PCB
3711 PHYSIOLOGICAL MECHANISMS
SYLLABUS
FALL 2002
Instructor: Dr.
Leon A. Cuervo
Office; OE 243
Hours: 1:30 - 4:30
e-mail: cuervol@fiu.edu
Tel: 305-348-2298
This course, as its
name implies, will present a detailed discussion of the mechanisms that underlie
physiological functions from the point of view of their physical bases. In order
to implement this approach, the various mechanisms are grouped according to
their common physical nature rather than according to the organ or system in
which they operate. By using general principles as a basis to study apparently
diverse phenomena, the instructor intends to facilitate the acquisition of a
deeper understanding of the mechanisms, as well as to illustrate the unity of
science and the interdependence of its branches.
Frequently students
receive from introductory courses the false impression that a superficial
explanation is acceptable, but it is not. In fact, these explanations are
frequently incorrect and always deficient. It is true that we never reach a
complete understanding of anything, but always the attitude should be to improve
it as much as possible. That is what makes us scientists. The first step in
correcting an incomplete or erroneous understanding is to become aware of the
deficiency. This course intends to strengthen your background in important areas
and to question your understanding of physiological principles, as deeply as
appropriate, to unmask weaknesses and to correct them. Along the way, you will
acquire a broad vision of physiological processes by constructing a scaffold of
interconnecting pieces of knowledge.
Your background in
physics and mathematics will be used and improved, and you will be surprised to
find out how important those to branches of science are to physiology and other
areas of biology. The reason is simple: understanding a part of the real world
is to create in our minds mental models of that reality. The more better the
model, the more accurate the understanding. Physics and mathematics allow us to
construct pretty good models.
There is no
textbook. I will make
available to you as we go along, mostly through the internet, the material you
need regarding physical models we use, but the use of a physiology book will be
very helpful. Class attendance is very important because class notes are
important and because my explanations should clarify what the written material
contains. Also, I will do problems in class.
You will get
homework assignments (mostly problems) and they will be worth 30% of the final
grade. The questions in these assignments are designed to stimulate your
thinking and to allow you to assess the depth of your understanding of the
subject. I encourage you to meet in small groups to discuss these questions.
Discussions between peers is frequently an effective way to identify
misunderstandings and to correct them. There is a condition to this: at the time
of writing your answers each of you should do it individually and including a
full justification of your answer. The other 70% of the final grade
corresponds to two tests. The questions in the tests will include problems and
all kinds of questions (multiple choice to short essays). The first test will
take place before the last day for dropping the course on a date that I will
announce with sufficient time, and the second test will be whenever it is
assigned by the administration.
Course Content
1. Material
Transport
Energetics:
thermodynamic functions. Free energy and chemical potential in chemical reaction
and in transport. Energetics of passive and active transports. Osmotic pressure
an water transport. Epithelial transport. General law of viscous flow: the
concepts of gradient and friction. Bulk flow of liquids and gases,
laminar and turbulent flows. Applications of the general law of viscous
flow. Blood circulation.. Characteristics of blood. The heart as a pump:
pressure and volume output. Regulation of cardiac pumping. Characteristics of
blood vessels. Physics of blood flow. Regulation of blood flow. Analysis of
diffusion as a viscous flow, the concentration gradient .diffusion across the
plasma membrane. Voltage gradient and the diffusion of ions.
2. Electrical
properties of the plasma membrane. The origin of the membrane potential. The
generation of electrical signals: voltage-gated, ligand-gated and mechanically
gated channels. The synapse. Generation and propagation of action potentials in
nerve and muscle cells. Cardiac action potentials. Excitation-contraction
coupling in skeletal muscle and in the heart. Volume conductors: EEG, EMG, and
ECG. Propagation of the depolarization in the heart and the shape of the
electrocardiographic waves.
DOCUMENTS ON THE
WEB PAGE
Introduction to
Mass Transport
Diffusion
Charging the
Membrane Capacitance