Bioengineering 345 --- Failure Analysis of Human Physiology (Draft)

Instructor: Michael Regnier and Alyssa Taylor

Credits: 4

UW General Catalog Course Description:
Application of engineering analysis to understanding human physiology and pathology and the engineering of solutions to medical and biological problems. Course with lab.

Prerequisites:
Prerequisite: BIOEN 215, 335, 336, 337, STAT 390 or IND E 315, BIOL 220.

Overview:
The purpose of this course and lab is to build a fundamental understanding of the biophysical and engineering principles that are the basis of cellular and systems human physiology. Discussion of disease processes and patho-physiology will be incorporated when appropriate. Laboratory activities will teach and encourage design, critical thinking, quantitative analysis and an understanding of scientific methodology applied to physiological systems. An emphasis on communication skills will be reflected in lab reports, group exercises and oral presentations. The laboratory exercises complement the lecture material and emphasize the design of biophysical tools to underlying molecular mechanisms of human physiology and disease processes. The implications of various topics for medicine in general and the possible societal, economic or ethical consequences will be discussed.

Textbook:
????

Handouts and Journal Articles are used to supplement the book and to provide more depth in subject matter.

Learning Objectives:
Students should:

• Understand the physiologic processes based on the application of molecular and biophysical principles.
• Appreciate the complexity of interactions between various physical, chemical and physiological pathways that underlie both normal and patho-physiological states.

Course Grading: 
Comprises 2 exams (100 points each), 5 homework assignments (20 points each; total 100 points), Lab Reports (4 x 25 points each; 100) and topic paper (100 points) [maximum course points = 500; Grade based on % acquired course points].  Pre-lab quizzes (maybe 5 points each x 10 total quizzes = 50 points) (These quizzes would help encourage students to come to lab prepared, having read lab materials.  Quizzes will test both knowledge of the written materials accompanying that day’s lab and an understanding of the concepts/material covered in lecture.)
Lab group participation evaluation (perhaps coupled with class participation also) (50 points total, could have peer evaluations to encourage all team members to participate in lab exercise, writing up reports, etc.)

Potential topics to add to Syllabus:

• Lab Notebook
• Lab Rules and Safety
• Lab Report Format
• Lab Group Formulation

 

Course Topics:

Week	Lecture Topics
Quantitative approaches and mathematical applications in:
1	Cellular Membrane Diffusion, Transport
2	Hodgkin-Huxley Models & Action Potential Concepts
3	Quantal Models of Synaptic Transmission
4	Musculoskeletal System
5	Cardiovascular Physiology
6	Immunology & Leukocyte Trafficking
7	Respiratory Physiology
8	Nervous Systems Physiology – Central & Peripheral
9	Visual System
10	Auditory System

Labs:

Week	Topic
1
2	Action Potential Concepts:  Ulnar Nerve Conduction (BioPac) Perhaps this module (2) could preface the Nervous System Physiology – Central & Peripheral module instead of having them spaced far apart.
3	Nervous System Physiology – Central & Peripheral:  (I)  Nervous System Anatomy and Physiology:  microscopy of neural tissues, get slides from path labs, identify structures of neuron, follow-up exercise/readings:  pathologies (mechanisms) of neurological disorders involving identified structures and concepts illustrated in lab “2” and “8” (using sources like mayoclinic.com and journal articles) (II)  Reflexes and Sensory Neurons:  knee-jerk reflex, ankle-jerk, biceps-jerk, plantar-reflex.  (For lab reports students have to explain what was happening in each case, draw diagrams, etc.)  Perform exercises involving cutaneous sensory receptors (temperature, two-point threshold test, referred pain by gently tapping ulnar nerve), sensory adaptation.
4	Musculoskeletal System:  Electromyography (isometrically contracting muscle: use BioPac software to measure muscle force, raw EMG, and integrated EMG)
5	Cardiovascular Physiology: -Chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay:  Illustrate experimental approach for investigating angiogenesis; observing developing vascular system in vivo; quantitative analysis of experimental results (i.e. ImageJ). Or -Blood Pressure, Pulse Wave Propagation, and Hemodynamics:  Blood pressure, Korotkoff heart sounds, and ECG measurements made under basal conditions and post-exercise (using BioPac).
6	Immunology and Leukocyte Trafficking:  Adhesion and Rolling of Leukocytes under Flow (Parallel plate chamber system, test different substrates or treatment of those substrates with inflammatory mediators, different flow rates)
7	Respiratory Physiology:  Pulmonary Function:  Measure Forced Expiratory Volume (BioPac), perform analytical calculation of compliance and relate findings to pathological conditions (i.e. emphysema, C. fibrosis).
8
9	Visual System:  Mouse eye dissection; Ophthalmology clinic shadowing.
10	Auditory System:  Human Auditory Performance Lab (measure evoked potentials and otoacoustic emissions) – Virginia Merrill Bloedel Hearing Research Center, UW has equipment for this, 3 set-ups apparently, maybe we can “borrow” their facilities.