THIS COURSE IS INTENDED FOR FURTHER IN-DEPTH STUDY OF THE GASTROINTESTINAL PHYSIOLOGY. GRADUATE STUDENTS IN MEDICAL-RELATED STUDIES ARE ENCOURAGED TO TAKE THE COURSE. THE COURSE IS OFFERED AS TWO CREDITS PER SCHOOL TERM. THE PHYSIOLOGY OF GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT INCLUDES MOTILITY, DIGESTION, ABSORPTION, SECRETION AND BARRIER FUNCTIONS. THE GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT PLAYS DOUBLE ROLES, SERVING AS THE FIRST LINE FOR NUTRIENT UPTAKE AND DEFENSE SYSTEM AGAINST MICROBIAL PATHOGENS. RECENT SCIENTIFIC STUDIES SUGGEST STRONG INTERACTION AMONG ENTERIC NERVOUS SYSTEM, IMMUNE SYSTEM AND THE GASTROINTESTINAL MUCOSA. THIS COURSE WILL BE IN THE FORMAT OF CRITICAL DISCUSSION OF SCIENTIFIC PAPERS IN THE FIELD OF GASTROINTESTINAL PHYSIOLOGY.