Human physiology is the science of the mechanical, physical, bioelectrical, and biochemical functions of humans in good health, their organs, and the cells of which they are composed. In simple terms "Human Physiology" is the study of the body and its functions in each of the different systems in any living body. Physiology focuses principally at the level of organs and systems. Most aspects of human physiology are closely homologous to corresponding aspects of animal physiology, and animal experimentation has provided much of the foundation of physiological knowledge. Anatomy and physiology are closely related fields of study: anatomy, the study of form, and physiology, the study of function, are intrinsically tied and are studied in tandem as part of a medical curriculum.

The concept of homeostasis[link]

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The term "Homeostasis" refers to the maintenance of overall inner resistance in the body. Homeostasis stabilizes the body by regulating internal environment at the body surface.These kinds of conditions are required in order to make body keep functioning. Homeostatic procedure is essential for the survival of each cell.Homeostasis in a general sense refers to stability, balance or equilibrium. Maintaining a stable internal environment requires constant monitoring and adjustments as conditions change. This adjusting of physiological systems within the body is called homeostatic regulation.

Systems[link]

Traditionally, the academic discipline of physiology views the body as a collection of interacting systems, each with its own combination of functions and purposes.Each body system contributes to the homeostasis of other systems and of the entire organism. No system of the body works in isolation, and the well-being of the person depends upon the well-being of all the interacting body systems.

	System	Clinical study	Physiology
	The nervous system consists of the central nervous system (which is the brain and spinal cord) and peripheral nervous system. The brain is the organ of thought, emotion, and sensory processing, and serves many aspects of communication and control of various other systems and functions. The special senses consist of vision, hearing, taste, and smell. The eyes, ears, tongue, and nose gather information about the body's environment.	neuroscience, neurology (disease), psychiatry (behavioral), ophthalmology (vision), otolaryngology (hearing, taste, smell)	neurophysiology
	The musculoskeletal system consists of the human skeleton (which includes bones, ligaments, tendons, and cartilage) and attached muscles. It gives the body basic structure and the ability for movement. In addition to their structural role, the larger bones in the body contain bone marrow, the site of production of blood cells. Also, all bones are major storage sites for calcium and phosphate.	osteology (skeleton), orthopedics (bone disorders)	cell physiology, musculoskeletal physiology
	The circulatory system consists of the heart and blood vessels (arteries, veins, capillaries). The heart propels the circulation of the blood, which serves as a "transportation system" to transfer oxygen, fuel, nutrients, waste products, immune cells, and signalling molecules (i.e., hormones) from one part of the body to another. The blood consists of fluid that carries cells in the circulation, including some that move from tissue to blood vessels and back, as well as the spleen and bone marrow.	cardiology (heart), hematology (blood)	cardiovascular physiology
	The respiratory system consists of the nose, nasopharynx, trachea, and lungs. It brings oxygen from the air and excretes carbon dioxide and water back into the air.	pulmonology.	respiratory physiology
	The gastrointestinal system consists of the mouth, esophagus, stomach, gut (small and large intestines), and rectum, as well as the liver, pancreas, gallbladder, and salivary glands. It converts food into small, nutritional, non-toxic molecules for distribution by the circulation to all tissues of the body, and excretes the unused residue.	gastroenterology	gastrointestinal physiology
	The integumentary system consists of the covering of the body (the skin), including hair and nails as well as other functionally important structures such as the sweat glands and sebaceous glands. The skin provides containment, structure, and protection for other organs, but it also serves as a major sensory interface with the outside world.	dermatology	cell physiology, skin physiology
	The urinary system consists of the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra. It removes water from the blood to produce urine, which carries a variety of waste molecules and excess ions and water out of the body.	nephrology (function), urology (structural disease)	renal physiology
	The reproductive system consists of the gonads and the internal and external sex organs. The reproductive system produces gametes in each sex, a mechanism for their combination, and a nurturing environment for the first 9 months of development of the offspring.	gynecology (women), andrology (men), sexology (behavioral aspects) embryology (developmental aspects)	reproductive physiology
	The immune system consists of the white blood cells, the thymus, lymph nodes and lymph channels, which are also part of the lymphatic system. The immune system provides a mechanism for the body to distinguish its own cells and tissues from alien cells and substances and to neutralize or destroy the latter by using specialized proteins such as antibodies, cytokines, and toll-like receptors, among many others.	immunology	immunology
	The endocrine system consists of the principal endocrine glands: the pituitary, thyroid, adrenals, pancreas, parathyroids, and gonads, but nearly all organs and tissues produce specific endocrine hormones as well. The endocrine hormones serve as signals from one body system to another regarding an enormous array of conditions, and resulting in variety of changes of function. There is also the exocrine system.	endocrinology	endocrinology

The traditional divisions by system are somewhat arbitrary. Many body parts participate in more than one system, and systems might be organized by function, by embryological origin, or other categorizations. In particular, is the "neuroendocrine system", the complex interactions of the neurological and endocrinological systems which together regulate physiology. Furthermore, many aspects of physiology are not as easily included in the traditional organ system categories.

The study of how physiology is altered in disease is pathophysiology.

Feedback system[link]

The reaction of body from the changes of the internal and external environment called " Feedback System".There are mainly two types of the Feedback system 1)Negative Feedback system 2)Positive Feedback system.Negative feedback: a reaction in which the system responds in such a way as to reverse the direction of change. Since this tends to keep things constant, it allows the maintenance of homeostasis.Positive feedback: a response is to amplify the change in the variable. This has a destabilizing effect, so does not result in homeostasis. Positive feedback is less common in naturally occurring systems than negative feedback, but it has its applications. ^{[Wikibooks 1]}

See also[link]

• Comparative physiology
• Darwinian medicine
• Evolutionary psychology
• Krogh Principle
• Physiology
• Thrifty phenotype

References[link]

Further reading[link]

• Babsky, Evgeni; Boris Khodorov, Grigory Kositsky, Anatoly Zubkov (1989). Evgeni Babsky. ed. Human Physiology, in 2 vols.. Translated by Ludmila Aksenova; translation edited by H. C. Creighton (M.A., Oxon). Moscow: Mir Publishers. ISBN 5-03-000776-8. 
• Sherwood, Lauralee (2010) (Hardcover). Human Physiology from cells to systems (7 ed.). Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/cole. ISBN 978-0-495-39184-5. 
• Provophys (C) Whiteknight (C) RiRi82 (C) Jcran69 (C) Scout21972 (C) · Jtervortn (C) · DorothyD (C) · VWilkes (C) · Jacquel (C) · Danyellmarie (C) · Keith davis (C) · Mperkins (C) · Never2late (C) · Shellybird2 (C) · BriannaLenford (C) · Jen A (C) · Pwoodson (C) · Nataliehaveron (C) · Melissasmith (C) · Brentwaldrop (C) (2006-2007). "1" (Ebook). Wikibooks contributors. pp. 1–10. http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikimedia/en-labs/c/cd/Human_Physiology.pdf. 

Notes[link]

External links[link]

Wikibooks has a book on the topic of Human Physiology

• Human Physiology textbook at Wikibooks