Biophysics

Year
1
Academic year
2015-2016
Code
01014102
Subject Area
Introduction to Medicine and Clinical Practice
Language of Instruction
Portuguese
Mode of Delivery
Face-to-face
Duration
SEMESTRIAL
ECTS Credits
4.5
Type
Compulsory
Level
1st Cycle Studies

Recommended Prerequisites

A. knowledge:

It is important that students have a basic knowledge that is sufficient to acquire the content of this unit before they begin studying it.

This basic knowledge includes specially knowledge of systems of units and equivalencies between units of measurement.

In terms of specific knowledge the student must have information about the structure and function of the different organs and systems (anatomy, introduction to medicine, biology, biochemistry)

B. Technical and linguistic skills:

English language - Ability to read, understand, write and speak at a level which is enough to understand the recommended bibliography and to perform scientific communication.

Information Technology - ability to use the Internet for bibliography research.

C. Attitudes:

Students should demonstrate intrinsic motivation, determination, self-study ability, capacity for teamwork.

They should also enhance the relationship with colleagues, other professionals and patients.

Teaching Methods

In this curricular unit the general structure of the teaching methodologies, will be complementary between lectures (2 hours per week) and theoretical-practical (2 hours per week). In the theoretical lessons the teacher exposes the syllabus content, using the illustration of the physical concepts presented with concrete examples. In the theoretical and practical classes where students (in separate classes of about 20 students) come together to solve application exercises formulated in order to clarify and correlate the issues addressed in theoretical practice.

Learning Outcomes

Objectives

The information provided by this curricular unit is directed to provide the student with the tools that will allow for a more enlightened approach of physical phenomena applied to biological systems as well as develop critical sense necessary to its analysis and interpretation

Understand the theoretical principles of Fluid Mechanics and its application in biological systems

Understand the phenomena of mass transport in its application to biological systems

Understand the characteristics of different types of radiation, specificity and identification of electromagnetic radiation and its clinical applications

 

skills

Understand, describe and apply the knowledge of Biophysics to the pathophysiology of biological systems

Demonstrate adequate capacity for summarizing and communicating

Demonstrate skills that are essential in teamwork and knowledge of the ethical and deontological concepts underlying the relationship with colleagues, other professionals and patients

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

1-Biophysics of membranes

Mass transport across biological membranes: Fick laws; permeability; osmotic pressure; Kedem-Katchasky equation

Applications to the urinary system: glomerular filtration, tubular reabsorption and secretion

2-Biophysics fluid

Ideal and real fluids: Energies associated with fluid dynamics: conservation of mass, Bernoulli's theorem, Poiseuille's law, hydrodynamic power, resistance and Reynolds number

Systemic and pulmonary circulation: differences and hemodynamic changes. Laws that regulate ventilation and gas exchange

Surface tension: Law of Laplace and applications to elastic membranes: aortic arch, ventricular wall and pulmonary alveoli

Elastic tension: ideal collapsible vessel: West areas of the respiratory system

3-Physics of the atom and the nucleus and medical applications

The atom and the atomic nucleus: importance of ionizing radiation in medicine.

Radiation dosimetry, radiobiology and radiation protection

Head Lecturer(s)

Maria Filomena Rabaça Roque Botelho

Assessment Methods

Assessment
Mini Tests: 30.0%
Exam: 70.0%

Bibliography

- Biofísica Médica. JJ Pedroso de Lima. Universidade de Coimbra, 2014

- Biofísica Médica - Exercícios práticos. Maria Filomena Botelho e JJ Pedroso de Lima. Universidade de Coimbra, 2014

- Éléments de Biophysique, Tomo I. Grémy F et Leterrier F. Flammarion Médecine-Sciences, 3ª tirage, 1988. 

- Éléments de Biophysique, Tomo II. Rémy F et Perrin J. Flammarion Médecine-Sciences, 2ª edition, 1977.

- Intermediate Physics for Medicine and Biology (Biological and Medical Physics, Biomedical Engineering). Russell K. Hobbie, Brad Roth. Springer, 2007.

- Russell K. Hobbie, Brad Roth. Springer, 2007,  "Intermediate Physics for Medicine and Biology (Biological and Medical Physics, Biomedical Engineering)".