Section 1: Neurophysiology -Sensory physiology 1.1. Sensory Systems Sensory systems and receptors The receptor potential Primary Sensory Coding - Stimulus Type
- Stimulus Intensity
- Stimulus Location
Receptive Field Lateral Inhibition Central Control of Afferent Information Ascending Neural Pathways in Sensory Systems Association Cortex and Perceptual Processing Factors That Affect Perception 1.2. Somatic Sensation Touch – Pressure – Vibration Proprioception Pain - Referred Pain and Hyperalgesia
- Inhibition of pain
Itch Temperature sensation (warm–cold) Neural Pathways of the Somatosensory System 1.3. Vision Light Anatomical structures of the eye Optics of Vision Refraction Mechanisms of accommodation Phototransduction – photoreceptors Absorption of Light by Photoreceptors Sensory Transduction in Photoreceptors Adaptation of Photoreceptors Bipolar and Ganglion Cells Retinal Processing of Signals Ganglion Cell Receptive Fields Output from Ganglion Cells Color vision Color Blindness Eye Movement Common Diseases of the Eye 1.4. Audition Sound Sound Transmission in the Ear The middle and inner ear The Cochlea Hair Cells of the Organ of Corti Neural Pathways in Hearing 1.5. Vestibular System The semicircular canals The Utricle and Saccule Vestibular Information and Pathways 1.6. Chemical Senses Gustation Olfaction Section 2: Motor and Integrative Neurophysiology 2.1. Motor System Organization and Control: From Cortical Planning to Execution The areas of the brain involved in the design, initiation and execution of skillful voluntary movements Hierarchy of motor control within the CNS Motor cortex Organization of the primary motor, premotor and supplementary motor cortex The role of motor cortex in the control of movement The starting point, route and end of the pyramid path The corticospinal tracts 2.2. Spinal Motor Control Anatomy of the spinal cord and organization of the sensory and kinetic elements of the gray matter Somatic organization of motor neurons Local control of motor neurons α and γ motor neurons Structure and function of the muscle stretch (muscle spindles) and tension receptors (Golgi tendon organs) Spinal cord reflexes Consequences of spinal cord damage 2.3. Medial and Lateral Motor Pathways Medial brain stem pathways Lateral brain stem pathway Posture-regulating systems Integration of reflexes at the spinal level Movement deficits caused by spinal cord injury 2.4. Basal Ganglia Anatomy and principal connections of the basal ganglia Function of the basal ganglia in motion control Disorders of the Basal ganglia 2.5. Cerebellum The role of the cerebellum in regulating skillful movements Anatomic divisions and organization Functional divisions of the cerebellum Cerebellar cortex neural circuits Disorders of the Cerebellum Section 3: Neurophysiology – Higher Cortical Functions 3.1. Cerebral Cortex and the limbic system Organization of the cerebral cortex Association areas of the brain - Frontal lobe: Behavior – motivation
- Parietal–temporal–occipital region: Functions – brain areas involved in the recognition of personal and extra-personal space
- Limbic system
-Functions of the limbic system -Emotion -Amygdala 3.2 Reticular Formation of the Brainstem Anatomy & Location Structural Organization Functional Roles of Reticular Formation ARAS (Ascending Reticular Activating System) 3.3 Diffuse Neurotransmitter Systems
Overview Noradrenaline System Serotonin System Dopamine System Cholinergic System Histamine System Orexin System 3.4 Cerebral Dominance and Language Cerebral Dominance Hemispheric Functions (Left vs Right) Language Areas Aphasia Types 3.5 States of consciousness Electroencephalogram The Waking State Sleep Neural Substrates of States of Consciousness Circadian Rhythm - Suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN)
Coma and Brain Death 3.5. Learning and Memory Types of memory according to duration - Sensory, short-term, working and long-term memory
Classification of memory - Explicit (declarative)
- Implicit (procedural)
- Non-associative (habituation, sensitization)
- Associative learning
Brain regions involved in memory Neural basis of memory Plasticity of neural circuits in the brain Long-term potentiation (LTP) Memory disorders Section 4: Endocrine Physiology 4.1. Hypothalamus & Pituitary Gland The hypothalamus and Pituitary gland form a functional unit Hypothalamic regulation of hormone secretion Posterior pituitary hormones - Oxytocin: functions and control of secretion
- ADH: functions, control and disorders of secretion
Hypophysiotropic hormones Feedback regulation of the Hypothalamus-Anterior Pituitary axis Anterior Pituitary hormones: Targets and function Pituitary insufficiency Prolactin 4.2. Hormonal regulation of growth Factors influencing growth Growth hormone (GH) - Mechanism of action
- Metabolic functions
- Growth functions
- Regulation of secretion
IGF-I Effects of Growth Hormone and IGF-I on the epiphyseal (growth) cartilage of bones Disorders of GH and IGF-I secretion Effects of other hormones on growth 4.3. Thyroid Gland Thyroid gland structure and hormones Iodine homeostasis Thyroid hormone (TH) synthesis & secretion Circulation of TH in plasma Regulation of TH secretion The effect of TSH on the thyroid gland Mechanism of TH action Biological significance of T3 and T4 Effects of TH on metabolic rate, thermogenesis, catecholamine action, and growth. Thyroid gland disorders - Hyperthyroidism
- Hypothyroidism
4.4. Adrenal Glands Functional anatomy of the adrenal glands Hormones of the Adrenal Medulla Hormones of the Adrenal cortex Synthesis of steroid hormones Cortisol - Transport and metabolism of cortisol
- Effects of glucocorticoids
- Regulation of cortisol secretion
- Treatment with synthetic glucocorticoids
Aldosterone - Functional effects of mineralocorticoids
- Regulation of aldosterone secretion
Disorders of adrenal cortex function Hormonal response to stress 4.5. Parathyroid glands & Vitamin D: Calcium & phosphate regulation – Bone physiology Regulation of calcium homeostasis and body calcium balance Phosphate ion (PO₄³⁻) Bone functions Bone formation and resorption Parathyroid glands Parathyroid hormone (PTH) - Regulation of secretion and actions of parathyroid hormone
Vitamin D - Synthesis, metabolism, and deficiency of vitamin D
- Actions of vitamin D
Calcitonin Disorders of calcium and phosphate homeostasis Metabolic bone diseases 4.6. Endocrine Pancreas Islets of Langerhans: Types of cells and hormones Insulin - Synthesis, circulation, and target tissues of insulin
- Regulation of insulin secretion
- Factors affecting insulin secretion
- Glucose-induced stimulation of insulin secretion
- Functions of insulin
Glucagon - Factors regulating glucagon secretion
- Action of glucagon in the liver
Hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia Diabetes mellitus 4.7. Hormonal regulation of carbohydrate metabolism and the body’s energy balance Endocrine control of the absorptive and post-absorptive states Effect of nutritional status on insulin and glucagon levels Integrated control of plasma glucose concentration Section 5: Reproductive Physiology 5.1. Sexual Differentiation Sex determination Sex differentiation The reproductive system Secondary sexual characteristics Hormone regulating reproductive functions 5.2. Physiology of the Male Reproductive system The male reproductive organs Functional anatomy of the Testes - Sertoli cells
- Leydig cells
- Spermatogenesis
- Transport of sperm
- Hormonal control of testes
5.3. Physiology of the Female Reproductive system The female reproductive organs Oogenesis Follicular development Formation of the corpus luteum Ovarian hormones Hormonal regulation of ovarian function - Follicular phase
- Luteinizing hormone (LH) surge and ovulation
- Luteal phase
Uterine changes during the menstrual cycle - Proliferative phase
- Secretory phase
- Menstrual phase
Effects of estrogens Effects of progesterone 5.4. Fertilization – Pregnancy – Lactation Transport of the oocyte Transport of sperm and capacitation Fertilization Early development and implantation Formation and function of the placenta Hormonal changes during pregnancy Childbirth Lactation Practicals Practical 1: Reflexes – Neurological Exam - The neurological examination: Brief description
- Examination of myotatic (stretch) reflexes in the laboratory
Practical 2: EEG – Epilepsy - Technique and methodology of electroencephalographic (EEG) recording
- EEG rhythms
- EEG in different forms of epilepsy (video)
Practical 3: Reproduction | 