To permit the application of ideas, concepts and techniques used in physical sciences to the biological/physiological phenomena. It intends to explain how physical processes, such as electricity, fluid mechanics, diffusion, nuclear radiation, etc. may be used to favor and stimulate the apprehension and understanding of biological mechanisms, such us, nervous transmission, blood circulation and regulation of blood flow, transport and distribution of substances between the interior and exterior of the cell, radiation and radioactivity, which may contribute to form a fundamental base of knowledge for the biological/physiological sciences. It also aims to incite the students to equation the rational basis of the biological events ant to apply the acquired knowledge to similar situations.
Membranes: Diffusion, 1st Fick's Law (deduction, application to homogenous and porous membranes). Convection of molecules. Water flux. Kedem-Katchalsky eq. (deduction, application, e.g., renal filtration, Starling effect). Osmosis, osmolarity and tonicity. Colligative properties of solutions. Ionic currents: Nernst-Planck eq. Electrochemical equilibrium, Nernst eq. Membrane potential: GHK eq. Action potential and its propagation. Synapses. Hydrostatics. Surface tension. Capillarity and Jurin's law. Laplace eq. of capillarity (biological applications). Viscosity. Hydrodynamics. Laminar flow. Continuity eq. Bernoulli eq. Poiseuille's law. Reynolds N. Applications to biological systems.
Elasticity and elastic deformation, Hook's law. Compliance, application to blood vessels.
Radiations and radioactivity: atom, nucleus (constitution, forces and stability). Characterization of a, b and g radiation.
T(1/2). Bq and Ci. Biological interactions and effects. Biomedical applications.
Expositive method and discussion of various topics.
Evaluation criteria follow the UTAD current Pedagogic Rules.
Students must a) assist to a minimum of 70% of the summarized contact hours, independently of its typology, and b) to obtain medium classification, higher than 8.5, in the practical component of evaluation (PCE).
PCE: 2 -3 mini-tests, to be done at the beginning of the TP classes (in previous announced dates), of issues related to the TP classes, composed by one exercise of practical resolution and several questions of rapid answer (e.g. multiple choice). The mean of the mini-tests must be superior to 8.5 values (Nº1b do Art. 17). In the last week of classes, students that have a mean <8.5 values, are allowed to repeat 1 or 2 mini-tests in order to attain the minimum necessary.
When a student misses or gives up a mini-test the classification is 0.0
Three modes of evaluation:
Mode 1: Continuous evaluation
Mode 2: Complementary evaluation
Mode 3: Final exam evaluation
Salgueiro, L. e Ferreira, J.G.. Introdução à Biofísica
Frederick J. Keller, W. Edward Gettys, Malcolm J. Stove. Physics: Classical and Modern
Charles Kittley, Walter D. Knight, Malvin A. Ruderman. Berkeley Physics Course
Jorge Dias de Deus, Pimenta, Noronha. Introdução à Física
Halliday & Resnick. Fundamentos de Física
Amélia M. Silva & J. J. Pedroso de Lima. Biofísica de Membranas: I Exercícios Teórico-Práticos. (2005)Série didáctica ciências aplicadas Nº 275.
Amélia M. Silva & J. J. Pedroso de Lima. Biofísica de Líquidos: I Exercícios Teórico-Práticos. Série didáctica ciências aplicadas Nº 287.
J. J. Pedroso de Lima. Biofísica Médica
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