BME-420-davidlin-2026-09-08-06-09-54

Title of Course: Dynamics in Physiological Systems

Prefix and Number: BME 420

Semester and Year: tbd

Number of Credit Hours: 4

Prerequisites: BME 322

Course Details

Day and Time: tbd

Meeting Location: tbd

 

Instructor Contact Information

Instructor Name: tbd

Instructor Contact Information: tbd

Instructor Office Hours: tbd

 

TA Name: tbd

TA Contact Information: tbd

TA Office Hours: tbd

 

Course Description

Modeling of dynamic systems applied to physiological systems and introduction to feedback control. Topics include neural, endocrine, and metabolic systems and homeostasis. 

 

Course Materials 

Books: Human Physiology: An Integrated Approach, 8th Edition; $64.98

Other Materials: none

Fees: none

Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs)

Course Learning Outcomes

(students will be able to:)

Activities Supporting the Learning Outcomes Assessment of the Learning Outcomes

Mathematically describe relationships between biological structure and physiological function using linear, nonlinear, and/or differential equations.

Lecture, lab, homework, in-class activities Homework, exams, lab reports

Formulate mathematical models for major physiological systems.

Lecture, lab, homework, in-class activities Homework, exams, lab reports

Apply mathematical models for engineering analysis of major physiological systems.

 

Lecture, lab, homework, in-class activities

Homework, exams, lab reports

Use appropriate computational analysis tools, such as Simulink.

Lecture, lab, homework, in-class activities

Homework, exams, lab reports

Analyze and interpret physiological data using engineering principles to address problems in quantitative physiology.

Lecture, lab, homework, in-class activities

Homework, exams, lab reports

Conduct experiments to measure physiological functions and apply quantitative techniques to estimate unmeasurable functions.

Lecture, lab, homework, in-class activities

Homework, lab reports

Course Schedule

[Please note that a WSU semester is 15 weeks + Thanksgiving/Spring Break. The schedule below does not include the break.]

Dates Lesson Topic Assignment Assessment

Week 1

 Syllabus, course overview, and expectations. Definition of homeostasis

Lecture, lab

Lab report

Week 2

Developing differential equations using modeling 1st order material balances: Body fluid compartment dynamics

Lecture, homework, lab

Lab report, homework

Week 3

Natural and forced responses for 1st order systems

Lecture, homework, lab

Lab report, homework

Week 4

2nd order material balances: chemical kinetics

Lecture, homework, lab

Lab report, homework

Week 5

Natural and forced responses for 2nd order systems

Lecture, homework, lab

Lab report, homework

Week 6

Laplace and frequency domain.

Lecture, exam

Exam

Week 7

Impedance, Transfer functions and time constants

Lecture, homework, lab

Lab report, homework

Week 8

Sinusoidal steady-state analysis

Lecture, homework, lab

Lab report, homework

Week 9

Definition of feedback systems

Lecture, exam

Exam

Week 10

Block diagram models

Lecture, homework, lab

Lab report, homework

Week 11

Block diagram reduction and transfer functions

Lecture, homework, lab

Lab report, homework

Week 12

Pole-zero diagrams

Lecture, homework, lab

Lab report, homework

Week 13

Closed-loop stability

Lecture, homework, lab

Lab report, homework

Week 14

Time-delays

Lecture, homework, lab

Lab report, homework

Week 15

Nyquist stability

Lecture, homework, lab

Lab report, homework

 

 

Expectations for Student Effort 

For each hour of lecture equivalent, students should expect to have a minimum of two hours of work outside of class.

 

Grading

Assignment Breakdown
Type of Assignment (tests, papers, etc) Points Percent of Overall Grade
Exams (2) 30% (15% each)
Final 20%
Homework 20%
Lab reports 20%
In-class activities 10%

 

Grading Schema
Grade Percent Grade Percent
A

>92

C 73-76
A-  90-91 C- 70-72
B+ 87-89 D+ 67-69
B 83-86 D 60-66
B- 80-82 F <60
C+ 77-79  

Numerical grades will be rounded to the nearest integer value.


Attendance and Make-Up Policy 

Students should make all reasonable efforts to attend all class meetings. However, in the event a student is unable to attend a class, it is the responsibility of the student to inform the instructor as soon as possible, explain the reason for the absence (and provide documentation, if appropriate), and make up class work missed within a reasonable amount of time, if allowed. Missing class meetings may result in reducing the overall grade in the class.

 


Academic Integrity Statement

You are responsible for reading WSU's Academic Integrity Policy, which is based on Washington State law. If you cheat in your work in this class you will:

-Receive an "F" for the course grade

-Be reported to the Center for Community Standards

-Have the right to appeal my decision

-Not be able to drop the course of withdraw from the course until the appeals process is finished

If you have any questions about what you can and cannot do in this course, ask me.

If you want to ask for a change in my decision about academic integrity, use the form at the Center for Community Standards website. You must submit this request within 21 calendar days of the decision.