Advances in Physiology Education, Vol 266, Issue 6 55-S66, Copyright © 1994 by American Physiological Society
First principles: physical science concepts as a foundation for advanced studies in physiology
J. O. Bullock
Department of Physiology, University of Missouri-Columbia 65212.
The importance of mathematics and physical science to physiology is amply
evident in both the classic and current literature of this field. Students
who have completed typical medical school preparatory programs, however,
have been poorly equipped to embark on serious graduate study in
physiology. Because undergraduate education in the sciences is typically
structured as narrowly defined, disjointed degree programs in separate
disciplines, students of biology have had only limited access to the
resources of physical science departments. Attempts by physiology faculty
to remedy specific deficiencies on a piecemeal basis have been found to be
both time consuming and ineffective. We describe an intensive one-semester
course as an alternative. Maintaining high levels of generality and
concentrating on the development of physical insight were possible only
when the mathematical foundation attained by the students was adequate.
Although physiological applications were stressed throughout, extended
examination of complex problems was limited to a few examples of particular
interest. Emphasis was placed on rigor and sophistication rather than
proficiency and detail.
