Physiology

The word physiology is derived from Greek term ‘physis’ meaning origin and ‘logia’ meaning study. The branch of science that deals about living organisms is referred as physiology. It is concerned more about organs, organ systems, biomolecules, cells and organisms of a living system. The Nobel Prize for physiology and medicine was first awarded in the year 1901 by Royal Swedish academy of science.

The term human physiology refers to physical, biochemical and mechanical functions of human system to stay healthy with organs and cells along with their components. The ultimate aim of physiology is to measure the organs and organ systems of humans. The foundation of human physiology was given by experimentation done on animals. The physiology is more close to anatomical science, where anatomy refers to study of physiological forms and physiology refers to study of physical functions. The anatomy and physiology are linked with each other as the form and functions are used and studied in tandem in case of medical science curriculum.

The human physiology study was first begun around the 420 B.C. Hippocrates was referred as the father of medicine. But the term physiology was well recognized since 1960s. Aristotle derived the relationship between function and structure of human systems in ancient times. Galen was the first to test human based on the experiments. Claudius Galenus or Galen was referred as founder of experimental physiology. Avicenna made experiments and also quantified the physiology study. Vesalius is often called as modern human anatomy founder.  During 20^th century biologists are keen in understanding how the organisms are functioning compared to the other organisms especially in the field of ecophysiology and comparative physiology. At present evolutionary physiology is regarded as separate and individual discipline. The function of human system is determined by proper communication of chemical and physical functions.

Questions:

• What is physiology?
• What is evolutionary physiology?
• What is ecophysiology?