Physiology

What I do

• Study body system functions and regulation
• Analyze organ system interactions
• Investigate homeostasis mechanisms
• Research physiological adaptations
• Study exercise and environmental physiology
• Analyze physiological disorders

When to use me

• When studying organ system function
• When analyzing homeostasis
• When investigating physiological responses
• When studying disease mechanisms
• When researching exercise physiology
• When learning integrative physiology

Key Concepts

Major Organ Systems

• Cardiovascular: Heart, blood vessels, blood
• Respiratory: Lungs, airways, gas exchange
• Nervous: Brain, spinal cord, nerves
• Endocrine: Glands, hormones
• Digestive: GI tract, accessory organs
• Renal: Kidneys, fluid balance
• Musculoskeletal: Bones, muscles, joints

Homeostasis

# Negative feedback example: Thermoregulation
def thermoregulation(body_temp, set_point=37.0):
    """
    Maintain body temperature.
    """
    deviation = body_temp - set_point
    
    if deviation > 0.5:
        # Too hot: vasodilation, sweating
        return {'response': 'cooling', 'mechanisms': ['sweating', 'vasodilation']}
    elif deviation < -0.5:
        # Too cold: vasoconstriction, shivering
        return {'response': 'warming', 'mechanisms': ['shivering', 'vasoconstriction']}
    else:
        return {'response': 'normal'}

# Feedback types
feedback_types = {
    'negative': 'Counteracts change (most common)',
    'positive': 'Amplifies change (rare, e.g., childbirth)'
}

Physiological Parameters

• Blood pressure: 120/80 mmHg
• Heart rate: 60-100 bpm
• Body temperature: 36.5-37.5°C
• pH: 7.35-7.45
• Blood glucose: 70-100 mg/dL

Cell Physiology

• Membrane potential: -70 mV
• Action potential: All-or-none
• Diffusion, osmosis, filtration
• Active transport
• Signal transduction