Universidad del Rosario – School of medicine and health sciences – Biomedical engineering program

Biophysics of sense and diffusion problem set

 A new animal species discovered has a blood pressure of 67 mm Hg. Convert this pressure to
atmospheres and Pascals and bars.

 The intestinal enterocytes form a covering over the intestinal lining which, to the first
approximation, can be considered to be a plane. Assuming no binding or sequestration within the
cell, what is the estimated time of diffusion of Ca2+ across the intestinal enterocyte? The length of
the enterocyte is 17.3 μm and assume that the effective diffusion coefficient of Ca2+ is about 0.26 x
10-5 cm2s-1.

 Explain how works the negative feedback control loop of the human body’s temperature (what
happen in cases of fever).

 When concentration left was 3.6 x 10-3M and concentration right was 1.2 x 10-6M, the flux across a
microporous membrane was found to be 0.31 pmol cm-2s-1. The free diffusion coefficient of the
material being measured was 0.62 x 10-5 cm2s-1.
a) What is the permeability of the membrane to the material?
b) If the thickness of the membrane is 7.2 X 10-6m, what is the equivalent relative area
available for diffusion of the material?

 Schematize how an acoustic wave (1.5KHz) is transformed and perceived as a sound in humans
(from a mechanical wave to bio-electricity signal). Use a diagram to complete this item.

 Schematize how one object illuminated by the sun (visible spectrum) is transformed and perceived
as an image in humans (from electromagnetic waves to bio-electricity signal). Use a diagram to
complete this item.

 Compare the different cellular membrane transport mechanisms

Through Modality Substance Type
Diffusion
Osmosis
Mediated transport
Ionic transport
Ionic pumps