Vertebrate phylogeny and taxonomy . Evolution of the vertebral column, skull, ribs and sternum. Fins, limbs and girdles in extant vertebrates and fossil relatives Nervous system (NS): basic concepts of peripheral and autonomous divisions of NS. Functional organization and evolution of the central NS (spinal cord and brain). Encephalic vesicles. Receptor cells and sense organs. Skin and skin appendages. Kidney and osmoregulation. Respiratory organs and related circulatory systems.
Reccomanded
Padoa: Anatomia comparata dei Vertebrati. Ed. Feltrinelli
Further readings:
Baldaccini et al.: Anatomia comparata. Ed. Delfino
Hildebrand: Anatomia comparata dei Vertebrati. Ed. Zanichelli
Kent: Anatomia comparata dei Vertebrati. Ed. Piccin
Romer & Parson: Anatomia comparata dei Vertebrati Edi. SES
Liem et al. Anatomia Comparata dei Vertebrati. Una visione funzionale ed evolutiva.
Edi.SES
Learning Objectives
Knowledge acquired:
The vertebrate Bauplan through the study of relationships between the organ systems that resulted during phylogenesis
Competence to be acquired:
Analysis of various organ systems according to the structure-function integration in the light of the adaption role in response to the selective pressure
Skills to be acquired :
Reducing the anatomical heterogeneity of vertebrate body planes to a common, shared architecture, following the phylogenetic comparison method.
Prerequisites
Courses to be used as requirements (required and/or recommended)
Courses required: --------
Courses recommended Cytology & Histology
Teaching Methods
Total hours of the course (including the time spent in attending classes, seminars, private study, examinations, etc...): 170
Hours reserved to private study and other indivual formative activities: 105.
Contact hours for classes (hours): 64
Contact hours for: Laboratory (hours): 12
Contact hours for: Laboratory-field/practice (hours): 0
Seminar hours: 0
Stage hours: 0
Intermediate examination time: ½ (30’)
Further information
Office hours 10.00-12.00 (tuesday)
Furthermore: 1 hr after class
Frequency of classes, practice and lab: Recommended
Teaching tools: Drawings, tables and Power Point.
Language of classes: Italian
Type of Assessment
Oral assessment
Course program
Vertebrate phylogeny and taxonomy, inclusive of fossil records. Germ layers in early embryo and histogenesis. Evolution of the skeletal structures in extant vertebrates and fossil relatives Axial skeleton: nothocord, vertebral column; development of the holocentric vertebra from early acentric vertebrae. Skull (neuro- and splanchnocranium). Skull metamerism. Ribs, sternum, fins and limbs in their homology relationships, girdles. Nervous system (NS): basic concepts of peripheral and autonomous divisions of NS. Functional organization and evolution of the central NS (spinal cord and brain). Encephalic vesicles. Encephalic nerves in Amniota. Structures involved in regulative integrations (cerebellum) and sites of psychic integrations (mesencephalic roof and telencephalon. Receptor cells and sense organs (mechano-, photo-, and chemioreceptors). Skin and skin appendages (horny and secretory). Kidney and osmoregulation. Respiratory organs (gills and lungs) and related circulatory systems.
Laboratory: dissection classes about gross anatomy of bony fishes, amphibians,
reptiles, birds and mammals.