The lectures consider nonrelativistic and relativistic formalism in inelastic proton scattering; interaction of nucleons in free space; application of nucleon interaction formalism to the process of their scattering from nuclei; the method of coupled channels; relations between the formalism of the Schrödinger and Dirac equations; transformation of the relativistic equation into the “Schrödinger equivalent”; comparison of analytical approaches in the relativistic conception of inelastic proton scattering; the deformation model in the distorted-wave method based on relativistic and nonrelativistic formalisms; the optical model of the nucleus; application of various elements of the above discussed formalism to the analysis of experimental data on inelastic proton scattering. With all the approaches, special attention is paid to the spin-orbit interaction and its origin,