Physiology
Physiology [1] meaning 'study of' is the scientific study of normal mechanisms, and their interactions, which operate within a living system. A sub-discipline of biology, its focus is in how organisms, organ systems, organs, cells, and biomolecules carry out the chemical or physical functions that exist in a living system. Given the size of the field, it is divided into, among others, animal physiology (including that of humans), plant physiology, cellular physiology, microbial physiology (microbial metabolism), bacterial physiology, and viral physiology.
Central to an understanding of physiological functioning is its integrated nature with other disciplines such as chemistry and physics, coordinated homeostatic control mechanisms, and continuous communication between cells.
The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine is awarded to those who make significant achievements in this discipline by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. In medicine, a physiologic state is one occurring from normal body function, rather than pathologically, which is centered on the abnormalities that occur in animal diseases, including humans.
Human Physiology in Ayurveda[edit | edit source]
‘Śarīra Vicaya’ is the Ayurvedic term that represents both Anatomy and Physiology. ‘Vicaya’ means the special or detailed knowledge. As per Caraka, the detailed knowledge of normal human body is helpful to understand the factors influencing health and therefore such knowledge is widely appreciated by experts[2]