| Physiology is the study of the | | | | Areas of physiology |
| mechanical, physical, and biochemical | | | | Human and animal |
| functions of living organisms. | | | | Human physiology is the most complex |
| Physiology has traditionally been | | | | area in physiology. This area has |
| divided into plant physiology and animal | | | | several subdivisions which overlap with |
| physiology but the principles of | | | | each other. Many animals have similar |
| physiology are universal, no matter what | | | | anatomy to humans and so share many of |
| particular organism is being studied. | | | | these areas. |
| For example, what is learned about the | | | | Myophysiology deals with the operation |
| physiology of yeast cells can also apply | | | | of muscles |
| to human cells. | | | | Neurophysiology concerns the physiology |
| The field of animal physiology extends | | | | of brains and nerves |
| the tools and methods of human | | | | Cell physiology addresses the |
| physiology to non-human animal species. | | | | functioning of individual cells |
| Plant physiology also borrows techniques | | | | Comparative or Environmental physiology |
| from both fields. Its scope of subjects | | | | examines how animals adapt to their |
| is at least as diverse as the tree of | | | | environment |
| life itself. Due to this diversity of | | | | Evolutionary physiology |
| subjects, research in animal physiology | | | | Membrane physiology focuses on the |
| tends to concentrate on understanding | | | | exchange of molecules across the cell |
| how physiological traits changed | | | | membrane |
| throughout the evolutionary history of | | | | Respiratory physiology describes the |
| animals. Other major branches of | | | | mechanics of gas exchange at the |
| scientific study that have grown out of | | | | cellular level and also at a gross |
| physiology research include | | | | anatomic level within the lungs |
| biochemistry, biophysics, paleobiology, | | | | Circulation also known as cardiovascular |
| biomechanics, and pharmacology. | | | | physiology, deals with the heart, blood |
| History | | | | and blood vessels and issues arising |
| It was Abu Bakr Al Razi (popularly known | | | | Renal physiology focuses on the |
| as Rhazes) who described certain | | | | excretion of ions and other metabolites |
| physiological parameters when he went to | | | | at the kidney |
| establish a hospital at Baghdad in the | | | | Endocrinology covers endocrine hormones |
| eighth century AD. Razi was followed by | | | | which affect every cell in the body |
| Al Kindi, who wrote a treatise on human | | | | Neuroendocrinology concerns the complex |
| physiology. Anatomist William Harvey | | | | interactions of the neurological and |
| described blood circulation in the 17th | | | | endocrinological systems which together |
| century, providing the beginning of | | | | regulate physiology |
| experimental physiology. Herman | | | | Reproductive physiology concerns the |
| Boerhaave is sometimes referred to as | | | | reproductive cycle |
| the father of physiology due to his | | | | Exercise physiology addresses the |
| exemplary teaching in Leiden and | | | | mechanism and response of the body to |
| textbook 'Institutiones medicae'(1708). | | | | movement |