Welcome to Physiology for Engineers I. Here's some key information to help you get started.

Who is helping you learn?

When do we meet?

Class meeting: TR 12:30 pm -1:45 pm, McLeod 2004
Final exam block: Tues. Dec. 11, 2018, 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Office hours:
               M 2:00-3:00, W 2:00-3:00, F 11:00-12:00 in MR4 1126
               I have an open door policy: you may stop by and knock any time.
               Please post and answer questions using Piazza so everyone in the class benefits.

What classes should you take before this one?

CHEM 1610 and PHYS 1425. If you haven't taken these (or equivalent) classes yet, please ask to meet with Dr. Helmke before taking this class.

I'm on the Waitlist to enroll in BME 2101. What are my chances of getting in?

The course size is evenly distributed between fall and spring semesters so that everyone may benefit from in-class discussion and frequent interactions with instructors. If you are a new transfer student or have exceptional scheduling issues, then please ask me about what options are available. Be prepared for me to encourage you to take BME 2101 in the spring semester.

How do systems in the human body work together to keep us alive? As biomedical engineers, can we analyze these control systems and design strategies to improve quality of life? Our study of physiology aims to explain the physical and chemical mechanisms that regulate the human body. These mechanisms maintain homeostasis, relatively constant conditions that are compatible with life. This semester, we will begin speaking the language of physiology so that we can communicate effectively with clinicians, medical staff, and other biomedical engineers. We will find and evaluate physiological facts on the internet and in the world around us that help us to integrate the rich history of the field with recent advances in knowledge and technology. Finally, we will begin to develop an evidence-based approach to figuring out how critical systems and subsystems in the human body work together.

Want to see the "official" course catalog description? Click here.

Yes, we will use one of the "bibles" of medical physiology education. This textbook will serve as an important reference for your personal library as you build your career.

Hall, John E. Guyton and Hall Textbook of Medical Physiology, 13th ed. Philadelphia: Elsevier, 2016.

Here are a few options for purchasing the textbook:

1. Visit or order online from the UVa Bookstore.
2. Purchase a hard copy OR electronic book directly from the publisher.
3. Purchase a hard copy or Kindle book from Amazon.
4. Visit or order online from Barnes & Noble.

Since this course is your first entry into biomedical engineering and human physiology, we will focus on building a knowledge base for your future study. The course objectives are as follows:

1. To describe the fundamental concepts of human physiology necessary for the practice of biomedical engineering.
2. To connect biological, physiological, and engineering concepts together into physiological control mechanisms that help explain the etiology, pathogenesis, and treatment of human diseases.
3. To practice finding and evaluating physiology facts on the internet and in published literature.