physiology
How bodies work
Physiology is the branch of biology dealing with how living organisms function—how bodies work rather than what they're made of.
Where anatomy describes structure, physiology describes process: how muscles contract, how nerves transmit signals, how kidneys filter blood.
The word extends to particular systems: the physiology of digestion, plant physiology.
Someone's physiology is their body's particular way of functioning: Her physiology doesn't tolerate caffeine well.
Study of organism structure
- organismLiving biological entity
- tissueDisposable soft paper
- cellBasic unit of life
- neuronImpulse-conducting cell
organ · membrane · receptor · pathway · system · function · structure · mechanism
State of balance
- feedbackReturned response data
- thermoregulationMaintaining stable internal heat
- osmoregulationMaintaining internal solute balance
- balanceSteadiness or amount owed
stability · regulation · adaptation · steady-state · autoregulation · negative feedback · positive feedback · pH balance
Gas exchange in organisms
- circulationMovement through a system
- digestionBodily food breakdown
- absorptionProcess of taking in
- excretionRemoval of metabolic waste
secretion · contraction · conduction · filtration · peristalsis · ventilation · perfusion · diffusion
Body's chemical messenger
- insulinPancreatic glucose-regulating hormone
- cortisolAdrenal steroid regulating stress
- adrenalineEmergency response hormone
- thyroidHormone-producing neck gland
estrogen · testosterone · melatonin · prolactin · glucagon · pituitary · adrenal · pancreas
Reaction-speeding proteins
- catabolismMetabolic molecular dismantling
- anabolismMetabolic construction of molecules
- glucosePrimary cellular fuel
- ATPCell's energy molecule
mitochondria · oxidation · glycolysis · bioenergetics · thermogenesis · lipolysis · proteolysis · carbohydrates
Increase in size
- maturationProcess of becoming complete
- differentiationRecognizing meaningful differences
- pubertySexual development stage
- embryologyStudy of prenatal development
aging · senescence · infancy · childhood · adolescence · adulthood · proliferation · regeneration
anatomy
Study of organism structure
neuron · organ · membrane · receptor · pathway · system · function · structure · mechanism · process
equilibrium
State of balance
- feedbackReturned response data
- thermoregulationMaintaining stable internal heat
- osmoregulationMaintaining internal solute balance
balance · stability · regulation · adaptation · steady-state · autoregulation · negative feedback · positive feedback · pH balance · electrolyte balance
respiration
Gas exchange in organisms
- circulationMovement through a system
- digestionBodily food breakdown
- absorptionProcess of taking in
excretion · secretion · contraction · conduction · filtration · peristalsis · ventilation · perfusion · diffusion · osmosis
hormone
Body's chemical messenger
- insulinPancreatic glucose-regulating hormone
- cortisolAdrenal steroid regulating stress
- adrenalineEmergency response hormone
thyroid · estrogen · testosterone · melatonin · prolactin · glucagon · pituitary · adrenal · pancreas · endocrinology
enzymes
Reaction-speeding proteins
- catabolismMetabolic molecular dismantling
- anabolismMetabolic construction of molecules
- glucosePrimary cellular fuel
ATP · mitochondria · oxidation · glycolysis · bioenergetics · thermogenesis · lipolysis · proteolysis · carbohydrates · fatty acids
growth
Increase in size
- maturationProcess of becoming complete
- differentiationRecognizing meaningful differences
- pubertySexual development stage
embryology · aging · senescence · infancy · childhood · adolescence · adulthood · proliferation · regeneration · developmental stages
- nursingnurse, nursing, nurses, RN, LPN
- pharmacy educationpharmacy school, pharmacy schools, PharmD, clinical rotations, residencies
- biologycells, DNA, cell, biology, gene
- fields of studyart, music, mathematics, history, biology
- medicinedoctor, doctors, hospital, medicine, surgery
- sciencebiology, chemistry, astronomy, geology, electron
physiologyanatomy
Study of organism structure
morphology · structure · gross anatomy · histology · form
physiologypathology
Study of disease processes
pathophysiology · disease · dysfunction · malfunction · morbidity
physiologypsychology
Study of mind, behavior
mind · psyche · cognition · mental processes · consciousness
- physiological responseAutomatic physical reaction to stimulus
- physiological effectsBody's measurable biological reactions
- human physiologyStudy of body functions
- physiological changesBody function modifications
- physiological processesLiving systems' internal workings
- physiological stressBody's reaction to demands
physiological, physiologist, physiologic, neurophysiology, physiologists, physiologically, pathophysiology, physiologies, human physiology