BIOL5380 · Biology

Vertebrate Biomechanics

Morrissey College of Arts & Sciences

Satisfies the advanced experience requirement for the Biology major. This course will explore the physical principles underlying biological processes and mechanisms including movement, feeding, architecture, and transport. Drawing on physics and mechanical engineering, the course will explore how organisms swim, fly, walk, and consume resources, how they respond to moving fluids, and the relationship between their size and design of mechanical systems. Underlying all these topics will be investigations of how biological materials (e.g., wood, muscle, bone, skin, etc.) influence the mechanical behavior of complex life forms. The course will prepare students for more in-depth explorations of other related disciplines including ergonomics, orthopedics, kinesiology, and sports medicine.