Biophysics

Study Course Description

Course Description Statuss:Approved

Course Description Version:1.00

Study Course Accepted:15.03.2024 14:24:25

Study Course Information
Course Code:		FK_082		LQF level:		Level 7
Credit Points:		1.33		ECTS:		2.00
Branch of Science:		Biology; Biophysics		Target Audience:		Life Science; Nursing Science
Study Course Supervisor
Course Supervisor:		Andris Mikulis
Study Course Implementer
Structural Unit:		Department of Physics
The Head of Structural Unit:
Contacts:		Riga, 26a Anninmuizas boulevard, 1st floor, Rooms No 147 a and b, fizikarsu[pnkts]lv, +371 67061539
Study Course Planning
Full-Time - Semester No.1
Lectures (count)		3	Lecture Length (academic hours)		2	Total Contact Hours of Lectures		6
Classes (count)		5	Class Length (academic hours)		2	Total Contact Hours of Classes		10
Total Contact Hours								16
Study course description
Preliminary Knowledge:
Knowledge of mathematics and physics according to the programme of the secondary education. Knowledge of the official language.
Objective:
1. Promote the knowledge acquisition of general matters in medical physics. 2. Contribute to the development of an understanding of the role of the laws of physics in the principles of medical diagnostic equipment and in the diagnosis of diseases. 3. Master the types of tasks in the field of medical physics covered in the course (biomechanics, blood flow, optical system of the eye, hearing) and methods of calculation.
Topic Layout (Full-Time)
No.	Topic			Type of Implementation		Number	Venue
1	Introduction to medical physics. Biomechanics.			Lectures		1.00	auditorium
2	Waves and oscillations.			Lectures		1.00	auditorium
3	Electricity and magnetism.			Lectures		1.00	auditorium
4	Mechanical waves. Sound and its physical characteristics. Logarithmic scales. Physical basis for clinical acoustic examination methods. Acoustic measurements and their application in medicine. Acoustic methods in medical diagnosis. Practical work: Audiometry.			Classes		1.00	auditorium
5	Magnetic field, its characteristics. The Earth's magnetic field, its meaning. Magnetic properties of substances. Magnetic properties of human body tissues. Electromagnetic field and its effect on the human body. Use of magnetic field in medicine. Nuclear magnetic resonance. Magnetic resonance imaging. Practical work: Research of the Earth's magnetic field.			Classes		1.00	auditorium
6	Using the electrical activity of tissues and organs of biological objects in diagnosis. Electric measurements of non-electrical physical quantities. Transducers. Practical work: Thermoelectric transducers.			Classes		1.00	auditorium
7	Beam (geometric) optics. Laws of light propagation. Optical systems. The human eye. Basic principles of optical microscopy. Optical fibres and their use in medicine. Endoscopy. Polarisation of light. Methods for producing polarised light. Optical activity of substances. Study on biological tissues in polarised light. Practical work: Light refractometry / polarimetry.			Classes		1.00	auditorium
8	Types of ionising radiation. X-ray, its origin. Braking radiation and characteristic x-ray, their spectra. X-ray interaction with a substance Use of X-rays in medicine. Computed tomography. Radioactivity. Radioactive decay law. Effects of ionising radiation on the human body. Dosimetry devices. Use of radioactive isotopes and neutrons in medicine. Particle accelerators and their use in medicine. Practical work: Counter of elementary particles.			Classes		1.00	auditorium
Assessment
Unaided Work:
During the course, students do individual and pair work; they carry out laboratory work according to the course topics; they study the given resources and scientific publications, using the knowledge obtained. Tasks related to the blood flow, the structure of syringes, blood transfusion, calculation of the human body parameters. In order to evaluate the quality of the study course as a whole, the student must fill out the study course evaluation questionnaire on the Student Portal.
Assessment Criteria:
Students’ participation in practical classes, completion of individual assignment in the seminar and results of the practical work during the colloquium are evaluated. There are different types of test questions in the exam.
Final Examination (Full-Time):		Exam
Final Examination (Part-Time):
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge:		Upon successful fulfilment of the course requirements, students will have acquired the knowledge to: 1. Use medical physics terminology correctly. 2. Describe the role of physics and mathematics in medicine and in disease processes. 3. Describe the physical properties of parameters obtained in medical diagnosis and methods of obtaining them. 4. Explain basic principles in diagnosis of cardiovascular diseases. 5. Explain the structure of blood transfusion and syringes from the physico-mathematical perspective. 6. Name and evaluate the effects that the range of electromagnetic spectrum has on human health. 7. Explain the structure of laser, principles of operation, use in medicine and laser safety. 8. Explain the structure and operational principles of the simplest medical diagnostic equipment. 9. Assess the physical effects of the surrounding world on the human body and the protective measures against adverse effects.
Skills:		On completion of the study course, students will be able to: 1. Become familiar with the terms used in biophysics; 2. Apply the knowledge acquired to the assessment of cardiovascular diseases; 3. Evaluate the use of blood transfusions and syringes from a physico-mathematical point of view.
Competencies:		Upon successful completion of the study course, students will be able to evaluate physical phenomena (both natural and technological), their impact on the human body and to justify their application in medical diagnosis.
Bibliography
No.	Reference
Required Reading
1	P. Davidovits. Physics in Biology and Medicine. Academic press, 2019 (3rd ed.).
Additional Reading
1	S. Amador Kane. Introduction to physics in modern medicine. Taylor & Francis, 2020.
2	D. Giancoli. Physics: principles with applications. Prentice Hall, 2016.