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Biological Diffusion Prcoesses, Allen R. Killpatrick, Norman J. Chonacky

Physical Science Modules for Bioscience Students

What happens in the lung is that air meets blood. Figure 1 shows the lung's architecture. Focus your attention upon the smallest scale structures which are the termini of the air passages. These are the alveolar air sacs or, simply, alveoli. The inhalation/exhalation actions of the lung, alternately, flood these alveoli with atmospheric air and expel its oxygen-poor/carbon dioxide-rich replacement. Figure (2a) depicts, in a somewhat simplified manner, these alveoli with their appended venous blood suppliers, the pulmonary arteries. Figure {2b} shows the structure of the blood distribution system over a small, typical portion of the alveolar surface in much …

Elementary Biological Statistics, Norman J. Chonacky

Physical Science Modules for Bioscience Students

It is assumed that you have been introduced to the ideas of parametric descriptions of statistical data (e.g., mean, standard deviation, etc.) in the context of physical measurements. These concepts must be broadened and generalized in their interpretations when used in the context of biological data. It is the purpose of this module to introduce appropriate biological examples and employ them to generate and illustrate these broader notions of statistical analysis. Of particular interest will be questions such as: "What is it that the mean value of a data set seeks to represent when there is no 'true value ' …

Osmosis, Allen R. Killpatrick

Physical Science Modules for Bioscience Students

OBJECTIVES

After you have completed this module, you will be able to:

a) describe qualitatively the pressure of blood in the human body as a function of location in the circulation system, i.e., aorta, artery, arterioles, ... , vena cava.

b) Discuss in a paragraph (short or long) how the osmotic pressure in the capillaries regulates the water level of the interstitial fluid under normal pressure.

c) Describe how a weak ventricle in the heart creates an edema in the capillaries. Use the terms of this module, i.e., abnormal pressure, water pressure inside and water pressure outside, in this description. …

Fundamental Energy Processes Of The Human Body, Thomas C. Campbell, Norman J. Chonacky

Physical Science Modules for Bioscience Students

Within the hand that holds this sheet of paper there throb thousands of engines; each with its own fuel requirements; each yielding varying amounts of work, heat, and waste output. Each is a cell in your body.

Of course, these cells are not completely independent. They share in a society, but especially in an economy, of the whole organism. This economy does not trade dollars of differing currencies; rather, its commerce is in energy of differing forms.

A particularly important asset is thermal energy. It is the natural by-product of the various energy conversion processes, the biochemical reactions within the …

Thermometry And Heat Transport In The Human Body, Thomas C. Campbell, Norman J. Chonacky

Physical Science Modules for Bioscience Students

We've all grown up with sensations of hot and cold. You receive such specific sensations from touching objects, but also a generalized sensation from your environment. Thus, you may say: "This is hot; that is cold." But also, you say: "I am hot (cold, clammy, chilly, etc.)." These sensations are judgements about thermal conditions from the psychological point of view.

From the physical point of view, heat is transported energy; the body is an engine which transforms chemical energy to mechanical energy, and in doing so produces a residual amount of thermal energy from which the body must continually divest …

Thermal Regulation Of The Human Body, Thomas C. Campbell, Norman J. Chonacky

Physical Science Modules for Bioscience Students

The supervision of the complicated task of managing your body's energy resources is laid to many ingenious systems, both chemical and physical, in your body. One group of such control systems keeps the temperature of the body relatively stable despite a wide range of variety and intensity of the energy conversion and utilization processes which occur there.

For example, increase in thermal stimulation of body temperature sensors may result in secretion of water by the sweat glands which in turn cools the skin surface and increases the heat outflow. In another scenario, thermal stimulation can initiate stricturing of certain blood …

Instructor's Guide To The Thermal Physics Module Cluster Of The Physical Science Modules For Bioscience Students Project

Physical Science Modules for Bioscience Students

These instructional materials are produced as part of a study of bioscience applications in physics and manners of presenting them to interested students and instructors. You will aid this endeavor greatly if you try using these materials in one of the three use modes listed on the cover sheet of this guide, and by reporting your (and students') results in the appropriate questionnaire. It would also be useful to us for you to critically annotate the study materials as you (and students) read them (write on the document), and return these to the project office. Duplicate, fresh materials can be …