! Remember to record the session!

1
 RCSI Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland Coláiste Ríoga na Máinleá in Éirinn

FUNPHYS.1 Introduction to Physics in the Health

Sciences.

Class Foundation Year

Course Medicine/Physiotherapy
Code FUNPHYS.1
Title Introduction to Physics in the Health Sciences
Lecturer Dr Kenny Winser
Date Semester 1
Learning outcomes:
- Describe the structure of the Physics course.

- Examine the role of applying simple physical

principles in clinical diagnosis and therapy.

- Recognise that the body operates as a complex

physical system
Aims and Objectives.

Book lists

Timetable

Tutorials

Why are you here??

 AIMS

To provide students with sound knowledge of general physical

principles and how they are applied to the study and practice of
medicine and physiotherapy. The course is designed as a prerequisite
for subsequent courses in medical and physiotherapy training.
OBJECTIVES

Each student will be expected to:

• Understand the general principles underlying specific

topics in e.g. mechanics, fluids, electricity, sound, optics,
modern and nuclear physics.

• Appreciate the ways in which these principles apply to

the function of certain limbs and organs within the human body
(i.e. the body as a physical system).

• Understand how these principles are applied in the

common practices of both diagnostic and therapeutic medicine
and physiotherapy.

• Understand the capabilities and limitations of certain

items of equipment they may encounter in a clinical situation.

• Solve simple and common problems relating to

physical systems, both within and external to the human body.
 FY in Moodle

Remember – each FY module has

specific objectives listed, and each
lecture has very specific Learning
Outcomes.

These Learning Outcomes drive each of

the module assessments.
 Physics - Booklists
It is sufficient to refer to one good text covering a range of general Physics
topics at a fairly fundamental/basic level. However, the Foundation Year
Physics course at the RCSI is very different from the Leaving certificate, IB,
or A-level courses in that it emphasizes the medical applications of many of
the basic principles, and hence it is essential that students consult texts
dealing specifically with medical applications.

Some very good older texts if you can get hold of them include:

Physics (3rd edition) by Kane and Sternheim, published by Wiley.

General Physics with Bio-science essays (2nd edition) by Marion and
Hornyak
Physics (with health science applications) by Urone
Physics of the Body (2nd edition) by Cameron, Skofronick and Grant
(published by Medical Physics Publishing, 1999)

For some of the topics covered in the Physics course (eye, ear, blood flow,
lungs etc) you will need to refer to a basic Physiology text
 Timetable
Make sure you are happy with the terms used to describe each
lecture, i.e. in the Moodle calendar, Lecture FUNPHYS.2 refers
to Module FUNPHYS, lecture 2: etc.

Check regularly on Moodle for any changes or alterations to

the timetable.
 Tutorials
Held in O’Flanagan Lecture Theatre – check the
calendar in Moodle.

Usually driven by a Tutorial Sheet available in Moodle

– Students should attempt to answer the tutorial
questions before attending the tutorial

Note: Best informal forum to test understanding of the

material. Many of the exam questions are based on
tutorial questions!!
Why Physics??
I thought I was
a medical/
physiotherapy
student??
 The Human Body.
A couple of my holiday snaps

The human body is just a complex, physical

structure which can be explained (for the most
part) using simple physical laws.
 The human skeleton.

Nature has done a very good design

job.
The human heart.
 Doctor or Physiotherapist??

Both utilise the basic principles of physics in;

taking a clinical examination, diagnosis, and
therapy.
What is a clinical examination?
Thermal Imaging
More Complex Technology
 Technology allows us to see into the
body with greater detail than ever before.

Into the stomach

3-d CT
image of
the skull

MRI slice
image
3-dimensional
ultrasound
Physics in Therapy?
 Defibrillation

Artificial Pacemaker

Electrocautery & Electrosurgery

Is there a role for technology in the
learning process??
 Digital Image Transmission

Clinical Skills Laboratories

Clinical Simulation Models

All of these utilise simple laws of physics…..

 Whichever way we look at it, we end up at the
same start point - Physics is inextricably linked
with understanding medicine and
physiotherapy!!
 Course Philosophy..
1. Basic Principles.
Concepts of: Force, Pressure, Energy etc… - what
do these terms mean??
Principles of: light, Sound, Electricity, Mechanics,
Atomic and Nuclear Physics etc….

2. The Body as a Physical System.

Forces, Stresses and Strains inside and outside the body.
What Processes Control Blood Flow and Pressure –
Cardiovascular Dynamics.
How can we Hear, Speak, See?
Electrical Activity Within the Human Body
How can I Sit, Lift, Walk, Run??
3. Physics in the Practice of Medicine
and Physiotherapy.

How do I measure Blood Pressure, CSF Pressure, Lung

Pressure etc….
Principles of Medical Imaging.
Lasers, Ultrasound, Ionizing Radiation etc. in
Diagnosis and Therapy.
Prostheses design, Heat and Electrotherapy
treatments.
If I Break it, can I Fix it??