web-HUMAN Physiology Simulation (Version 4.0)

Description: The original HUMAN program is a FORTRAN mathematical model that simulates the integrated physiology of the human organism in both health and disease. This version was written in 1978-1984 by Tom Coleman at the University of Mississippi Medical Center and was then maintained and updated at Skidmore College. The simulation is now hosted by the University of Seville.

The model is comprehensive, encompassing 6 major systems (cardiovascular, respiratory, renal, fluid balance, acid-base balance and thermoregulatory) and aspects of 3 other systems (nervous, endocrine and muscle metabolism). In running a simulation, the user may manipulate one or more parameters from a list of 67 alterable physiological, environmental and clinical factors.

web-HUMAN Version 4.0 provides a web "front end" to the model that allows users to: Access the model via the web; Input values and variables desired for the experiments via a familiar web interface; View outputs in a web format; Access via the web on-line help and many sample simulated labs. The user will simulate actual experiments (traditionally done on animals and/or too complex to perform in lab) that illustrate how mammalian systems respond to various stresses and perturbations imposed on them. For example, from the knowledge of respiratory physiology the student may be asked to predict how the human respiratory system would respond when a normal human subject moves to a mountain top (high altitude). The student can then test his predictions by running the web-HUMAN model under conditions of simulated high altitude (i.e. low barometric pressure). The model will generate data not only about the resonses of the breathing apparatus (respiration rate and depth) but also alterations in blood gases, acid-base balance, renal and cardiovascular changes and so on. With experience, students will develop a knowledge of what constitutes normal (and abnormal) values for several physiological variables and clinical readings.

The student can utilize web-HUMAN to simulate physiological pathology:
Anemia: teaching simulation with analysis; Induction of a fever: factors involved in thermoregulation; Emphysema: Effects of reduced lung diffusion surface area.
Sample simulations from courses in Respiratory physiology: Control of ventilation (high altitude/Emphysema; Acid-base physiology. Renal physiology: Basic quantitative renal calculations; Nephrectomy. Sample simulations from courses in Cardiovascular physiology: Hypertension - Renal induced (Goldblatt hypertension); Central Vascular Shunt 1 - a Right to Left Shunt; Central Vascular Shunt 2 - locate the shunt, based on cardiac catheterization data; Anemia - haemodynamic, fluid balance, consequences of progressive anemia.
Sample simulations from courses in Comparative Vertebrate Physiology: Body Temperature regulation in Hot and Cold Environments; Endurance Exercise - cardiorespiratory limitations (PDF); HUMAN "ultramarathon" - water and salt balance problems & management; Cardiac and (vascular) smooth muscle comparison.
Includes "How to do it" examples; Sample simulations from courses (please see above); HUMAN Variables and Parameters List; HELP - an Annotated Variables List; References; Workshops; Limitations of the web-HUMAN model.

This program can be accessed on the Internet, free of charge at http://placid.skidmore.edu/human.
Contact person: Guillermo Alvarez de Toledo
Version: 4.0