The conditions for successful completion of the subject include obtaining credit, which is awarded on the basis of a satisfactory continuous evaluation of practical exercises. The final assessment is an exam. The exam cannot be passed without obtaining credit. The success threshold is determined by the study schedule and represents the achievement of at least 51% in the case of both credit and exam. Other grades are determined according to the table given by the study order.

The graduate of the subject of biophysics will acquire knowledge of the biophysical processes occurring in living organisms and at the same time acquire practical knowledge and skills in practical exercises. He uses his knowledge in downstream subjects such as biochemistry, physiology, pharmacology, radiobiology, internal medicine, radiography, surgery, orthopedics and food hygiene.

The theoretical knowledge gained in the lectures will help the student to know the issue of living matter in a broader context, as well as in relation to ecosystems.

The skills acquired in practical exercises will make it possible to understand the principles of diagnostic methods used in veterinary medicine. Also, this knowledge and skills are the basis for laboratory exercises and examinations in diagnostic laboratories.

The theoretical interpretation progresses from simple problems to more complex ones. In the first parts of the lectures there is an explanation of the structure of matter with an emphasis on the structure of living matter and methods of structural analysis.

The next chapters are devoted to the detection of transport processes at the level of a living organism (blood circulation and respiration), solutions (diffusion, osmosis) and transports through the cell membrane. The last of the mentioned transports is the cause of the genesis of electrical potentials, which are the basis for the biophysics of excitation processes.

A special chapter is devoted to radiation and its application in medicine. The students are explained the basic concepts of radiobiology and radiography, as well as an overall view of the different types of waves and radiation.

We also pay attention to the explanation of the physical principles of diagnostic methods using X-rays and ultrasound.

In practical exercises, students individually do individual tasks, some of which are of a physicochemical nature (refractometry, polarimetry, calorimetry, absorption spectrophotometry, density measurement and others), and some are diagnostic (electrocardiography, ultrasound, blood pressure measurement). By drawing up measurement protocols, students learn how to precisely process and interpret the results and draw a conclusion.

Scheme of lectures:

1. THE STRUCTURE OF THE MATTER. Atomic and molecular background of structure of living matter.

Methods of structure analysis. Basic forms of matter. Atoms. The principal characteristics of quantum theory. Ionization and excitation.

Atom nucleus. Radioactive isotopes. The decay law. Physical, biological and effective half-life.

2. THE STRUCTURE OF MATTER - CONTINUE

Molecules. Gases. The universal gas law and its interpretation in respiration. Water: structure, physical properties and function.

Dispersed systems. Emulsions and suspensions. Surface tension and the lung. Viscosity. Sedimentation of blood. Dialysis.

3. TRANSPORT PROCESSES. THERMODYNAMIC BASE OF LIFE PROCESSES

Thermodynamics in general. The first and the second law of thermodynamics. Internal energy. Entropy – two definitions.

Characterization of biological systems from thermodynamics point of view. Open systems.

4. TRANSPORT PROCESSES - CONTINUE

Flow of fluids and gases. Basic laws. Laminar and turbulent flow. Blood circulation. Heart as source of mechanical energy. Blood pressure.

Diffusion and osmosis. Basic definitions and laws. Osmotic and oncotic pressure. Isotonic solutions.

5. TRANSPORT PROCESSES – CONTINUE

Transport across biological membranes. Structure and function of cell membrane. Passive transport across membrane.

The diffusion of neutral solute molecules across membranes. Passive transport of ions. Active transport across membrane.

6. THE BIOPHYSICS OF EXCITATION PROCESSES

Electric properties of resting cells. Ion composition of resting cell. Donnan equilibrium. Nernst and Goldman equation. Resting potential.

7. THE BIOPHYSICS OF EXCITATION PROCESSES – CONTINUE

Action membrane potential – formation and propagation. Action potential of fiber, heart and brain.

Electrocardiography. Electromyography. Electroencephalography.

8. RADIATION. THE PHYSICAL BACKGROUND OF THE APPLICATION OF RADIATION IN MEDICINE

The complete electromagnetic spectrum. Nonionizing and ionizing radiation.

Visible light. Human eye. Vision.

9. NONIONIZING RADIATION.

Emission, absorption and fluoroscence. Absorption spectrophotometry.

Thermal radiation. Thermography. Biological effects of ultraviolet radiation.

10. IONIZING RADIATION

Interaction of photons and charged particles with matter. Photoelectric effect. Compton effect.

Pair production. Interaction of -particles with atoms. Interaction of -particles with atoms. Braking radiation.

11. X-RAYS in MEDICINE

Production of X-rays. Absorbed dose and exposure. Diagnostic image formation.

Film as an X-ray detector; screens. Computed tomography. Radiation therapy.

12. THE DIAGNOSTIC APPLICATION OF ULTRASOUND IN MEDICINE

Sound and ultrasound. Source of ultrasound. The background of diagnostic application of ultrasound. Production of A image, B image.

13. OTHER PHYSICAL METHODS USED IN MEDICINE

Nuclear magnetic resonance tomography. LASER - therapeutic and surgery using.

Scheme of lessons:

1. Introductory lesson. Organization of the practical exercises, general safety rules.

Basic definitions – measurement, error, absolute and relative error, arithmetical

average, standard error of average.

2. Measurement of mass and density.

3. Specific heat measurement – calorimetry.

4. Surface tension measurement by droplett method.

5. Humidity measurement.

6. Sedimentation. Centrifugation.

7. Refractometry.

8. Polarimetry.

9. Spectrophotometry (a) – qualitative analysis.

Spectrophotometry (b) – quantitavie analysis.

10. Blood pressure measurement.

11. Electrocardiography.

12. Ultrasound I., II., III.

13. Credit test and evaluation of reports.

Staničová J.: Biophysics for veterinary medicine, UVM, 2007

Staničová J., Verebová V.: Biophysics - methods and instruments, UVM, 2019

Tarján I. et al.: An introduction to biophysics with medical orientation, Akadémiai Kiadó, Budapest, 1987

Study material published on Moodle platform including lectures presentations, manuals for practical lessons, videos etc.

Content prerequisite:

Knowledge of mathematics, physics, chemistry and biology at the high school level.

Continuous assessment:

Continuous evaluation of practical exercises:

The participation of students in the exercises is mandatory, the possibility of possible absences is determined by the study regulations of the university. A student can have a maximum of three excused absences by the instructor, two of which must be replaced. For the 3rd absence, he will be awarded zero points in the final rating for the task he was supposed to practice at that time.

Readiness testing for each practical exercise. In case of unpreparedness for the exercise, the instructor has the right not to recognize the student's exercise.

Protocols:

The student is required to submit online logs from all the tasks he or she will practice. Protocols are evaluated – scored. In the instructions of each task, it is indicated what is the required measurement accuracy. In order to be credited, it is necessary to obtain at least 51% of the possible scoring of the protocols.

Credit note:

The success rate should be at least 51% and the student is entitled to two correction periods.

Overall rating of practical exercises:

Protocols: 40 %

Credit note: 60 %

Number of points earned for credit added to the exam: 10 – 20 points

Conditions for completion of course:

The conditions for successful completion of the subject include obtaining credit, which is awarded on the basis of a satisfactory continuous evaluation of practical exercises. The final assessment is an exam. The exam cannot be passed without obtaining credit. The success threshold is determined by the study schedule and represents the achievement of at least 51% in the case of both credit and exam. Other grades are determined according to the table given by the study order.

Final assessment:

Final evaluation:

The final assessment of the subject is an exam.

The exam consists of a written and oral part, which can be held only after the successful completion of the written part (minimum 51%). Written exam will be realized by means Moodle platform. Failure to complete the oral part (minimum 51% of each question) means the repetition of the entire exam, including its written part.