Physiology

Physiology (in Greekphysis = nature and logos = word) is the study of the mechanical, physical, and biochemical functions of living organisms.

Physiology has traditionally been divided into plant physiologyand animal physiologybut the principles of physiology are universal, no matter what particular organismis being studied. For example, what is learned about the physiology of yeastcellscan also apply to humancells.

The field of animal physiology extends the tools and methods of human physiologyto non-human animal species. Plant physiology also borrows techniques from both fields. Its scope of subjects is at least as diverse as the tree of lifeitself. Due to this diversity of subjects, research in animal physiology tends to concentrate on understanding how physiological traits changed throughout the evolutionary history of animals.

Other major branches of scientific study that have grown out of physiology research include biochemistry, biophysics, biomechanics, and pharmacology.

History

It was Abu Bakr Al Razi(popularly known as Rhazes) who described certain physiological parameters when he went to establish a hospital at Baghdad in the eighth century AD. Razi was followed by Al Kindi, who wrote a treatise on human physiology. AnatomistWilliam Harveydescribed blood circulation in the 17th century, providing the beginning of experimental physiology. Herman Boerhaaveis sometimes referred to as the father of physiology due to his exemplary teaching in Leiden and textbook 'Institutiones medicae'(1708).

Areas of physiology

Human and animal

Human physiology(main article) is the most complex area in physiology. This area has several subdivisions which overlap with each other. Many animals have similar anatomyto humans and so share many of these areas.

• Myophysiologydeals with the operation of muscles
• Neurophysiologyconcerns the physiology of brainsand nerves
• Cell physiologyaddresses the functioning of individual cells
• Membrane physiologyfocuses on the exchange of molecules across the cell membrane
• Respiratory physiologygoes into the mechanics of gaseous exchange at the lung
• Circulationalso known as cardiovascularphysiology, deals with the heart, blood and blood vessels and issues arising
• Renal physiologyfocuses on the excretion of ions and other metabolites at the kidney
• Endocrinologycovers endocrinehormones which affect every cell in the body
• Neuroendocrinologyconcerns the complex interactions of the neurological and endocrinological systems which together regulate physiology
• Reproductivephysiology concerns the reproductive cycle
• Exercise physiologyaddresses the mechanism and response of the body to movement

Plant

Plant physiologyhas differing subdivisions. For example, since plants do not have musclesand nerves, neither myophysiologynor neurophysiologyapplies.

• Transpirationis the study of water loss from the plant leaves
• Photosynthesisis the conversion of sunlight energy, water and CO₂ to form sugars (glucose).bg:??????????

ca:Fisiologia cs:Fyziologie da:Fysiologi de:Physiologie et:Füsioloogia es:Fisiología eo:Fiziologio fr:Physiologie fy:Fysiology id:Fisiologi is:Lífeðlisfræði it:Fisiologia he:?????????? lt:Fiziologija nl:Fysiologie ja:??? no:Fysiologi pl:Fizjologia pt:Fisiologia ro:Fiziologie ru:?????????? simple:Physiology sk:Fyziológia sl:Fiziologija sv:Fysiologi tl:Pisyolohiya th:????????? vi:Sinh lý h?c tr:Fizyoloji zh:???

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License.
It uses material from the http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Physiology Wikipedia article Physiology.