Physiology (in Greek physis = nature and logos = word) is the study of the mechanical, physical, and biochemical functions of living organisms. Physiology has traditionally been divided into plant physiology and animal physiology but the principles of physiology are universal, no matter what particular organism is being studied. For example, what is learned about the physiol ...

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• Physiology - History
• Physiology - Areas of physiology
• Physiology - Human and animal
• Physiology - Plant

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Physiology:

The study of the living body.

(See also: Physiology, Pagan, Paganism, Pagan Dictionary)

Definition and meaning of physiology:

physiology - the branch of biology that is concerned with the study of functions of particular structures or organs of organisms

(Source: US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) )

Also see these pages: Oceanography, Oceanography Sitemap, Coral Reef, Environment, Sustainability, Climate Change,

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In physiology, the primary ions of electrolytes are sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, chloride, phosphate, and bicarbonate. All higher lifeforms require a subtle and complex electrolyte balance between the intracellular and extracellular milieu. In particular, the maintenance of precise osmotic gradients of electrolytes is important. Such gradients affect and regulate the hydration of the body, blood pH, and a ...

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Electrolyte, Electrolyte - Physiology, Electrolyte - Nutrition, Electrolyte - Uses in electrochemistry

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Echinoderms evolved from bilaterally symmetric creatures. Later forms were lopsided. Echinoderms' larvae are ciliated free-swimming organisms that organize in a bilaterally symmetric fashion that makes them look like embryonic chordates. Later, the left side of the body grows at the expense of the right side, which is eventually absorbed. The left side then grows in a pentaradially symmetric fashion, in which the body is arra ...

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Echinoderm, Echinoderm - Physiology, Echinoderm - Classification

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The hormone participates in calcium and phosphorus metabolism and it was found in fish, reptiles, birds and mammals. Most evidence points to that Calcitonin is not of physiological importance to humans, except for it's pharmacological use (see below). Specifically, calcitonin reduces blood calcium levels in three ways: decreasing calcium absorption by the intestines decreasing osteoclast activity in bones decreasing calcium and phosphate ...

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Calcitonin, Calcitonin - Synthesis, Calcitonin - Physiology, Calcitonin - Pharmacology, Calcitonin - History, Calcitonin - Reference

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A daily intake of 1-2 liters of water is required for the normal physiological functioning of the body, depending on the ambient weather conditions. The absolute minimum over the long term is about 1.6 liters (600 ml for urine, 200 ml for fecal losses, and 800 ml for losses via the skin and lungs). This includes water contained in food (i.e. it is not necessary to drink 1-2 liters of water a day). The sensation caused by dehydration of the body is called "thirst". The sensation of thirst is a dry feeling in the back of the throat and ...

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Drinking, Drinking - Physiology, Drinking - Role in disease, Drinking - Vessels, Drinking - Alcohol

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A daily intake of 1-2 liters of water is required for the normal physiological functioning of the body, depending on the ambient weather conditions. The absolute minimum over the long term is about 1.6 liters (600 ml for urine, 200 ml for fecal losses, and 800 ml for losses via the skin and lungs). This includes water contained in food (i.e., it is not necessary to drink 1-2 liters of water a day). The sensation caused by dehydration of the body is called thirst. The sensation of thirst is a dry feeling in the back of the throa ...

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Drinking, Drinking - Physiology, Drinking - Role in disease, Drinking - Vessels, Drinking - Alcohol

Read more here: » Drinking: Encyclopedia II - Drinking - Physiology

Most of the bacteria affected by lysozyme are not pathogenic. It could be argued that lysozyme is a primary reason these organisms did not develop pathogenic strains[citation needed]. Lysozyme serves as an unspecific innate opsonin by binding to the bacterial surface to reduce the negative charge and facilitate phagocytosis of this bacterium before opsonins from the acquired immune systems enter the scene. The enzyme functions by attacking peptidoglycans and hydrolyzing the bond that connects N-acetylmuramic acid with the fou ...

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Lysozyme, Lysozyme - Physiology, Lysozyme - Role in disease, Lysozyme - Diagnostic use, Lysozyme - History

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The Chenjesu were crystalline beings based on a silicon biochemistry. In order to maintain such a physiology, the Chenjesu required a far more intense star than Sol to evolve, as silicon only makes a viable substitute to carbon in energy rich situations -- such as the brilliant sun in the Procyon system. It may well be because of this rich resource that the Chenjesu were chemosynthetic, using the vast mineral deposits of their world and a radiant light source as an endless supply of medium for growth. Their crystalline structure allowed them ...

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Chenjesu, Chenjesu - Description, Chenjesu - History, Chenjesu - Physiology, Chenjesu - Starship, Chenjesu - Aftermath

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Monocytes are produced by the bone marrow from haematopoietic stem cell precursors, circulate in the blood stream for about one to three days and then typically move into tissues throughout the body. In the tissues monocytes mature into different types of macrophages at different anatomical locations. Monocytes are responsible for phagocytosis (ingestion) of foreign substances in the body. Monocytes can perform phagocytosis using intermediary (opsonising) proteins such as antibodies or complement that coat the pathogen, as well as by ...

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Monocyte, Monocyte - Microscopic anatomy, Monocyte - Physiology, Monocyte - Diagnostic use

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Vorta are humanoids with white skin, black hair and lilac-colored eyes. They have good hearing, poor eyesight, and are immune to most forms of poison. The Vorta also have a very poorly developed aesthetical as well as sensory taste. About the only things they can taste are certain food items from their homeworld. The Vorta reproduce by cloning. It is also indicated that the Vorta's loyalty to the Founders is partially genetic (i.e. that the devotion they express has been built into their genetic make-up by the Founders). Unlike the al ...

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Vorta, Vorta - Physiology, Vorta - Vorta History, Vorta - Famous Vorta

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The key physiological difference between monotremes and other animals is the one that gave them their name; Monotreme means 'single opening' in Greek, and comes from the fact that their urinary, defecatory, and reproductive systems all open into a single duct, the cloaca. This structure is very similar to the one found in reptiles. In contrast to the single cloaca of monotremes, other mammals have separate openings for reproduction, urination and defecation ...

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Monotreme, Monotreme - General characteristics, Monotreme - Physiology, Monotreme - Taxonomy, Monotreme - Fossil monotremes

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Bile salts are steroid compounds (deoxycholic and cholic acid), often conjugated with glycine and taurine, and act to some extent as a detergent, helping to emulsify fats (increasing surface area to help enzyme action), and thus aid in their absorption in the small intestine. The most important compounds are the salts of taurocholic acid and deoxycholic acid. Bile salts combine with phospholipids to break down fat globules in the process of emulsification. Emulsified droplets then are organized into many micelles which increases absor ...

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Bile, Bile - Physiology, Bile - Four humours

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Physicians and psychiatrists consider reductions in libido to be a type of sexual dysfunction and treat it as a medical problem. For example, decreases in libido are linked to decreases in naturally produced estrogen (in women) or testosterone (in both men and women). Hormone deficiencies that cause libido decrease are treated by hormone replacement therapy. Many medical conditions or treatments also cause decrease of libido. Surgery, fatigue, psychiatric conditions (such as depression or anxiety), and pain can lead to lower libido. Some medications also produce drops in libido (such as SSRIs). Sometimes the libido decrease from SSRIs ...

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Libido, Libido - Psychology, Libido - Physiology

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The individual atoms of urea come from carbon dioxide, water, aspartate and ammonia in a metabolic pathway known as the urea cycle, an anabolic process. This expenditure of energy is necessary because ammonia, a common metabolic waste product, is toxic and must be neutralized. Urea production occurs in the liver and is under the regulatory control of N-acetylglutamate. Aquatic animals do not produce urea; living in an abundant supply of water, they can simply excrete ammonia immediately as it is produced. Birds, with more sever ...

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Urea, Urea - Physiology, Urea - Discovery, Urea - Commercial Production, Urea - Industrial use, Urea - Laboratory use, Urea - Medical use, Urea - Drug use, Urea - Physiological diagnosis, Urea - Other diagnostic use

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The amount of cortisol present in the serum undergoes diurnal variation, with the highest levels present in the early morning, and lower levels in the evening, several hours after the onset of sleep. Information about the light/dark cycle is transmitted from the retina to the paired suprachiasmatic nuclei in the hypothalamus. Changed patterns of the serum cortisol levels have been observed in connection with abnormal ACTH levels, clinical depression, psychological stress, and such physiological stressors as hypoglycemia, illness, fever, trau ...

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Cortisol, Cortisol - Synthesis, Cortisol - Physiology, Cortisol - Pharmacology, Cortisol - Diseases

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The primary hormones of the anterior pituitary are proteins and include growth hormone (GH) - growth and glucose homeostasis luteinizing hormone (LH) - menstrual cycle and reproduction follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) - same adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) - stimulates glucocorticoid production in the adrenal gland thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) - stimulates thyroxine production in the thyroid prolactin (PRL) - s ...

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Hypopituitarism, Hypopituitarism - Physiology, Hypopituitarism - Causes, Hypopituitarism - Diagnosis, Hypopituitarism - Replacement therapy

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As the plasma membrane is far less permeable to sodium than it is to potassium ions, an electric potential (negative intracellularly) is the eventual result. The electrical and concentration gradient established by the sodium-potassium ATPase supports not only the cell resting potential but the action potentials of nerves and muscles. Export of sodium from the cell provides the driving force for several facilitated transporters, which import glucose, amino acids and other nutrients into the cell. Translocation of sodium from one side of an epithelium to the other side creates an osmotic gradi ...

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NaKATPase, NaKATPase - Function, NaKATPase - Physiology, NaKATPase - Pharmacology, NaKATPase - Discovery

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Plasmin is produced in an inactive form, plasminogen, in the liver. Although plasminogen cannot cleave fibrin, it still has an affinity for it, and is incorporated into the clot when it is formed. Plasminogen contains secondary structure motifs known as kringles, which bind specifically to lysine and arginine residues on fibrin(ogen). When converted from plasminogen into plasmin it functions as a serine protease, cutting specifically C-terminal to these lys and arg residues. Fibrin monomers, when polymerized, form protofibrils. These ...

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Fibrinolysis, Fibrinolysis - Physiology, Fibrinolysis - Measurement, Fibrinolysis - Role in disease, Fibrinolysis - Pharmacology, Fibrinolysis - Reference, Fibrinolysis - External link

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