Foundations in Development, Technology and Innovation Policy (STEP0031)

This module will look at the autonomic control of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems. The module will cover the anatomy of the autonomic nervous system...

Autonomic and Central Control of Cardiorespiratory Function (PHOL0011)

This module will look at the autonomic control of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems. The module will cover the anatomy of the autonomic nervous system (introducing the relevant peripheral and central areas that are involved in homeostatic control), the sympathetic nervous system and the parasympathetic nervous system (specifically how they interact to control the activity of the cardiovascular system), the central respiratory network and how it establishes normal breathing patterns, and finally how the activity in these pathways changes in response to exercise and disease. Practical sessions will give you hands-on experience of performing and measuring autonomic reflexes. This will be accompanied by a mini-project comparing the sympathetic/parasympathetic balance in different exercise paradigms. You will learn to read physiology research papers and write lab reports in the same style.

This module is a recommended option for BSc and iBSc Physiology and Physiology and Pharmacology students and Biomedical Sciences student on the organs and systems streams. It can be taken by students on other degree programmes with a strong physiology background.

Indicative lecture and journal club topics (based on 2021/22 syllabus)

Anatomy of the Autonomic Nervous System
	Exercise Physiology
	Parasympathetic Control of the Cardiovascular System & Reduced Baroreflex
	Sympathetic Control of the Cardiovascular System & Forebrain Projections to Sympathetic Preganglionic Neurones
	Autonomic Reflexes
	The Role of Non-Neuronal Cells in Cardiorespiratory Control
	The Nucleus of the Solitary Tract: An Integrator of Autonomic Function
	Automonic Contribution to Heart Failure
	Neurogenic Contribution to Hypertension
There will be journal club sessions on:

Baroreflex sensitivity in ageing
	Forebrain projections to SPN
	Vagal nerve stimulation in heart failure
	Neuromodulation in the treatment of hypertension