Document Detail


Teaching cardiovascular physiology with equivalent electronic circuits in a practically oriented teaching module.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  21652500     Owner:  NLM     Status:  In-Data-Review    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
Here, we report on a new tool for teaching cardiovascular physiology and pathophysiology that promotes qualitative as well as quantitative thinking about time-dependent physiological phenomena. Quantification of steady and presteady-state (transient) cardiovascular phenomena is traditionally done by differential equations, but this is time consuming and unsuitable for most undergraduate medical students. As a result, quantitative thinking about time-dependent physiological phenomena is often not extensively dealt with in an undergraduate physiological course. However, basic concepts of steady and presteady state can be explained with relative simplicity, without the introduction of differential equation, with equivalent electronic circuits (EECs). We introduced undergraduate medical students to the concept of simulating cardiovascular phenomena with EECs. EEC simulations facilitate the understanding of simple or complex time-dependent cardiovascular physiological phenomena by stressing the analogies between EECs and physiological processes. Student perceptions on using EEC to simulate, study, and understand cardiovascular phenomena were documented over a 9-yr period, and the impact of the course on the students' knowledge of selected basic facts and concepts in cardiovascular physiology was evaluated over a 3-yr period. We conclude that EECs are a valuable tool for teaching cardiovascular physiology concepts and that EECs promote active learning.
Authors:
Samo Ribaric; Marjan Kordas
Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Advances in physiology education     Volume:  35     ISSN:  1522-1229     ISO Abbreviation:  Adv Physiol Educ     Publication Date:  2011 Jun 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2011-06-09     Completed Date:  -     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  100913944     Medline TA:  Adv Physiol Educ     Country:  United States    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  149-60     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Institute of Pathophysiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
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