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Cardio-respiratory Physiology

Code: 102974
Credits: 6
2026/2027
Degree programme Type Course
Physiotherapy OP 4

Contact lecturer

Name :
Alba Gomez Garrido
Email :
alba.gomez.garrido@uab.cat

Teaching staff

Alba Gomez Garrido

Group languages

You can consult this information at the end of the document.

Prerequisites

The student is required to be enrolled in the Bachelor's Degree in Physiotherapy.

The student needs to have basic knowledge of anatomy, histology, physics, and physical exercise in order to understand cardiorespiratory function in healthy individuals and in patients with cardiorespiratory pathology or other comorbidities.

The student is required to have a basic level of English and be familiar with the main search engines and scientific journals in order to conduct bibliographic research when necessary.

Objectives

An understanding of exercise physiology and the principles of training as applied to cardiorespiratory function.

Familiarity with the physiology and anatomy of the cardiorespiratory system.

Basic knowledge of pathology and an understanding of the benefits of physical exercise in various medical conditions.

The ability to interpret the basics of cardiopulmonary exercise testing.

 

Learning outcomes

  1. Explain in detail the physiopathology of chest diseases.
  2. Solve problems.
  3. Work in teams.
  4. Display critical reasoning skills.
  5. Show sensitivity to environmental issues.
  6. Apply the specific methods and techniques for chest diseases.
  7. Use physiotherapy to treat clinical cases involving chest pathologies.
  8. Identify situations in which a change or improvement is needed.
  9. Analyse a situation and identify its points for improvement.
  10. Propose new methods or well-founded alternative solutions.
  11. Weigh up the risks and opportunities of suggestions for improvement: one's own and those of others.
  12. Propose new ways to measure success or failure when implementing innovative proposals or ideas.
  13. Explain the explicit or implicit code of practice of one's own area of knowledge.
  14. Critically analyse the principles, values and procedures that govern the exercise of the profession.
  15. Consider how gender stereotypes and roles impinge on the exercise of the profession.
  16. Communicate using language that is not sexist.
  17. Identify the principal forms of sex- or gender-based inequality present in society.
  18. Weigh up the impact of any long- or short-term difficulty, harm or discrimination that could be caused to certain persons or groups by the actions or projects.

Contents

Exercise Physiology and Training Principle


Basic concepts: physical activity / physical exercise, physical fitness, sedentary lifestyle / physical inactivity


Benefits of physical exercise


Training principles


Energy sources


Muscular physiology applied to strength training


Aerobic power and capacity


Anaerobic power and capacity


Responses and adaptations to exercise:


Cardiovascular /Pulmonary system /Other organs


Particularities of aerobic training

Benefits of physical exercise in cardiorespiratory diseases, associated comorbidities, and other medical conditions


Functional Capacity Assessment and Its Application to Training


Mechanisms of fatigue during exercise


Physical training in special conditions: Hypoxia / Thermal stress and exercise / Altitude physiology and exercise /Hyperbaria, microgravity, and exercise


Physiological aspects of physical exercise across different life stages and populations: Childhood / Aging / Women


Obesity: assessment of body composition and muscle strength


Pulmonary Physiology


Structure and function of the lungs

Ventilation / Diffusion / Blood flow and metabolism

Ventilation-perfusion relationship

Gas transport in the blood

Control of ventilation

Respiratory mechanics


Pulmonary pathophysiology


Cardiovascular Physiology


Structure and function of the cardiovascular system

Electrical activity of the heart

Cardiac function

Vascular function

Neurohormonal control of the heart and circulation

Blood flow in organs

Exchange function of the microcirculation

Cardiovascular pathophysiology

Learning activities and methodology

Title Hours ECTS Learning outcomes
Clinical Case Seminars (SCC) 13 0.52
Theory (TE) 20 0.8
Laboratory Practices (PLAB) 7 0.28
Self- Study 69 2.76

The teaching combines master classes, clinical case seminars and practices in the cardiorespiratory function laboratory.

Annotation: within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.

Assessment

Continuous assessment activities

Title Weight Hours ECTS Learning outcomes
Theory (TE) 5% 20 0.8 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18
Clinical Case Seminars (SCC) 5% 13 0.52 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18
Seminar 15% 3 0.12 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18
Objective tests of selection of multiple choice items. 50% 2 0.08 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18
Seminar 25% 3 0.12 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18

The evaluation will be carried out as follows:

Attendance and participation in theoretical classes and clinical case seminars: 10% of the final grade.

Group work: submission and presentation, which will account for 15% of the final grade.

Individual work: submission and oral presentation, representing 25% of the final grade.

Multiple-choice exam: each correct answer will add 1 point and each incorrect answer will subtract 0.33 points. The minimum passing grade for the exam is 5 out of 10. This exam accounts for 50% of the final grade.

The evaluation of exchange students will be the same as that of regular UAB students.
If a student does not attend the theoretical exam or does not complete the corresponding assignments, they will be considered non-assessable and will receive a 0 for that part of the evaluation.
According to article 116.8, when it is considered that the student has not provided sufficient evidence of assessment, the subject will be marked as non-assessable in the corresponding record.
Students who do not pass the subject through continuous assessment may opt for a make-up exam.

 

Bibliography

-  Función pulmonar aplicada. A.GN. Agustí. Mosby/Doyma Libros SA, 1995.

-  Fisiología respiratoria. West. 7ª edición. Editorial Médica Panamericana.

-  Respiratory Physiology, a clinical approximation. R. M. Schwartzstein. Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.

-  Fisiología Humana. J. A. Tresguerres. 3ª edición. Ed. McGraw-Hill Interamericana.

-  Manuales de procedimientos SEPAR.

-  Indicaciones e interpretación de gasometría. A. Crespo Giménez, F. J. Garcés Molina, Y. Casillas Viera y J. C. Cano Ballesteros. Medicine. 2007; 9 (90): 5813-5816.

- Rehabilitación respiratoria. Gómez Garrido A.  1a ed. Madrid: Médica Panamericana; 2025.

- Rehabilitación cardíaca. Sanz Ayan P. 2a ed. Madrid: Médica Panamericana; 2025.

Software

PowerPoint

Adobe Acrobat

Teams

Microsoft Word

Wooclap

Course groups and languages

The information provided is provisional until November 30. After this date, you will be able to consult the language of each group through this link. To access the information, you will need to enter the course CODE

Type of teaching Group Language Semester Shift
(TE) Theory 301 Catalan first semester afternoon
(PLAB) Practical laboratories 301 Catalan first semester afternoon
(SCC) Clinical case seminars 301 Catalan first semester afternoon
(PLAB) Practical laboratories 302 Catalan first semester afternoon
(SCC) Clinical case seminars 302 Catalan first semester afternoon