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 the he alth and lives of people. We will immediately agree that we will not go into complex scientific and technical details so as not to mislead anyone. Let's start with some examples.
What is your temperature, pulse and blood pressure
Medicine is not complete without three important parameters that are the basis for assessing human he alth: temperature, pressure, and often also pulse.
As you know, temperature is measured with a thermometer (colloquially called a "thermometer"). What indicators should be? The norm for a person is T=36, 60C. Undoubtedly, it is permissible, for example, 36, 30С and 36, 80С. But if the body temperature is above 36.90C, then we can safely say that the person is unhe althy.
What is the role of physics in medicine here? Those who studied from the 7th to the 11th (or at least the 9th) grade know very well that temperature is a physical quantity. It is measured in several units. But in Russia it is customary to measure in Celsius. Thermometers are mercury, electronic (with a special sensor).
Pressure is also an important parameter, but there are nuances. Not for everyone the pressure of 120 over 80 is useful. Someone has a working pressure of 110 to 70, which is also the norm. It is measured using a tonometer (cuff, pear for pumping air, pressure gauge). There are also electronic, computer tonometers. As a rule, modern technology simultaneously measures blood pressure and pulse. As for the units of measurement of pressure, there are several of them in physics. In medicine, pressure is measured in millimeters of mercury (mmHg). It is easier to measure the pulse on your own and more reliable, since you need to calculate how many beats per minute have been realized.
Diagnostic equipment
The use of physics in medicine is a necessity in today's world. Not a single, even the poorest medical institution can do without diagnostic equipment. Everywhere there are the most popular of them:
- radiographic;
- electrocardiographs.
Ultrasound devices, gastroscopes, ophthalmic equipment are no less in demand.
Of course, in order to create certain devices, many scientists need to unite together. It takes more than one year to create the right equipment. Necessarily, the technique must interact with a living organism without causing harm. Unfortunately, not every device is capable of this, so doctors recommend strictly observing the dose, the time of the examination or therapy.
Wonder Research: Ultrasound
The school curriculum of physics includessection "Oscillations and waves" - the topic "Sound". There are three types of it: infrasound (from 16 to 20 Hertz), sound (from 21 to 19,999 Hertz), ultrasound (from 20,000 Hertz and above). What is "hertz"? This is the frequency of vibrations that occur in just one second. We are talking about 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 as follows: biophysicists and designers have invented and continue to invent powerful devices for studying internal organs.
Today, ultrasound diagnostics is one of the fastest, painless and safest methods of research. But there is a drawback: you can only examine the internal organs of the abdominal cavity, small pelvis, kidneys, thyroid gland. Finding out if there is a broken bone or what happens to a sore eye or tooth will not work.
Magnetic resonance and computed tomography
Another miracle of modern medical technology is magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Such an examination gives a clearer picture of what is happening in a particular organ. It can be said right away that MRI is in its way a replacement for ultrasound. Why? As we said above, ultrasound can only check the organs of the abdominal cavity, small pelvis and thyroid gland. The condition of the bones and blood vessels cannot be checked. An MRI can do this. An alternative to these two methods (ultrasound and MRI) can be computed tomography (CT).
Note that ultrasound and CT require the use ofadditional drugs to ensure a quality examination.
Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy plays an important role in people's he alth: heating, ultraviolet radiation, electrophoresis and so on.
What other contribution has physics made? In medicine, there are a huge number of types of equipment, devices, not only for clinics and hospitals. Currently, some factories produce appliances for home use. For example, various types of inhalers for respiratory therapy. This also includes ultrasonic, infrared, electromagnetic devices.
Saving lives
Emergency medical care for severe conditions makes sense where there are professional resuscitators. If a person’s breathing suddenly stops, his heartbeat stops, then, as a rule, they try to bring him back to life. Chest compression is not always convenient, but also dangerous.
To help doctors such a device, which is called "defibrillator". Here is another application of physics in medicine. The creators of the device calculated what currents must pass through the human heart in order to start it. Important factors are the material, the rules of safe use. Artificial lung ventilation (IVL) devices are also a merit of physics.
Physics Section: "Optics and Light"
Every second person in the modern world wears glasses or contact lenses. In order to select the rightdiopters, you need to spend a lot of time. Optics are used in microscopes.
The importance of physics in medicine is very great, even seemingly small. Optics began to be used several centuries ago. This is a very complex science. As you know, there are converging and diverging lenses. And one can judge their parameters for a long time. Will an ordinary person be able to distinguish "-1.0" diopter from, for example, "-1.5"? It is very important for a patient with myopia to choose the right glasses.
Laser vision correction, and laser surgery in general, is a very complex and serious task. Scientists are obliged to make the most accurate calculations in order to get a positive result, and not a tragic outcome.
Chemotherapy and radiotherapy
It is very important for cancer patients to find the right treatment. Almost no patient is spared chemotherapy. Undoubtedly, more knowledge of chemistry is required here. But nevertheless, the doctor must know whether to irradiate the patient.
Atomic and radiological physics in medicine for oncology patients can be a way to save lives, if not only correctly applied in practice, but also to create very precise equipment and instruments.
All for the population
Many people are concerned about their personal he alth, as well as the he alth of loved ones. The modern world is replete with various useful technology. Commercially available, for example, nitrate meters in vegetables and fruits, dosimeters, electronic glucometers (devices for measuring blood sugar),electronic blood pressure monitors, home weather stations and so on. Of course, some of these devices are not medical, but they help people maintain he alth.
To help a person understand the various readings of instruments will help not only instructions, but also school physics. In medicine, it has the same laws, units of measurement as in other areas of life.
How to prepare an abstract
If a school, technical school or institute is asked to write an essay (report) on the topic “The role of physics in medicine”, then there are a few tips on this:
- write a short introduction on the topic;
- develop a plan for writing the text (it is important to break everything into logical subheadings, paragraphs);
- let there be as many literature sources as possible.
It's best to only write about what you understand. It is undesirable to insert into the abstract / report something that you do not understand, for example, a very complex scientific description of how an ultrasound or an ECG machine works.
If the abstract/report was given in physics, then take only the topic that you have already studied and understand well. For example, optics. If you are poorly versed in radiophysics, then it is better not to write about devices for the treatment of cancer patients.
Let the topic be interesting first of all for yourself, and also understandable. After all, additional questions can be asked not only by the teacher, but also by classmates/classmates.
