Levy Mwanawasa Medical University - eLearning

INTRODUCTION; WHAT IS PHYSIOLOGY?

Physiology, in simple terms, refers to the study of normal function of the living structures. The human physiology is concerned with the way the various systems and organs of the human body function and the way each contributes to the functions of the body as a whole. We try to answer questions such as;

· What is the function of the heart, eye, and muscles?

· How does the Human eye able to process and see objects?

· How is urine produced by the Kidneys?

· How is pain produced?

In other words, human physiology is concerned with understanding step by step normal processes taking place in systems, organs and cells for them to achieve a particular task. In physiology we explore, “Mechanisms, or normal process taking place in the human body.

Hence to understand physiological processes, we shall use concepts from chemistry, physics, math and biology that we are already familiar with from high school or A-level training.

To understand physiology and many other medical sciences (e.g. microbiology, pathology, biochemistry etc.) we need to explore fundamental aspect of the cell and the environment that the cell is found.

Hence, before studying the general bio physiological processes and the cell physiology, it will be worthwhile to have a brief knowledge about the functional organization, composition and internal environment of the human body.