is the branch of biology that studies the functions and activities of living matter and the physical and chemical phenomena involved.

Context: Definition and scope of physiology

Physiology research aims to understand how organs and systems work, communicate, and coordinate to create favorable conditions for .

Context: Physiology research aims: survival

In functional organization, physiology examines how organs and systems and coordinate to create favorable conditions for survival.

Context: Functional organization of the body

Anatomy studies body , while physiology studies how structures function and relate to each other.

Context: Physiology vs anatomy

The four humors theory proposes that disturbance in the ratios of the causes ill health.

Context: Cause→effect relationship: four humors imbalance → ill health

Cell theory arrives (body made of tiny individual cells), which causes physiology to open up and progress rapidly because research shifts toward mechanisms operating at the level of .

Context: Cause→effect relationship: cell theory → rapid progress via cellular mechanisms

Heart-driven blood movement causes blood to travel through the brain and body, which is called .

Context: Cause→effect relationship: heart propulsion → systemic circulation

Conditioning in dogs causes physiological responses that change in a predictable way.

Context: Cause→effect relationship: conditioning → conditioned physiological responses

The ionic mechanism of nerve impulses enables ion-based processes that transmit nerve impulses.

Context: Key physiological concept: ionic mechanism of nerve impulses

A mechanism describing how muscle contraction occurs via sliding filaments in skeletal muscle is called (muscle mechanism).

Context: Key physiological concept: sliding filaments

Physiology branches focus on different scales or contexts, such as cells, whole systems, evolution, threats, or .

Context: Branches of physiology: exercise

Applied human physiology investigates biological systems from the cell level through organs, systems, anatomy, and the whole .

Context: Applied human physiology levels of study

Ecophysiology is a field that studies whole organisms and how they adapt to .

Context: Key physiological concept: ecophysiology

Physiology is not limited to humans; it covers organisms broadly, including topics like .

Context: Common confusion: physiology only studies humans