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Cardiovascular Biophysics

Unit code: HET230

Credit points12.5 Credit Points
Duration1 Semester
Contact hoursApproximately 4.5 Hours per Week
CampusHawthorn
Prerequisites
 
 
 
CorequisitesNil

Aims and objectives

To establish an understanding of the physiology associated with human cardiovascular processes and the application of monitoring techniques.

Teaching methods

Practicals and tutorials

Assessment

Assignments, examinations, practicals

Content

  • The heart: cardiac cycle, mechanical and electrical events, Starling's law, mechanical properties of cardiac muscle.
  • Fluid dynamics/flow instrumentation.
  • Pulsatile pressure and flow in arteries, wave propagation in arteries, blood rheology, atherosclerosis, Starling's hypothesis of the capillary system, mass transport, flow in collapsible tubes, blood flow in particular organs, Guyton's model.
  • Cardiac monitoring and pathologies.
  • The ECG: genesis of myocardial field, changes in disease, arrhythmias and conduction defects.
  • Pressure and flow monitoring: invasive and non-invasive methods, Swan Ganz catheters, cardiac output methods, oximetry, nuclear methods. Diagnosis by sonic and ultrasonic methods.
  • Intensive care instrumentation: Cardiopulmonary bypass, coronary investigations.

Reading materials

Martini, F, Fundamentals of Anatomy & Physiology, 4th edn, Prentice-Hall International, 1998.
Guyton, AC & Hall, Textbook of Medical Physiology, 9th edn, Saunders, 1996.