To acquire the necessary foundations for understanding the subjects taught in the later years of the medical curriculum. Understand the physics directly related to medicine and medical imaging techniques.
The aim of the course is to learn physics concepts that are not covered in secondary education, but are essential for understanding the functioning of the human body or certain diagnostic techniques.
This course is structured in chapters, each of which aims to explain a medical phenomenon from a physical point of view (blood circulation, hearing, vision...) or a medical technique (ultrasound, Doppler...). Theoretical courses are combined with practical work and tutorials.
The course is given on a graphic tablet and/or interactive board. During the course, many experiments (Doppler on the carotid artery, ionic conduction, ...) are performed live. These experiments aim to observe a new phenomenon and to make it understood, or illustrate applications. Multimedia aids (Powerpoint, DVD films, etc.) are also used to explain the applications (dissection of an eye, etc.). The student is invited to ask any questions to the teacher on the WebCampus forum or directly to the teacher. The reference books are on the one hand the syllabus sold by the science bookshop and on the other hand the physics book by Kane and Sternheim, as well as the various documents posted by the teachers on WebCampus. The book "Physique pour les sciences médicales" published in 2025 by Dunod is also recommended: it is a biophysics course dedicated to medical students in Belgium and France. Two other syllabi are related to the TP and TD sessions.
The theory exam lasts 3 hours, both in January, June and August, and takes the form of open and multiple choice questions (MCQs) which may include exercises. The tutorials are assessed in the course examination and the exercises required are based on those carried out during the year in tutorials. The results of these exercises therefore count for 15% of the final grade of the theory exam. The practical work (TP) is evaluated continuously during the year by the assistants, on the basis of the work done during the session and the lab book. Attendance at practical sessions is compulsory. In case of justified absence from a practical session, the student must contact the assistant as soon as he/she returns to the University of Namur. Considering that the practical courses are subject to continuous assessment, the mark obtained during the year will be carried forward, if necessary, to each examination session (June and August). The TP mark obtained in this way is then integrated into the mark awarded to the course in which it accounts for 20 %.
| Training | Study programme | Block | Credits | Mandatory |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor in Medicine | Standard | 0 | 6 | |
| Bachelor in Medicine | Standard | 1 | 6 |