Thrive in Human Physiology provides an initial introduction to human physiology. It then looks at control and co-ordination in terms of the nervous system and the endocrine system. It moves on to musculoskeletal physiology and movement, cardiovascular physiology, respiratory physiology, renal physiology, gastrointestinal physiology, reproductive physiology, and integrative physiology.
Chapter
An Overview of Physiology
This chapter provides an overview of physiology while focusing on human physiology. It highlights the importance of understanding physiology for medical science as physiology reflects the conscious perception of the internal and external world. Homeostasis primarily refers to the maintenance of the internal environment within very tight boundaries, which underpins the exploration of physiology. Homeostasis relies on a variety of sensory systems that detect changes and initiate responses to oppose changes such as negative feedback. The chapter also notes the cell membrane as a fundamental structure to consider in physiology, citing its role as a barrier that regulates the flow of substances in and out of the cell.
Chapter
An Overview of Physiology
This chapter provides an overview of physiology while focusing on human physiology. It highlights the importance of understanding physiology for medical science as physiology reflects the conscious perception of the internal and external world. Homeostasis primarily refers to the maintenance of the internal environment within very tight boundaries, which underpins the exploration of physiology. Homeostasis relies on a variety of sensory systems that detect changes and initiate responses to oppose changes such as negative feedback. The chapter also notes the cell membrane as a fundamental structure to consider in physiology, citing its role as a barrier that regulates the flow of substances in and out of the cell.
Chapter
The scientific basis of therapeutics
Elsie E. Gaskell
This chapter introduces the scientific basis of therapeutics. Therapeutics is all about the interplay of physiology and pharmacology. Understanding the physiology of living organisms provides further background on the basic concepts of pharmacology, such as the effect drugs and administered therapeutic compounds have on the body. Pharmacy is complex and multidisciplinary, interlinking an array of different pharmaceutical sciences and practice-oriented disciplines. The chapter provides an overview of how drugs work in changing cellular and physiological effects by mimicking the endogenous signals. It explains that a number of different systems must communicate and harmonize their processes to coordinate the functions within the human body.
Chapter
What is physiology?
This chapter emphasizes the importance of having a sound knowledge of the structure and function of the body for anyone concerned with medicine or the health sciences. Such a knowledge provides a foundation on which to build strategies for diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease. It introduces physiology, which is the study of the functions of living matter and is concerned with how an organism performs its varied activities. The success of physiology in explaining how organisms perform their daily tasks is based on the notion that organisms are intricate and exquisite machines whose operation is governed by the laws of physics and chemistry. The chapter outlines how a full knowledge of human anatomy requires the examination of the human body. This is complemented by modern imaging techniques such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which can visualize the internal structures of the body in life.
Chapter
Introduction to anatomy and embryology
Joanne Murray and Ian Locke
This chapter begins by examining anatomy and physiology. Anatomy defines the spatial/structural relationships between the various components and organ systems of the body. Meanwhile, physiology is the study of the function of the body and the systems within it. Fine anatomy is the detailed, microscopical structure of individual organs or tissues. The chapter then describes the gross features of the human body and differentiates between fine and gross anatomy. The human body is composed of 11 major organ systems; each of these systems is composed of various cell and tissue types. The chapter also looks at fertilization and implantation, before considering foetal development. Finally, it studies the continued development of the ageing human through childhood, adolescence, adulthood, and into old age.
