Teaching physiology within a system dynamics framework

Rubin et al focus on teaching physiology within a system dynamics framework. Function in living organisms is inherently dynamic, and behavior of dynamic systems is complex and, in many cases, counterintuitive. To gain an in-depth understanding of these systems generally requires the development of mathematical models: sets of differential equations that describe changing systems. System dynamics is a modeling framework in which the underlying differential equations are represented in a highly visual/graphical format in terms of just two constructs, termed rates (also known as flows) and levels (also known as stocks). System dynamics modeling involves the creation of computer-based diagrams comprising these rates and levels within a system dynamics software environment, and then running simulations to show the behavior of the modeled system. These rate-level diagrams are actually nothing more than graphical (and thus highly intuitive) representations of differential equations.