Definition of physiology
2
: the organic processes and phenomena of an organism or any of its parts or of a particular bodily process
What's Trending Now
More Trending Words
Examples of physiology in a Sentence
She took a course in anatomy and physiology.
the physiology of diseased plants
Recent Examples of physiology from the Web
-
Kara Dunn, who studies physiology at the University of Arizona, was rushed to the hospital and diagnosed with Guillain-Barré Syndrome, Tucson News Now reported at the time.
-
The brain is especially plastic early in life, such that our experiences as children have disproportionate influences on our long-term biology and physiology.
-
The muscle of the fish also showed swelling and even breakdowns, and the hormones that regulate their physiology changed.
-
And to an overwhelming degree, animal physiology has shaken out the same way.
-
Mutations within a cancer cell certainly carry information about its physiology — its propensity for growth, its vulnerabilities, its potential to cause lethal disease — but there’s a world of information beyond mutations.
-
Kara Dunn, a physiology student who will be a junior this fall, was rushed to the hospital on June 5 and diagnosed with Guillain-Barré Syndrome, Tucson News Now reported.
-
Ward and her colleague Ronald Tuma, a professor of physiology and neurosurgery, lead a team of 10 researchers at Temple’s Center for Substance Abuse in North Philadelphia.
-
But Mitchell Valdes-Sosa, an expert in auditory physiology from Cuba, told Scientific American in February that poisoning or infectiousdisease is unlikely.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'physiology.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
physiology Has Latin Roots
The Latin root physio- generally means "physical", so human physiology deals with just about everything that keeps us alive and working, and other physiology specialties do the same for other animals and for plants. To do anything serious in the field of health, you've obviously got to know how the body's organs and cells function normally. Physiology used to be considered separately from anatomy, which focuses on the body's structures; however, it's now known that structure and function can't easily be separated in a scientific way, so "anatomy and physiology" are often spoken of in the same breath.
Origin and Etymology of physiology
Latin physiologia natural science, from Greek, from physi- + -logia -logy
NEW! Time Traveler
First Known Use: 1615
in the meaning defined at sense 1
See Words from the same yearOther Physiology Terms
PHYSIOLOGY Defined for English Language Learners
Definition of physiology for English Language Learners
-
: a science that deals with the ways that living things function
-
: the ways that living things or any of their parts function
PHYSIOLOGY Defined for Kids
Definition of physiology for Students
1
: a branch of biology that deals with the processes and activities that keep living things alive
2
: the processes and activities by which a living thing or any part of it functions
Medical Dictionary
medical Definition of physiology
plural physiologies
1
: a branch of biology that deals with the functions and activities of life or of living matter (as organs, tissues, or cells) and of the physical and chemical phenomena involved — compare anatomy 1, morphology 1
2
: the organic processes and phenomena of an organism or any of its parts or of a particular bodily process
- the physiology of the thyroid gland
3
: a treatise on physiology
Learn More about physiology
-
See words that rhyme with physiology Spanish Central: Translation of physiology Nglish: Translation of physiology for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of physiology for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about physiology
Seen and Heard
What made you want to look up physiology? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
