Section: Intercollegiate Classes | C5.12 Mathematical Physiology (2025-26)

Lecturer: Profile: Carles Falco I Gandia
Lecturer: Profile: Christiana Mavroyiakoumou

Course information

General prerequisites:

B5.5 Further Mathematical Biology is highly recommended.

Course term: Michaelmas

Course lecture information: 16 lectures

Course weight: 1

Course level: M

Assessment type: Written Examination

Course overview:

The course aims to provide an introduction which can bring students within reach of current research topics in physiology, by synthesising a coherent description of the physiological background with realistic mathematical models and their analysis. The concepts and treatment of oscillations, waves and stability are central to the course, which develops ideas introduced in the more elementary B5.5 course. In addition, the lecture sequence aims to build understanding of the workings of the human body by treating in sequence problems at the intracellular, intercellular, whole organ and systemic levels.

Learning outcomes:

Students will have developed an understanding of mathematical modelling of physiological systems and will have demonstrable knowledge of the mathematical theory necessary to analyse such models.

Course synopsis:

Trans-membrane ion transport: Hodgkin-Huxley and Fitzhugh-Nagumo models.

Excitable media; wave propagation in neurons.

Calcium dynamics; calcium-induced calcium release. Intracellular oscillations and wave propagation.

The electrochemical action of the heart. Spiral waves, tachycardia and fibrillation.

Discrete delays in physiological systems. The Glass-Mackey model of respiration. Regulation of stem cell and blood cell production.

Main content blocks

Section outline