MATEMATICAS	La Dinámica de Fluídos y su Rol en el Estudio de Fenómenos Biológicos
	© Ricardo Cortez , 2004   rcortez@tulane.edu

[RESUMEN]ABSTRACT

The contributions of certain mathematical models to the advancement of biological sciences has increased dramatically in the last decade. This is due, in part, to the development of computational methods since they allow the approximate solution of the equations in the models. There are many biological phenomena where an elastic membrane or fiber interacts with the surrounding fluid. For example, arteries are flexible, elastic structures in which blood flows. The heart muscle is composed of elastic muscle fibers that promote blood flow throughout the body. The flagella of microorganisms such as bacteria and sperm are flexible fibers that allow the microorganism to swim. The mathematical models and numerical simulations presented here are examples of the kind of tools used in the study and understanding of this type of phenomena.