Physics in medicine and its role

Physics in medicine, as in any other science, plays an important role. In this article, we will look at many examples of how this science affects people's health and lives. Immediately agree that we will not go into complicated scientific and technical details, so as not to mislead anyone. Let's start by examining the examples.

What are your temperature, pulse and pressure?

Medicine does not do without three important parameters, which are the basis for assessing human health: temperature, pressure, and often also the pulse.

As you know, the temperature is measured with a thermometer (in a simpleton is called a "thermometer"). And what indicators should be? The norm for humans is T = 36.6 ^° C. Undoubtedly, it is permissible, for example, 36.3 ^° C and 36.8 ^° C. But if the body temperature is above 36.9 ^° C, then we can safely say that the person is unwell.

What is the role of physics in medicine here? Who learned from the 7th to the 11th (or at least the 9th) class, they know perfectly well that the temperature is a physical quantity. It is measured in several units. But in Russia it is customary to measure in Celsius. Thermometers can be mercury, electronic (with a special sensor).

Pressure is also an important parameter, but there are nuances. Not for all, the pressure of 120 to 80 is useful. Someone has a working pressure of 110 to 70, which is also the norm. Measured with a tonometer (cuff, pear for air pumping, manometer). There are electronic, computer tonometers. As a rule, modern technology simultaneously measures pressure and pulse. As for pressure measurement units , there are several of them in physics. In medicine, the pressure is measured in millimeters of mercury (mm Hg). The pulse is also easier to measure by yourself and more reliably, since it is necessary to calculate how many beats per minute was realized.

Diagnostic equipment

The use of physics in medicine is a necessity in the modern world. None, even the poorest medical institution, does not do without diagnostic equipment. Everywhere there are the most popular of them:

• Radiographic;
• Electrocardiographs.

No less in demand apparatuses of ultrasound, gastroscopes, ophthalmological equipment.

Of course, to create these or other devices, you need to unite together many scientists. It takes more than one year to create suitable equipment. The technician must necessarily interact with the living organism without causing harm. Unfortunately, not every device is capable of this, therefore doctors recommend strict adherence to the dose, time of the examination or therapy.

Miracle-research: ultrasound

The school program of physics includes the section "Oscillations and Waves" - the theme "Sound". There are three types: infrasound (16 to 20 Hz), sound (from 21 to 19,999 Hertz), ultrasound (from 20,000 Hertz and above). What is "hertz"? This is the frequency of oscillations that occur in just one second. This is a sound wave that penetrates from one medium to another with a certain frequency. The role of physics in the development of medicine in this case is the following: scientists of biophysics, designers invented and continue to invent powerful apparatus for the study of internal organs.

To date, ultrasound diagnosis is one of the fastest, painless and safe methods of research. But there is a drawback: you can only examine the internal organs of the abdominal cavity, small pelvis, kidneys, thyroid gland. Find out if there is a fracture of the bones or what happens to the diseased eye or tooth, it will not work.

Magnetic resonance and computed tomography

Another miracle of modern medical technology is magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Such a survey gives a clearer picture of what is happening in a specific organ. We can say at once that MRI in its own way is a replacement for ultrasound. Why? As we said above, ultrasound can be checked only the organs of the abdominal cavity, small pelvis and thyroid. The condition of bones and vessels can not be checked. It can make an MRI. An alternative to these two methods (ultrasound and MRI) can be computed tomography (CT).

It should be borne in mind that ultrasound and CT require the use of additional drugs to ensure a qualitative examination.

Physiotherapy

Physiotherapy plays an important role in people's health: heating, ultraviolet radiation, electrophoresis and so on.

What other contribution did the physics make? In medicine, there is a huge number of types of equipment, devices not only for polyclinics and hospitals. Currently, some factories make appliances for home use. For example, inhalers of various types for respiratory therapy. Here you can also include ultrasonic, infrared, electromagnetic instruments.

Saving Life

Emergency medical care for severe conditions makes sense where there are professional resuscitators. If a person suddenly stops breathing, his heart stops beating, then, as a rule, they try to bring him back to life. Conducting an indirect heart massage is not always convenient, but also dangerous.

It will help doctors such a device, which has the name "defibrillator". Here is another application of physics in medicine. The creators of the device calculated what currents must pass through the human heart to start it. Important factors are the material, rules for safe use. Devices of artificial ventilation of lungs (IVL) are also a merit of physics.

Section of physics: "Optics and light"

Every second person in the modern world wears glasses or contact lenses. To find the right diopter you need to spend a lot of time. Optics are used in microscopes.

The importance of physics in medicine is very great, even, it would seem, in the small. Optics began to be used several centuries ago. This is a very complex science. As is known, there are collecting and scattering lenses. And their parameters can be judged long. Can an ordinary person distinguish "-1.0" diopter from, for example, "-1.5"? For a patient with nearsightedness, it is very important to find the right glasses.

Laser vision correction, and, in general, laser surgery, is a very complex and serious task. Scientists must conduct the most accurate calculations in order to obtain a positive result, not a tragic outcome.

Chemotherapy and radiotherapy

It is very important for patients with cancer to choose the right treatment. Almost every patient does not avoid chemotherapy. Undoubtedly, more knowledge of chemistry is required here. But nevertheless the doctor should know whether to irradiate the patient.

Atomic and radiological physics in medicine for patients with oncology can become a way of saving lives, if not only correctly applied in practice, but also create very accurate equipment and devices.

Everything for the population

Many people care about their personal health, as well as the health of their loved ones. The modern world is replete with various useful techniques. For sale are, for example, nitrate meters in vegetables and fruits, dosimeters, electronic glucometers (instruments for measuring blood sugar), electronic blood pressure monitors, home meteorological stations and so on. Of course, some of these devices do not refer to medical devices, but they help people maintain their health.

Help the person to understand the various indications of devices will help not only instructions, but also school physics. In medicine, it has the same laws, units of measurement as in other spheres of life.

How to prepare a lecture

If the school, technical school or institute is asked to write an essay on the topic "The role of physics in medicine" (report), that is, in this regard, a few tips:

• Write a short introduction on the topic;
• To develop a plan for writing the text (it is important to break everything into logical subheadings, paragraphs);
• Let the sources of literature be as much as possible.

It is best to write only about what you understand. It is undesirable to insert into the abstract / report what you do not understand, for example, a very complex scientific description of how an ultrasound or an ECG device works .

If the abstract / report was asked on physics, then take only that topic that you have already studied and understand well. For example, optics. If you are poorly versed in radiophysics, then do not write about devices for treating cancer patients.

Let the topic be interesting first of all for yourself, as well as understandable. After all, additional questions can be asked not only by the teacher, but also by classmates / fellow students.