Introduction to Laboratory Physiology/Neurophysiology

At the end of this course, the students should be able to: 1. acquaint with proper handling of laboratory equipment; 2. dissects laboratory animals and mount an isolated organs for a specific experiment; 3. use human subjects for some of the experiments like blood grouping and many others; 4. take recordings of an experiment and interpret the results accordingly; 5. identify on a diagram of a motor neuron, the following regions: dendrites, axon, axon hillock, soma, and an axodendritic synapse; 6. identify on a diagram of a primary sensory neuron, the following regions: receptor membrane, peripheral axon process, central axon process, soma, sensory ganglia; 7. describe the functional role of myelin in promoting saltatory conduction, contrasting the differences between the CNS and PNS; 8. describe how inhibitory and excitatory post-synaptic potentials can alter synaptic transmission; and 9. list the characteristics of a classical neurotransmitter.

Laboratory sessions on basic physiology experiments, especially those related to the frog sciatic nerve, smooth muscles and blood physiology. Classification of Nerve fibres. Membrane potentials, Nerve generation and conduction of impulses. Synapses and synaptic transmission. Functional organisation of CNS, autonomic neurotransmitters and autonomic effects.