COURSE OBJECTIVE:
Upon completion of the course III PhD Scholars should be able to:
- Differentiate amongst the various types of chemical messenger systems.
- Relate the role of various hormone in regulation of body function in normal and pathological conditions.
- Relate the regulation of Calcium and Phosphate levels in ECF and Plasma for the maintenance of normal physiological process of the body.
- Differentiate skeletal, smooth and cardiac muscles on the basis of structure and function.
- Understand the cellular and molecular mechanism underlying neural signals and communication.
- Explain the functional organization of nervous system at various levels from cellular of system levels.
- Analyze neural basis of behavior and recognition including learning, memory, perception and emotion.
- Interpret EEG using Power Lab in various physiological and pathological conditions.
- Interpret EMG using Power Lab in various physiological and pathological conditions.
COURSE CONTENT:
- Pituitary Gland
- Describe the structure of the pituitary gland and how it relates to its function
- Define the cell types present in the anterior pituitary and understand how their numbers are controlled in response to physiologic demands
- Enumerate Posterior `Pituitary Hormones
- Explain the hypothalamic control of pituitary secretions with reference to hypothalamo- hypophysial portal system
- Describe the secretion, transport and clearance of various hormones
- Describe the various methods of estimating hormone concentration in blood
Growth hormone
- Define the effects of the growth hormone in growth and metabolic function, and how insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) mediates some of its actions
- Describe the basis of conditions where pituitary function and growth hormone secretion and function are abnormal, along with their treatment
- Thyroid Gland
- Describe the structure of the thyroid gland and how it relates to its function
- Define the chemical nature of the thyroid hormones and how they are synthesized
- Describe the role of protein binding in the transport of thyroid hormones and peripheral metabolism
- Describe the role of the hypothalamus and pituitary in regulating thyroid function
- Describe the effects of the thyroid hormones in homeostasis and development
- Discuss the basis of conditions where thyroid function is abnormal and how they can be treated
- Endocrine Functions of the Pancreas and Regulation of Carbohydrate Metabolism
- Enlist the hormones that affect the plasma glucose concentration and briefly discuss the action of each
- Describe the structure of the pancreatic islets and name the hormones secreted by each of the cell types in the islets
- Describe the structure of insulin along with its function
- Describe the function of Insulin receptors in regulation of insulin
- Describe the types and function of glucose transporters found in the body
- Enlist the major factors that affect the secretion of insulin
- Describe the physiologically significant effects of glucagon and the factors that regulate its secretion
- Describe the physiologic effects of Somatostatin in the pancreas
- Describe the mechanisms by which Thyroid hormones, Adrenal glucocorticoids, Catecholamines, and Growth hormone affect carbohydrate metabolism
- Describe the major difference between type 1 and type 2 diabetes
- Adrenal Medulla and Adrenal Cortex
- Describe the three Catecholamine’s secreted by the adrenal medulla along with their biosynthesis, metabolism, and function
- List the stimuli that increase adrenal medullary secretion
- Describe the plasma proteins that bind adrenocortical steroids along with their physiologic role
- Describe the major site of adrenocortical hormone metabolism and the principal metabolites produced from Glucocorticoids, Adrenal androgens, and Aldosterone
- Describe the physiologic and pharmacologic effects of Glucocorticoids
- Compare the physiologic and pathologic effects of Adrenal androgens
- Describe the mechanisms that regulate secretion of glucocorticoids and adrenal sex
- Describe the mechanisms that regulate aldosterone secretion
- Describe the main features of the diseases caused by excess or deficiency of each of the hormones of the adrenal gland
- Hormonal Control of Calcium and Phosphate Metabolism
- Describe the importance of maintaining homeostasis of bodily calcium and phosphate concentrations along with their regulation
- Describe the mechanisms of calcium and phosphate absorption and excretion
- Describe the mechanism of activation of Vitamin D3 to from 1,25 dihydroxy cholecaliferol
- Describe the functions of Vitamin-D
- Physiology of Bone
- Describe the basic anatomy of bone
- Describe cells and their functions in bone formation and resorption
- Describe the precipitation and absorption of calcium and phosphate in bone
- Describe the mechanism of bone calcification
- Describe the calcium exchange between bone and extracellular fluid
- Overview of Central Nervous System
- Describe the major levels of Central Nervous System along with their functions
- Describe the integrative function of Nervous System
- Describe the Electrical and Chemical synapses
- Describe the Pre-synaptic and Post-synaptic terminal along with ion channels of synapse
- Describe the mechanism by which action potential causes release of transmitter at pre-synaptic terminal
- Describe the action of excitatory or inhibitory transmitter on post-synaptic neuron
- Describe the function, types and formation of synaptic transmitters
- Pain and Temperature
- Describe the various types of peripheral nerve fibers and receptor types that mediate warmth, cold, and nociception
- Explain the difference between Pain and Nociception
- Explain the differences between fast and slow pain and acute and chronic pain
- Explain Hyperalgesia and Allodynia
- Describe and explain Referred pain
- Somatosensory Pathways
- Compare the pathway that mediates sensory input from touch, proprioceptive, and vibratory senses to that mediating information from pain and thermoreceptors
- Describe the somatotopic organization of ascending sensory pathways
- Describe descending pathways that modulate transmission in pain pathways
- Control of Posture and Movement
- Describe how skilled movements are planned and carried out
- Describe the Posture-regulating parts of the central nervous system and discuss the role of each
- Describe the flexor reflex along with its neuronal mechanism
- Describe the crossed extensor reflex along with its neuronal mechanism
- Describe reciprocal inhibition and innervations
- Describe the postural and locomotive reflexes
- Define decerebrate and decorticate rigidity, and comment on the cause and physiologic significance of each
- Describe the function of Basal ganglia and list the pathways that interconnect them, along with the neurotransmitters in each pathway
- Describe the symptoms of Parkinson disease and Huntington disease
- Describe the functions of the Cerebellum along with its connections
- Describe the neurologic abnormalities produced by diseases of the Cerebellum
- Electrical Activity of the Brain, Sleep–Wake cycle and Circadian Rhythm
- Describe the primary types of rhythms that make up the electroencephalogram (EEG)
- Describe the behavioural and EEG characteristics of each of the stages of non rapid eye movement (NREM) and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep and the mechanisms responsible for their production
- Describe the pattern of normal nighttime sleep in adults and the variations in this pattern from birth to old age
- Describe the neuronal centers, neurohormonal substances and mechanism that cause sleep
- Discuss the circadian rhythm and the role of the suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN) in its regulation
- Describe the diurnal regulation of synthesis of melatonin from serotonin in the pineal gland and its secretion into the bloodstream
- Memory
- Classify various types of memory
- Describe the roles of synaptic facilitation and synaptic inhibition in consolidation of memory
- Describe the role of specific brain parts in memory process
- Organization of spinal cord for Motor functions
- Describe the motor functions of spinal cord neurons
- Describe the role of muscle spindle in control of voluntary muscle activity
- Describe the dynamic and static response of muscle spindle
- Describe muscle stretch reflex
- Motor Cortex
- Describe the functions of primary motor cortex, premotor area and supplementary motor area
- Describe the transmission of signals from the motor cortex to the muscles
- Auto regulation of Cerebrum Blood Flow
- Describe the cerebral blood flow auto regulation that protect the brain from changes in arterial pressure
- Describe the effect of carbon dioxide, hydrogen ions and oxygen on cerebral blood flow
- Regulation and function of Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)
- Describe the formation absorption of CSF
- Describe the function of CSF
- Limbic System and Hypothalamus
- Describe the functions of Limbic system
- Describe the vegetative endocrine control functions of Hypothalamus
- Describe the behavioral control functions of the Hypothalamus and associated limbic structure
- Describe the reward and punishment of Hypothalmus
- Describe the specific functions of Hippocampus, Amygdala, Limbic cortex
- Autonomic Nervous System
- Describe the location of the cell bodies and axonal trajectories of preganglionic sympathetic and parasympathetic neurons
- Describe the location and trajectories of Postganglionic sympathetic and parasympathetic neurons
- Name the neurotransmitters that are released by Preganglionic autonomic neurons, Postganglionic sympathetic neurons, Postganglionic parasympathetic neurons, and Adrenal medullary cells
- Describe the functions of the Autonomic nervous system
- Describe how drugs act to increase or decrease the activity of the components of the Autonomic nervous system
- Describe the location of neurons that provide input to Sympathetic preganglionic neurons
- Describe the composition and functions of the Enteric nervous system
- Vision
- Describe the various parts of the Eye and list the functions of each
- Describe the neural pathways that transmit visual information from the rods and cones to the visual cortex
- Explain how light rays in the environment are brought to a focus on the retina and the role of accommodation in this process
- Define Hyperopia, Myopia, Astigmatism, Presbyopia, and Strabismus
- Describe the electrical responses produced by Rods and Cones, and explain how these responses are produced
- Describe the electrical responses and function of Bipolar, Horizontal, Amacrine, and Ganglion cells
- Describe the responses of cells in the visual cortex and the functional organization of the dorsal and ventral pathways to the parietal cortex
- Define and explain Dark and Light adaptation and visual acuity
- Describe the neural pathways involved in Color vision
- Hearing & Equilibrium
- Describe the components and functions of the External, Middle, and Inner ear
- Describe the way that movements of molecules in the air are converted into impulses generated in hair cells in the Cochlea
- Describe the path of auditory impulses in the neural pathways from the cochlear hair cells to the auditory cortex, along with function of the auditory cortex
- Explain how pitch, loudness, and timbre are coded in the auditory pathways
- Describe the various forms of deafness
- Explain how the receptors in the Semicircular canals detect rotational acceleration and how the receptors in the saccule and utricle detect linear acceleration
- Enlist the major sensory inputs that provide the information which is synthesized in the brain into the sense of position in space
- Describe the functions of Utricle and Saccule in maintenance of equilibrium
- Explain the role of Semi-circular canals in detecting head rotation
- Smell and Taste
- Describe the basic features of the neural elements in the Olfactory epithelium and Olfactory bulb
- Describe signal transduction in Odorant receptors
- Describe the pathway by which impulses generated in the Olfactory epithelium reach the Olfactory cortex.
- Describe the location and cellular composition of Taste buds
- Describe the five major Taste receptors and signal transduction mechanisms in these receptors
- Describe the pathways by which impulses generated in Taste receptors reach the insular cortex
