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Universitat Internacional de Catalunya

Body Structure and Function: Gastrointestinal System and Metabolism

Body Structure and Function: Gastrointestinal System and Metabolism
7
12064
2
Second semester
OB
Main language of instruction: Spanish

Teaching staff


 Students may ask lecturers questions at the end of each class. For enquiries outside of class time, students must make an appointment by email:

 

Anatomy / Radiologic anatomy: Dr. Michel Zabalza (mzabalza@uic.es) / Dra. Paloma Puyalto (ppuyalto@uic.es)

Histology: Dr. Napoleón de la Ossa (ndelaossa@uic.es)

Physiology: Dr. Pau Mezquita (pmezquita@uic.es)

Metabolism: Dr. Miguel Baena (mbaena@uic.es)

 

 

Introduction

 The human body needs a variety of nutrients to regenerate their structures and energy. This course provides the keys to understanding the mechanisms of ingestion, digestion and absorption of food, with emphasis on the means of immediate use of different principles.

 

Pre-course requirements

None

 

Objectives

 Understand the purpose of the digestive and metabolic functions, control mechanisms and the determination of its main parameters.

Competences/Learning outcomes of the degree programme

  • 07 - Understand and recognise normal structure and function of the human body at the molecular, cellular, tissue, and organ and systemetic levels, at different stages of life and in both sexes.
  • 09 - Understand and recognize the effects, mechanisms and manifestations of disease on the structure and function of the human body.
  • 10 - To understand and recognise the agents and risk factors which determine health status, and learn how they determine the symptoms and natural development of acute or chronic diseases in individuals and populations.
  • 11 - Understand and recognize the effects of growth, development and aging on the individual and their social environment.
  • 12 - Understanding the foundations for action, the indications and efficacy of therapeutic interventions, based on available scientific evidence.
  • CTP-3 - To develop critical thinking and reasoning as well as self-assessment skills.

Learning outcomes of the subject

 After completing the course students will be able to:

1. Describe the variables related to the digestive and endocrine functions and establish the relationships between them.

2. Identify the main metabolic parameters, their meaning and their normal values.  

 

 

Syllabus

I. ANATOMY OF THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM.

1. Abdomen and pelvis.
2. Mouth, pharynx, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, colon and rectum.
3. Liver.
4. Pancreas.

 

II. HISTOLOGY OF THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM

1. Mouth and Salivary Glands.

1.1 Microscopic structure of the oral mucosa.
1.2 Microscopic structure of the language.
1.3 Microscopic structure of the salivary glands and excretory secretory portion.

2. Esophagus and Stomach.

2.1 Microscopic structure of the esophagus: Layers of the esophagus. Gastroesophageal junction.
2.2 Microscopic structure of the stomach: Layers stomach. Types of gastric mucosa. Gastric cells types.

3. Small intestine and large intestine.

3.1 Microscopic structure of the small intestine mucosa types and cell types.
3.2 Microscopic structure of the large intestine: Types of mucosa and cell types of the colon and rectum. Anal canal.

4. Liver and Pancreas.

4.1 Microscopic structure of the liver: Type of cells and histological structures.
4.2 Microscopic structure of the exocrine pancreas: Types of cells and histological structures.


III. PHYSIOLOGY OF THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM

1. Motor activities.

1.1 Functions of the digestive tract.
1.2 Chewing, swallowing and esophageal transit.
1.3 Motor activity of the stomach.
1.4 Small intestinal motor activity.
1.5 Motor activity of the colon.
1.6. Vomiting

2. Secreting digestive activities.

2.1 Salivary secretion.
2.2 Gastric secretion.
2.3 Pancreatic secretion.
2.4 Biliary secretion.
2.5 Intestinal secretion.

3. Digestion and absorption.

3.1 Digestion and absorption of carbohydrates.
3.2 Protein digestion and absorption of peptides and amino acids.
3.3 Digestion and absorption of lipids.
3.4 Absorption of water and electrolytes.
3.5 Intestinal absorption of Ca2 +.
3.6 Intestinal absorption of Fe2 +.
3.7 Intestinal absorption of vitamins.

4. Functions of the liver.

4.1 Functions of hepatocytes.
4.2 Storage Features liver.
4.3 Functions of endothelial cells, Kupffer cells, stellate cells and cholangiocytes.

 

IV. METABOLISM


1. Energetic Metabolism Review

Metabolism of sugars and lipids. Energy balance. Hormonal control of energy balance. Hormonal control of hunger. Situations lack of energy sources.

2. Metabolism of cholesterol and special lipids.

Absorption and distribution of cholesterol. Products derived from cholesterol. Products derived from phospholipids.

3. Protein Metabolism.

Role of transaminases in removing nitrogen groups. Urea cycle. Oxidation of carbon backbone. Processing pathways of amino acids. Main pathologies of amino acid metabolism. 

4. Nucleotide metabolism.

Synthetic routes i dels nucleotide degradation. Accumulation of uric acid.

5. Clinical biochemistry.

Measuring systems in current clinical biochemistry. Reliability and standards. Required parameters.

 

 

Teaching and learning activities

In person



Lectures.
Case-based learning.
Dissection, histology lab, metabolism lab.

(*) Attendance to metabolism lab is mandatory.

Evaluation systems and criteria

In person



10% Dissection test (1)

10% Histology test (1)

5% Anatomy case (1)

5% Physiology tests (1)

5% Metabolism cases (1)

5% Metabolism labs (1)

60% Final exam (2)

 

(1) The percentages for these items will be reapplied to the final exam retake. They can be reapplied as well to further exam calls if necessary, once confirmed with the course coordinator.

(2) Must obtain a minimum score of 50% to pass the course.

In order to pass the course, it is essential to pass the final exam with a minimum grade of 5. Once this grade is obtained, it is necessary to obtain an average grade of at least 5 in the total of the course in order to pass it.

Bibliography and resources

G. Tortora. Principios de Anatomía y fisiología, 11a ed. Panamericana (2006).

Drake, R.L. et a. Gray Anatomía para estudiantes, 2a ed. Elsevier (2010).

Shünke M. et al. Prometheus (tomo 2), 2a ed. Panamericana (2010).

A. Stevens. Histología humana, 3a ed. Elsevier (2006).

A.L. Kierszenbaum. Histología y Biología celular, 2a ed. Elsevier (2008).

E.N. Marieb. Human Anatomy and Physiology, 7th ed. Pearson Int. Ed. (2007).

Mezquita. Fisiología médica, 1a ed. Panamericana (2011).

L.S. Costanzo. Fisiología, 4a ed. Elsevier (2011).

Champe. Bioquímica. 3a ed. Wolters Kluwer.