The physiology of stress studies how the body responds to an attack or demand.
Physiology is the science whose object of study is the functions of organic beings . The term derives from the Latin word physiologia ( "knowledge of nature" ), although it has Greek origin.
To be more specific, it must be clarified that, in general, the natural sciences are responsible for the study of inanimate objects and living beings ; chemistry , in particular, of the transformations of matter; the physics of energy changes; while physical chemistry analyzes those changes that are produced by the combination of modifications in matter and energy (chemical and physical).
Through the scientific method and experimentation, this science is able to know how living beings change within an environment and establish rules that determine the behavior of matter and energy over the course of life.
The concept
Within the natural sciences there are three main ways of understanding life : through morphology (which studies the structure of living beings and their evolution), physiology (based on the study of the particular phenomena of living beings and the laws that govern its existence) and biology (analyzes the relationships established between an organism and its environment).
Thanks to the use of principles of exact sciences, physiology is responsible for examining the interactions of the basic elements of the living being with its environment . Its main objective is to understand the functional processes of living organisms and all their elements.
The functional and morphological changes caused by the passage of time in the body are examined by the physiology of aging.
Types of physiology
It is possible to distinguish, within this area of biological sciences, various branches. Each one is responsible for studying a particular structure, thus existing human or animal physiology and plant physiology .
Human physiology and animal physiology are related given their similarities since they belong to the same kingdom (animal).
With regard specifically to animal physiology, it is important to mention that one of the study elements on which specialists base their research is homeostasis ( "similar position" or "similar stability" ) to describe the persistence of constant conditions. in the internal environment. This constancy is produced by the functions of organs and tissues.
Plant physiology, for its part, focuses on the analysis of the functioning of plant tissues and organs. One of the central processes of this physiology is photosynthesis , which involves the use of light to convert inorganic matter from the external environment into organic matter that is used in development .
Organisms that develop photosynthesis are called photoautotrophs (capable of fixing atmospheric carbon dioxide) or autotrophs . The process of photosynthesis in plants involves the release of oxygen into the atmosphere, which contributes to human life and the reduction of pollution .
On the other hand, physiology can be classified according to the sector of the body it studies. Thus, we can talk about renal physiology , cardiovascular physiology , respiratory physiology , digestive physiology or reproductive physiology , for example. Of course, each specialization is linked to a specific system: respiratory physiology to the respiratory system, digestive physiology to the digestive system, etc.
Comparative physiology also examines the different characteristics that different organisms have. This subdiscipline is linked to environmental physiology (focused on how organisms adapt to the environment) and evolutionary physiology (which looks at functional characteristics across generations).
The physiology of pain investigates the changes in the nervous system when faced with a nociceptive stimulus.
Its origin as a science
The study of nature based on physiological issues is extremely old. However, this science as such was not established until a few centuries ago .
Over the years and research, realities were discovered such as the great difference that existed between muscles and tendons (which in the time of Aristotle were confused, for example), which collaborated with the enrichment of the discipline until leading to its formation. as science, with all the laws that derive from the study of living beings.
It is important to note, however, that physiology is a pure science, so it should not be taken only as a subject for immediate applications, but rather serve to develop treatises and long-term studies on the general principles of the existence of living beings.
Examples of physiology
Sports physiology is an example of physiology. Also known as exercise physiology , it analyzes how the body responds to physical activity. Sports physiologists, in this way, study the changes that occur in the athlete's body when carrying out an intense activity.
Another example of physiology is clinical physiology . In this case, it is a specialty of medicine that contributes to the understanding of pathologies and diseases. To fulfill its function, patients undergo tests to determine the functioning of their kidneys, lungs, heart or other organs, allowing a medical diagnosis to be made. Spirometry and the electrocardiogram (which is part of the so-called electrophysiology , dedicated to investigating the electrical properties of tissues and cells) are methods used by clinical physiology.