Course detail

Biophysics

FEKT-LBFYAcad. year: 2016/2017

Interpretation of bioelectric phenomena. Electrical activity of living tissue on molecular, cellular and organ level. Methods of measurement of membrane voltage and membrane currents in isolated cells, recording of random pulse signals from membrane channels on molecular level. Origin and propagation of impulses of action voltage. Cellular basis of diagnostically significant electromagnetic field generated by organs. Coupling between electrical excitation and muscle contraction. Introduction to biomechanics. Mechanics of cardiovascular system. Introduction to biothermodynamics. Gibbs energy and electrochemical potentials in biophysics. Biophysics of ecosystem.

Language of instruction

Czech

Number of ECTS credits

5

Mode of study

Not applicable.

Guarantor

doc. RNDr. Ing. Jiří Šimurda, CSc.

Department

Department of Biomedical Engineering (UBMI)

Learning outcomes of the course unit

Having finished the subject, the student is able:
- applying the known physical laws to explain genesis of membrane voltage in the living cells and to define quantities that appear in the Nernst formula for equilibrium voltages,
- to describe electrical equivalent scheme of the cell,
- to explain origin of action voltages in excitable cells and mechanism of its propagation along cell fibers,
- to describe principles of the methods of measurement of membrane voltage and membrane current,
- to characterize electrical signals recorded on cellular and molecular level and to explain their mutual relations,
- to describe differences between the function of membrane channels and carriers,
- to describe the relation between the propagated excitation at the level of cell and genesis of electromagnetic field in the surrounding tissue,
- to describe origin of ECG signal as a result of action voltage propagation in the net of cardiac cells (syncytium),
- to prepare physiological solutions including measurement and adjustment of their pH, to measure tissue impedance and properties of the electrodes,
- to explain principles of excitation-contraction coupling in muscle cells,
- to apply physical principles to situation in cardiovascular system,
- to define the terms ‘chemical potential’ and ‘electrochemical potential’, and to illustrate their importance in interpretation of bioelectric phenomena,
- to discuss the function of the ecosystem (circulation of substance and flow of energy) from the viewpoint of thermodynamics.

Prerequisites

The subject knowledge on the Bachelor´s degree level is requested.

Co-requisites

Not applicable.

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

Teaching methods depend on the type of course unit as specified in the article 7 of BUT Rules for Studies and Examinations.

Assesment methods and criteria linked to learning outcomes

Requirements for completion of a course are specified by a regulation issued by the lecturer responsible for the course and updated for every.

Course curriculum

Not applicable.

Work placements

Not applicable.

Aims

The aim is to teach students to apply physical theories and experimental methods to living organisms.

Specification of controlled education, way of implementation and compensation for absences

The content and forms of instruction in the evaluated course are specified by a regulation issued by the lecturer responsible for the course and updated for every academic year.

Recommended optional programme components

Not applicable.

Prerequisites and corequisites

Not applicable.

Basic literature

F. Bezanilla: Electrophysiology and the Molecular Basis of Excitability. (University of California at Los Angeles) http://nerve.bsd.uchicago.edu/ (EN)
J. Šimurda: Bioelektrické jevy I, CERM Brno, 1995 (CS)

Recommended reading

Biophysics - Wikipedie - the free encyklopedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biophysics (EN)
S. Silbernagl, A. Despopoulos: Atlas fyziologie člověka, GRADA Publishing, a.s. 2004 (CS)
T.F. Weiss: Cellular Biophysics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology,1996 (vol.2 –ISBN 0-262-23184-0)) (EN)

Classification of course in study plans

  • Programme EEKR-ML Master's

    branch ML-BEI , 1. year of study, winter semester, theoretical subject

  • Programme EEKR-ML1 Master's

    branch ML1-BEI , 1. year of study, winter semester, theoretical subject

  • Programme EEKR-CZV lifelong learning

    branch ET-CZV , 1. year of study, winter semester, theoretical subject

Type of course unit

 

Lecture

39 hours, optionally

Teacher / Lecturer

doc. RNDr. Ing. Jiří Šimurda, CSc.

Syllabus

Scope of biophysics, genesis and function of electrical signals in living cells.
Physical interpretation of bioelectric phenomena, model, el. equivalent circuit.
Physical interpretation of action voltage origin and propagation. Quantitative description.
Methods of measurement and analysis of membrane voltage and membrane currents.
Bioelectrical signals on molecular level. Methods of measurement.
Membrane channels and carriers.
Excitable cell as a source of electromagnetic field.
Quantitative description of electromagnetic field generated by biological sources.
Biomechanics of muscle cell.
Mechanics of cardiovascular system.
Introduction to biothermodynamics.
Thermodynamics of bioelectrical phenomena.
Introduction to bioenergetics.

Laboratory exercise

13 hours, compulsory

Teacher / Lecturer

Ing. Ondřej Svoboda

Syllabus

Electrodes for biomedical measurement.
Measurement of excitability.
Cellular membrane as a dynamic system - computer simulations.
Preparation of experiment on isolated cells
Measurement of mechanical activity of cardiac cells.
Measurement and analysis of tissue impedance.