietary principles in different disciplines. Changes in the endocrine system. Thermal stress in exercise. Physical performance in female and male athletes. Hyperbarism: gas exchange, hemodynamics of deep diving. Effects of hyperbaria on the respiratory and cardiovascular systems. Gaseous mixtures in diving. Nitrogen narcosis, oxygen toxicity, decompression sickness, gas embolism. High altitude: hypoxia and hypoxemia, respiratory and cardiovascular changes. Effects of oxygen deficiency on the body. Hypoxic factor HIF-1. Oxidative stress. Adaptive response of skeletal muscle. Lactate paradox. Sleep and cognitive abilities Water balance and weight loss. Acute mountain sickness, pulmonary edema, cerebral edema. Characteristics of Andean populations. Space flights: microg simulation with parabolic flights and head-down bed. Kinetosis and vestibular changes. Proprioceptive sensitivity in space. Blood shift and consequences on cardiovascular function. Musculoskeletal impairment: functional and structural changes in bone and muscle. Mitochondrial stress. Alteration of circadian rhythm. Alterations in the microbiota and problems related to the digestive process.

Each female and male student is expected to acquire knowledge related to the adaptive capacity of the human body when it is placed in conditions of allostasis in particular environments. KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING: Female and male students will learn and understand the mechanisms through which the body adapts to particular environmental conditions (physical exercise, hyperbarism, hypobarism, microgravity) and learn to express themselves using scientific language. APPLYING KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING: Female and male students will be able to apply the knowledge acquired in all disciplines that require knowledge of physiological changes in unusual environmental conditions, learning to apply the necessary adaptive behaviors. AUTONOMY OF JUDGMENT: Female and male students will acquire the ability to independently and critically analyze the physiological processes underlying environmental adaptation. COMMUNICATION SKILLS: Female and male students will acquire the ability to disseminate the knowledge they have acquired using specific and appropriate vocabulary in order to be able to communicate professionally and competently in academic and later professional contexts. In addition, they will acquire the ability to convey the knowledge they have acquired in a clear and understandable manner to a general audience. LEARNING SKILLS: Female and male students will acquire the ability to use the teaching materials provided for a critical and reasoned study of the topics covered and will also be able to independently explore and update their knowledge of new issues by reading scientific texts and articles.