Physiological Functions - Overview and Importance

Physiological functions are the processes and activities that occur within the body to maintain life, including digestion, respiration, and circulation.

Physiological Functions FAQ

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What is physiology in biology?

What is physiology? Physiology is the science of life. It is the branch of biology that aims to understand the mechanisms of living things, from the basis of cell function at the ionic and molecular level to the integrated behaviour of the whole body and the influence of the external environment.

What is human physiology?

Human physiology is the study of how the human body's systems and functions work together to maintain a stable internal environment. It includes the study of the nervous, endocrine, cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, and urinary systems, as well as cellular and exercise physiology.

What is an example of a working definition of Physiology?

For example, the 2006 strategic plan of the American Physiological Society gives the following ‘working definition of physiology’ (APS, 2006 ): Physiology is the study of the function of organisms as integrated systems of molecules, cells, tissues, and organs, in health and disease’.

What is exercise physiology?

Exercise physiology – as the name suggests, this is the study of the physiology of physical exercise. This includes research into bioenergetics, biochemistry, cardiopulmonary function, biomechanics, hematology, skeletal muscle physiology, neuroendocrine function, and nervous system function.

What does it take to understand physiological functions?

Understanding physiological functions requires understanding the behavior of entities at every level of organization in the organism, from the molecules to organ systems, and on to society and the environment.

What are physiological mechanisms?

Physiological mechanisms are the smaller physical and chemical events that make up a larger physiological process. Human physiology studies the functions of humans, their organs and cells, and how all of these functions combine to make life, growth, and development possible.