Corso di laurea in Scienze Biologiche (L-13)

Introductory concepts of Comparative Anatomy to understand the evolution of vertebrate structure and function. Protochordates and origin of Vertebrates. Phylogeny and Ontogeny. Elements of vertebrate embryology. Vertebrate classification. The Central and Peripheral Nervous Systems. Spinal nerves and spinal cord. The brain and major trends in vertebrate brain evolution. Major sensory (with sensory organs) and motor pathways. Principal endocrine glands. The neurosecretion and the hypothalamo-hypophysial complex. The concept of endocrine disruption. The locomotor system: Vertebral axis and the appendicular skeleton. Basic elements of the skull organization. The respiratory system; gills, swim bladder and evolution of lungs. The integumentary system: skin and its derivatives in the different classes. The escretory system and osmoregulation. Evolution of the renal tubules and urinary tracts. The reproductive system and reproduction in vertebrates. The digestive system and its specializations. Teeth and their evolution. The course is accompanied by sessions with classroom exercises and movies (concerning Cordate evolution, the Nervous system and the endocrine system), practical laboratotories (microscope study of integumentary and digestive system sections, observation and manipulation of different vertebral axes and components of the appendicular skeleton) and concluding with discussion of the course program and exam simulation. A guided tour to the Museum of Natural History will be organized if the Museum will open in May-June.

All teaching material presented in class can be downloaded from the course webpage. For images of microscopic sections and skeleton material refer to: http://www.atlanteanatcomp.unito.it/ Suggested textbooks: Giavini e Menegola: Manuale di Anatomia Comparata – 2010 - EDISES LIEM et al.: Anatomia Comparata dei Vertebrati - 2011 - EDISES (English version available) Kardong K.: Vertebrati – Anatomia Comparata, funzione ed evoluzione - 2005 - McGraw-Hill (English version available) Zavanella: Atlante di Anatomia Microscopica dei Vertebrati - 2012 - Delfino editore Zavanella T. e R. Cardani: Manuale di Anatomia dei vertebrati – 2009 - Delfino Editore