Physiology

(Latin or Greek: physiologia; Greek: physis- nature, + logos- study)

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Physiology is the study of how living things function. All living thing ( by most definitions) are composed of cells, and so the life functions that are present in every cell, like metabolism are an important part of physiology. Specialized functions of cells and organs are also included in this branch of biology. So, in the heart, for example, the electrical conducting system for the co-ordination of the beat of muscle cells is an important part of cardiac physiology. In Medicine, normal healthy functioning of tissues is called physiologic, and pathophysiology describes the specific mechanisms of disease processes.

Some fields within physiology focus on certain kinds of living things, such as microbial physiology.

Pathophysiology

Also known as physiopathology