Physiology

Physiology is the study of how living organisms and their parts function, from molecular processes to whole-body systems. It explains how biological structures perform their roles and interact.

Homeostasis: The regulation of internal conditions within ranges compatible with life. Physiological systems continually adjust internal conditions as environments and demands change.
Action potential: A rapid, temporary change in a cell membrane's electrical potential that can propagate as a signal. Action potentials transmit information through nerves and trigger activity in muscle and other cells.
Human physiology: The study of how the human body and its parts function. It applies physiological principles to the functions of the human body.
William Harvey: The English physician who demonstrated that blood circulates through the body under the heart's action. His account of circulation showed how experiment could resolve questions about bodily function.
Morphology: The study of the form and structure of organisms and their parts. Morphology emphasizes form, while physiology investigates how biological parts function.
Cell biology: The study of cell structure, function, and behavior. Cellular functions provide the basic mechanisms that physiology explains across larger scales.
Membrane transport: The movement of substances across a cell membrane by passive or energy-dependent processes. Transport across membranes maintains gradients and controls what enters or leaves cells.
Comparative physiology: The study of physiological functions across different species. Comparisons reveal how different organisms solve similar functional challenges.
Claude Bernard: The French physiologist whose experimental work helped establish modern physiology. Bernard connected controlled experiments with explanations of internal bodily processes.
Ecology: The study of interactions among organisms and between organisms and their environments. Ecology centers on organism–environment relationships, while physiology focuses on function within organisms.

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