What is Physiology?
'''Physiology''' is the study of how [[Life|living things]] work. Physiologists can study how [[Organ (anatomy)|organs]] of an [[organism]] work together to make things happen. In [[human being]]s, for example, the [[digestion]] of [[food]] [[hormone]]s and other [[chemical]]s are made by the [[stomach]], [[liver]], and [[pancreas]]. [[Muscle]] contraction happens because of chemical messages made by [[nerve]]s of that muscle. By learning how the body functions normally, physiologists and [[physician]]s can better understand what happens when organs do not function normally. For example, an understanding of how the [[thyroid gland]] functions has helped in treating [[goitre]]. Studies of the [[circulatory system]] and the [[nervous system]] have helped physicians understand and treat such [[illness]]es like [[heart disease]], [[Stroke (medicine)|stroke]], and [[high blood pressure]]. The field is usually divided into human physiology,<ref>Hall, John 2011. ''Guyton and Hall textbook of medical physiology''. 12th ed, Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders/Elsevier. {{ISBN|978-1-4160-4574-8}}</ref> animal physiology,<ref>Schmidt-Nielsen, Knut 1972. ''How animals work''. Cambridge University Press. {{ISBN|0-521-08417-2}}</ref><ref>Hill R.W; Wyse G.A. & Anderson M. 2012. ''Animal physiology''. 3rd ed, Sinauer .</ref> and plant physiology.<ref>Salisbury F.B. & Ross C.W. 1992. ''Plant physiology''. Brooks/Cole.</ref><ref>Taiz L. & Zieger E. 2010. ''Plant physiology''. 5th ed, Sunderland, Massachusetts: Sinauer.</ref><ref>Kim, B.H. & Gadd, M.G.2008. ''Bacterial physiology and metabolism''. Cambridge. {{ISBN|9780521712309}}</ref> == References == {{reflist}} == Other websites == * [http://www.physoc.org The Physiological Society] * [http://www.biol.unt.edu/developmentalphysiology/ Developmental physiology] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180606151240/http://www.biol.unt.edu/developmentalphysiology/ |date=2018-06-06 }} * [http://www.the-aps.org/ The American Physiological Society] {{authority control}} [[Category:Phy