Mathematical physiology. II: Systems physiology (Q925077)

The content of this book lies on the border between mathematics and physiology. It is describes ways in which mathematics may be used to give insight into physiological questions and in turn, how physiological questions can be lead to new mathematical problems. It is divided on two parts, the first dealing with the fundamental principles of cell physiology, while the second with the physiology of systems giving an overview of organ physiology. Chapter 11 describes the circulation of blood flow at the usage of Navier-Stokes equations for viscous fluid with all arising here peculiarities connected with human organism. Chapter 12 is devoted to the heart as four-chambered pump, consisting of two pumps arranged in series. Coordination of the mechanical activity of the heart is provided by an electrical signal, which is the topic of this chapter study. Chapter 13 deals with blood composing of two major ingredients: the liquid blood plasma and several types of cells suspended within the plasma. Chapter 13 considers certain mathematical questions associated with these cell types. Chapter 14 studies the respiratory system which is responsible for gas transfer between the tissues and the outside air. In Chapter 15 various muscle models are presented. Chapter 16 studies the endocrine system, which is responsible for the secretion of various hormones necessary for the vital activity of human organism. This chapter contains models of the working endocrine systems (model of pulsatile secretion of luteinizing hormone, a model of the menstrual cycle and model of insulin sensitivity) described by nonlinear differential equations with parameters with their investigation. The main goal of the Chapter 17 is to gain some understanding of the processes by which the urine is formed and waste products removed from the bloodstream. It also contains nonlinear differential equations connected with oscillations theory and Andronov-Hopf bifurcations. Considered in Chapter 18 gastrointestinal system is also heavily innervated, which can control the activity of the entire gut, or part of it. Through gastrointestinal tract the mechanism of isotonic transport is realized, in which the transported fluid has the same osmolality of the fluid into which it is transported. Here two models of water transport via osmosis are presented, the first is a simpler model that includes no spatial information, while the second [\textit{J. M. Diamond} and \textit{W. H. Bossert}, J. General Physiology 50, 2061--2083 (1967)] shows the maintenance of a standing gradient of solute concentration in a restricted spatial area which can lead to isotonic and uphill water transport. In particular in the last model nonlinear system of DEs with small parameter at the highest derivative arises. In the last section 18.3 the model of coupled oscillators is used for the study of waves of electrical activity. In Chapter 19 The Retina and Vision the authors concentrates on retinal mechanisms and omit discussion of mechanisms at the level of the visual cortex. However here also nonlinear DE arise (in sec. 19.2 ``Photoreceptor Physiology''). Chapter 20 is devoted to ``The Inner Ear'', where also at the description of the sound vibration (see Chapter 20.4 ``The Nonlinear Cochlear Amplifier'') a system of two DEs arises, subjected to Andronov-Hopf bifurcation. In the Preface to the First Edition it is remarked that from the reader it is required ``a solid understanding of differential equations, including phase plane analysis and stability theory, understanding of basic bifurcation theory, integral transform theory''.