What is physiology?

Physiology studies the functionality of living organism at the cellular, organ and systemic levels.
Physiology is divided into into plant physiology and animal physiology. Both branches studies the functionality of different functions at cellular level.

Physiology has a long past, but only a short history

Typically, the history of physiology point to the writings of ancient greeks which has little in common with modern physiology. The first notes were developed by the Hippocratic school of medicine (before 350 BC).
Other contributions were made by Aristotle and Galen of Pergamum. Significant in the history of physiology was the teleology of Aristotle, who assumed that every part of the body is formed for a purpose and that function, therefore, can be deduced from structure. The work of Aristotle was the basis for Galen's De usu partium (“On the Use of Parts”) and a source for many early misconceptions in physiology. The tidal concept of blood flow, the humoral theory of disease, and Aristotle's teleology, for example, led Galen into a basic misunderstanding of the movements of blood that was not corrected until William Harvey's work on blood circulation in the 17th century.

Modern physiology

Physiology as discipline utilizing anatomical, physical and chemical methods began to develop in the 19th century. Claude Bernard in France; Johannes Müller, Justus von Liebig, and Carl Ludwig in Germany; and Sir in England may be numbered among the founders of physiology as it now is known. At the beginning of the 19th century, German physiology was under the influence of the romantic school of Naturphilosophie. In France, on the other hand, romantic elements were opposed by rational and skeptical viewpoints. Bernard's teacher, François Magendie, the pioneer of experimental physiology, was one of the first men to perform experiments on living animals. Both Müller and Bernard, however, recognized that the results of observations and experiments must be incorporated into a body of scientific knowledge, and that the theories of natural philosophers must be tested by experimentation. Many important ideas in physiology were investigated experimentally by Bernard, who also wrote books on the subject. He recognized cells as functional units of life and developed the concept of blood and body fluids as the internal environment (milieu intérieur) in which cells carry out their activities. This concept of physiological regulation of the internal environment occupies an important position in physiology and medicine; Bernard's work had a profound influence on succeeding generations of physiologists in France, Russia, Italy, England, and the United States.

Study areas

1. Myophysiology deals with the operation of muscles


2. Neurophysiology concerns the physiology of brains and nerves


3. Cell physiology addresses the functioning of individual cells


4. Comparative or Enviromental Physiology examines how animals adapt to their environment


5. Membrane physiology focuses on the exchange of molecules across the cell membrane


6. Respiratory physiologymechanics of gas exchange at the cellular level and also at a gross anatomic level within the lungs* Circulation also known as


7. Cardiovascular physiology, deals with the heart, blood and blood vessels and issues arising


8. Renal physiology focuses on the excretion of ions and other metabolites at the kidney


9. Endocrinology covers endocrine hormones which affect every cell in the body


10. Neuroendocrinology concerns the complex interactions of the neurological and endocrinological systems which together regulate physiology


11. Reproductive physiology concerns the reproductive cycle


12. Exercise physiology addresses the mechanism and response of the body to movement

Resources

• American Physiological Society - News, membership and society information.


• Baer's Physiology Site - Human physiology site containing online lectures and computerized clinical cases.


• National Resource for Cell Analysis and Modeling - National resource center supported by the National Center for Research Resources.


• Physiology Health Web - Resources pointing to information on the physiology of health related issues.


• PhysioNet - Free access to a large collections of recorded physiologic


• The Society of General Physiologists - Promoting interdisciplinary research and education into how living organisms function.