The human body is a complex system characterized by chemical reactions and by the transport of mass, momentum, en energy. Knowledge of these processes is essential for studying biological function and for developing medical solutions.
The purpose of this module is to introduce students to reaction kinetics and biophysical transport phenomena, as well as to have them apply the knowledge they gain to a concrete project. The module is driven by four biophysical systems:
• The thermal system (body temperature and homeostasis)
• The respiratory system (lung function and oxygen uptake)
• Cells and organs (cells, kidneys, metabolism)
• The circulatory system (oxygen transport)
An important objective of the project is that students learn to describe the processes in a biophysical context and to model these processes mathematically by means of algebraic and differential equations.
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The students acquire knowledge of basic reaction kinetics, of biophysical transport systems (thermal, respiratory etc.) and of basic thermodynamic concepts. Part of this knowledge is tested and applied in a series of experiments. The lectures contain information about chemical, thermodynamic and physical processes, which are modelled by means of algebraic and differential equations.
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