Medical physics: past, present and future

History of the medical physics is briefly described, assessment of its present status in the world and in Russia is performed, its prospects are discussed. It was shown that the first period of interrelation of medicine and physics (18-19 centuries) was characterized by active study of mechanical, thermal physical, electrical, optical, acoustic phenomena in human body and by creation of corresponding devices. The second period (the end of 19 - the middle of 20 century) is connected with the discoveries of X-rays and radioactivity, development of the theory of atomic structure, atomic nuclei, electromagnetic radiations. The second half of the 20 century is notable for the development and wide practical application of radionuclide gamma apparatuses, electron and proton accelerators, radiodiagnostic gamma cameras, X-ray computerized tomographs, single photon emission radionuclide tomographs, magnetic resonance tomographs, magnetotherapy, laser, ultrasonic and other techniques and devices. It is marked that in future the efficiency and quality of medicophysical technologies will advance