ECTS credits ECTS credits: 6
ECTS Hours Rules/Memories Student's work ECTS: 90 Hours of tutorials: 1 Expository Class: 36 Interactive Classroom: 23 Total: 150
Use languages Spanish, Galician
Type: Ordinary Degree Subject RD 1393/2007 - 822/2021
Departments: Physiology
Areas: Physiology
Center Faculty of Veterinary Science
Call: Second Semester
Teaching: With teaching
Enrolment: Enrollable | 1st year (Yes)
• Know, analyze and individually assess the function(s) of the various organs, devices and systems of the body.
• Analyze each function and its mechanisms at each of the levels of organization that Physiology has been able to describe.
• Know the basic and common elements in the different ways of performing a function, so as to show the unity of functions and the rich diversity of forms that have appeared in animal phylogeny.
• Understand the functional possibilities of the organism that condition and enable it with respect to the environment.
• Know the different systems of adaptation to the environment that the organism has.
• Know and understand the biological meaning of all functions in normal circumstances, in different special stages of life, as well as in special circumstances.
• Being able to apply the knowledge acquired about functions and their regulation in the face of abnormal circumstances that tend to modify them.
• Being able to critically assess the hypotheses issued to scientifically explain the mechanism of a defined function.
• Being able to assess the altered functions of an organism based on the analysis of a series of physiological parameters.
Basic biophysical and physiological aspects of the functioning, regulation and coordination of the main species of veterinary interest at the molecular and cellular levels. Functioning, regulation and coordination of the nervous and digestive systems. Neurophysiological bases of the behavior of species of veterinary interest. Animal Protection.
CHAPTER I.- GENERAL AND MOLECULAR PHYSIOLOGY (10 hours)
T01 Concept of Homeostasis.
T02 Membranes and Transport.
T03 Membrane Potential.
T04 Nerve Cells. Action Potential and Synaptic Transmission.
T05 Intercellular communication and receptors
T06 Second Messengers
T07 Muscle cells. Contraction of Striated Muscle, Smooth Muscle and Cardiac Muscle.
S01 Seminar I
S02 Seminar II
S03 Seminar III
S04 Seminar IV
CHAPTER II.- PHYSIOLOGY OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM (10 hours)
T08 Receptor Physiology. Somatic senses.
T09 Special Senses: Vision.
T10 Special Senses: Hearing and Balance.
T11 Special Senses: Smell and Taste.
T12 Motor System: Reflex Motility and Voluntary Motility.
T13 Movement Control: Cerebellum and Basal Ganglia.
T14 Sleep and Wake: Reticular System. Hypothalamus and limbic system. Vegetative functions.
T15 Autonomic Nervous System.
CHAPTER III. DIGESTIVE SYSTEM (10 hours)
T16. Neural control of gastrointestinal function
T17. Endocrine control of gastrointestinal function
T18. Movements of the digestive tube: mouth, esophagus and stomach
T19. Movements of the digestive tube: small and large intestines
T20. Salivary and gastric secretions
T21. Pancreatic secretion. Biliary secretion
T22. Digestion and absorption: non-fermentative processes
T23. Digestive physiology of ruminants
T24. Digestive physiology of herbivores and birds
CHAPTER IV.- ETHOLOGY (3 hours)
T25 Introduction to animal behavior. Definition of Ethology. Historical background of Ethology. Ethology in Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production
T26 Domestication. Definition of domestication. Behavioral factors that favored domestication
T27 Control, Development, Evolution of Behavior. Motivation. innate behavior. Learned behavior (Types of learning). Imprint and Socialization. Evolution
T28 Individual behavior. Social behavior. behavioral changes
T29 Animal Protection. Ethical principles. Legislation
S05 Seminar V
S06 Seminar VI
PRACTICES
LB1 Mechanisms of transport and cell permeability
LB2 Physical and chemical processes of digestion
LB3 and LB4 Neurophysiology of the nerve impulse
LB5 and LB6 Skeletal muscle physiology
Basic bibliography
Veterinary Physiology (1st edition) 2018. Albino García Sacristán. Edit. Tebar Flowers
PhysioEx 10.0: Laboratory Simulations in Physiology. 2012. Zao-Stabler-Smith-Lokuta-Griff. Ed. Pearson
Veterinary Physiology (6th edition), 2020. Cunningham-Klein. Edit. Elsevier–Saunders
Further reading
Physiology. (6th edition), 2009. Berne and Levy. Edit. Elsevier-Mosby
Treaty of Medical Physiology. (14th edition). 2021. Guyton & Hall. Edit. Elsevier–Saunders
Human Physiology (8th edition), 2019, Silverthorn. Edit. Pan American Medical
Animal Physiology (1st edition), 2006. Hill-Wyse-Anderson. Edit. Med. Pan American
Veterinary clinical ethology of the dog and cat. 2nd ed. Xavier Manteca Vilanova. Multimedical. 2002
Behavior Problems in Small Animals. Jon Bowen and Sarah Head. Elsevier.2005
Veterinary clinical ethology. Xavier Manteca Vilanova. Multimedical. 2009
Domestic animal behaviour. K. Houpt. Blackwell Publishing. 2010.
Handbook of behavioral problems of the dog and cat. G. Landsberg, W. Hunthausen, L. Ackerman. Third edition. Elsevier. 2013
Clinical behavioral medicine for small animals. Karen L. Overall.Mosby. 2013.
Free access to Veterinary Physiology e-books within the electronic resources of USC:
https://iacobus.usc.gal/permalink/34CISUG_USC/o7pcup/alma99101339224160…
https://iacobus.usc.gal/permalink/34CISUG_USC/1okucki/cdi_proquest_eboo…
https://iacobus.usc.gal/permalink/34CISUG_USC/o7pcup/alma99101338943590…
Generic skills:
Ability to learn and adapt (GVUSC01)
Capacity for analysis and synthesis (GVUSC02)
General knowledge about the work area (GVUSC03)
Ability to work autonomously and in a team (GVUSC06)
Disciplinary skills:
Generic knowledge of animals, their behavior and the bases of their identification (CEDVUSC 01)
Structure and function of healthy animals (CEDVUSC 02)
Physical, chemical and molecular bases of the main processes that take place in the animal organism (CEDVUSC 04)
Know the basic analytical techniques and their interpretation (CEDVUSC 16)
Professional skills:
Perform basic analytical techniques and interpret clinical, biological and chemical results (D1VUSC 03)
Academic skills:
Analyze, synthesize, solve problems and make decisions in the professional fields of the veterinarian (CEAVUSC 01)
Maintain ethical behavior in the exercise of their responsibilities before the veterinary profession and society (CEAVUSC 02)
Transversal skills:
Capacity for reasoning and argumentation (CTVUSC 01)
Ability to obtain adequate, diverse and updated information through various means, such as bibliographic information and the Internet, and analyze it critically (CTVUSC 02)
Ability to prepare and present an organized and understandable text (CTVUSC 03)
Ability to make a presentation in public in a clear, coherent and concise way (CTVUSC 04)
Ability to use TICs (CTVUSC 05)
Use of information in a foreign language (CTVUSC 06)
Ability to solve problems through the integrated application of their knowledge (CTVUSC 07)
Learning outcomes:
Competency on day 1 (CD1): 1.9 Ability to critically review and evaluate literature and presentations
Academic activity: Conducting a seminar work with a presentation in front of the class and teachers on an advanced aspect of the subject for a maximum of 10 minutes
Learning objectives:
LO1: Utilize databases to critically select information on a topic
LO2: Synthesize and organize information obtained on a topic and create a presentation for public exposition
Assessment of this task will be done through a rubric at the end of the seminar presentation
The master classes will consist of the explanation, by the academic staff, with the help of the blackboard, of the audiovisual media that they consider appropriate and of the contents of the subject reflected in the annual teaching guide.
The computer practices will serve to illustrate the theoretical contents of the subject and will be fundamentally oriented towards the student acquiring skills and practical experiences. These practices will be carried out in groups of 20 students in the computer room of the faculty.
All the tasks of the student (study, works, readings) will be guided by the academic staff in the tutoring sessions.
The temporality is approximately one expository hour for each subject of the program/seminar and 6 hours of work for each practice.
For all academic activities, the USC Virtual Classroom will be used as a fundamental resource.
The class attendance exemption is not applicable
Each student’s grade will be based on three criteria:
Theoretical grade (80% of the final score): Final exam consisting of multiple-choice questions, short-answer questions, and/or essay-type questions (SE1). If the final theoretical exam is divided into thematic blocks, none of the parts may receive a grade lower than 4.0.
Assessed competencies: GVUSC01, GVUSC03, CEDVUSC01, CEDVUSC02.
Practical grade (20% of the final score): Multiple-choice test and attendance to practical sessions (SE5).
Assessed competencies: GVUSC06, CEDVUSC16, D1VUSC03, CTVUSC06. To calculate the final average, the practical grade must be equal to or greater than 4.0.
Continuous assessment (up to an additional 20%): There is an option to improve the grade through (i) written tests (multiple-choice, short-answer, and/or essay-type), (ii) completion and presentation of individual and/or group work, and/or (iii) student participation in class, tutorials, etc., which can result in (SE4) up to 2 additional points. This additional score will be added to the corresponding theoretical grade, provided that the grade in that part is equal to or greater than 4.0.
Assessed competencies: GVUSC02, GVUSC06, CEAVUSC01, CEAVUSC02, CTVUSC01, CTVUSC02, CTVUSC03, CTVUSC004, CTVUSC05, CTVUSC06, CTVUSC07. Final grades exceeding 10.0 points will be rounded down to that value, without affecting grades below 10.0.
There is no provision for exemption from academic activities.
Grades obtained in the practical part will be retained for future exam sessions.
In cases of fraudulent completion of exercises or exams, the provisions of the "Regulations on the assessment of students' academic performance and review of grades" will apply.
Continuous assessment will not be preserved for future calls.
Attendance at scheduled practical activities is mandatory. Failure to attend practical activities—unless due to force majeure duly justified with official documentation—will result in failure of the subject in all final exam attempts.
The total number of hours of work of the student in a subject organized in ECTS credits is equal to 25 x number of ECTS. Attendance is 40% and the student's working hours occupy 60%, which are distributed as follows:
Classroom work
Master classes: 36 h
Interactive computer: 14 h
Blackboard exercises: 09 h
Tutorials in small groups or individualized: 01 h
Total hours: 60
Individual work
Individual study: 57 hours
Elaboration of works: 18 h
Bibliographic review, etc: 04 h
Attendance at talks or other recommended activities: 01 h
Resolution of cases/problems: 02 h
Oral presentations: 05h
Exams: 03 h
Total hours: 90
Previous knowledge of Anatomy and Biochemistry
The subject will be taught in the two official languages of the Autonomous Community: Spanish and Galician.
Jesús Antonio Casabiell Pintos
- Department
- Physiology
- Area
- Physiology
- x.casabiell [at] usc.es
- Category
- Professor: University Lecturer
María Mercedes Rodríguez Vieytes
- Department
- Physiology
- Area
- Physiology
- mmercedes.rodriguez [at] usc.es
- Category
- Professor: University Lecturer
Maria Mercedes Camiña Garcia
Coordinador/a- Department
- Physiology
- Area
- Physiology
- merchi.camina [at] usc.es
- Category
- PROFESOR/A PERMANENTE LABORAL
| Tuesday | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 11:00-12:00 | Grupo /TI-ECTS01 | Spanish | Classroom 1 |
| 11:00-12:00 | Grupo /TI-ECTS04 | Spanish | Classroom 1 |
| 11:00-12:00 | Grupo /TI-ECTS07 | Spanish | Classroom 1 |
| 11:00-12:00 | Grupo /TI-ECTS10 | Spanish | Classroom 1 |
| 11:00-12:00 | Grupo /TI-ECTS13 | Spanish | Classroom 1 |
| 11:00-12:00 | Grupo /TI-ECTS02 | Spanish | Classroom 1 |
| 11:00-12:00 | Grupo /TI-ECTS05 | Spanish | Classroom 1 |
| 11:00-12:00 | Grupo /TI-ECTS08 | Spanish | Classroom 1 |
| 11:00-12:00 | Grupo /TI-ECTS11 | Spanish | Classroom 1 |
| 11:00-12:00 | Grupo /TI-ECTS14 | Spanish | Classroom 1 |
| 11:00-12:00 | Grupo /TI-ECTS03 | Spanish | Classroom 1 |
| 11:00-12:00 | Grupo /TI-ECTS06 | Spanish | Classroom 1 |
| 11:00-12:00 | Grupo /TI-ECTS09 | Spanish | Classroom 1 |
| 11:00-12:00 | Grupo /TI-ECTS12 | Spanish | Classroom 1 |
| Wednesday | |||
| 09:00-10:00 | Grupo /CLE_01 | Spanish | Classroom 1 |
| 06.01.2026 09:00-11:00 | Grupo /CLE_01 | Classroom 1 |
| 06.01.2026 09:00-11:00 | Grupo /CLE_01 | Classroom 2 |
| 06.01.2026 09:00-11:00 | Grupo /CLE_01 | Classroom 3 |
| 07.01.2026 09:00-11:00 | Grupo /CLE_01 | Classroom 1 |
| 07.01.2026 09:00-11:00 | Grupo /CLE_01 | Classroom 2 |