Editing Physiology (section)

==Subdisciplines==
There are many ways to categorize the subdisciplines of physiology:<ref>Moyes, C.D., Schulte, P.M. Principles of Animal Physiology, second edition. Pearson/Benjamin Cummings. Boston, MA, 2008.</ref>
* based on the [[taxon|taxa]] studied: [[human physiology]], animal physiology, [[plant physiology]], microbial physiology, viral physiology
* based on the [[Biological organisation|level of organization]]: [[cell physiology]], [[molecular physiology]], [[Biological system|systems]] physiology, organismal physiology, [[ecological physiology]], integrative physiology
* based on the process that causes physiological variation: [[Developmental biology|developmental]] physiology, [[environmental physiology]], [[evolutionary physiology]]
* based on the ultimate goals of the research: [[applied physiology]] (e.g., medical physiology), [[Fundamental science|non-applied]] (e.g., [[comparative physiology]])

===Subdisciplines by level of organisation===
====Cell physiology====
{{Main|Cell physiology}}Although there are differences between [[animal]], [[plant]], and microbial cells, the basic physiological functions of cells can be divided into the processes of [[cell division]], [[cell signaling]], [[cell growth]], and [[Metabolism|cell metabolism]].{{cn|date=May 2023}}

===Subdisciplines by taxa===
====Plant physiology====
{{Main|Plant physiology}}Plant physiology is a subdiscipline of [[botany]] concerned with the functioning of plants. Closely related fields include [[plant morphology]], [[plant ecology]], [[phytochemistry]], [[cell biology]], [[genetics]], [[biophysics]], and [[molecular biology]]. Fundamental processes of [[plant physiology]] include [[photosynthesis]], [[Respiration in plant|respiration]], [[plant nutrition]], [[tropism]]s, [[nastic movements]], [[photoperiodism]], [[photomorphogenesis]], [[circadian rhythm]]s, [[Germination|seed germination]], [[dormancy]], and [[stoma]]ta function and [[transpiration]]. Absorption of water by roots, production of food in the leaves, and growth of shoots towards light are examples of plant physiology.<ref>{{cite web |title=Plant physiology |url=https://basicbiology.net/plants/physiology|publisher=Basic Biology|date=2019|access-date=16 January 2019}}</ref>

====Animal physiology====
{{Main|Biology#Animal form and function}}

==== Human physiology ====
{{Main|Human body#Physiology}}Human physiology is the study of how the human body's systems and functions work together to maintain a stable internal environment. It includes the study of the nervous, endocrine, cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, and urinary systems, as well as cellular and exercise physiology. Understanding human physiology is essential for diagnosing and treating health conditions and promoting overall wellbeing.
It seeks to understand the mechanisms that work to keep the [[human body]] alive and functioning,<ref name="Guyton"/> through scientific enquiry into the nature of mechanical, physical, and biochemical functions of humans, their organs, and the cells of which they are composed. The principal level of focus of physiology is at the level of organs and systems within systems. The endocrine and nervous systems play major roles in the reception and transmission of signals that integrate function in animals. [[Homeostasis]] is a major aspect with regard to such interactions within plants as well as animals. The biological basis of the study of physiology, integration refers to the overlap of many functions of the systems of the human body, as well as its accompanied form. It is achieved through communication that occurs in a variety of ways, both electrical and chemical.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Pereda |first1=AE |title=Electrical synapses and their functional interactions with chemical synapses |journal=Nature Reviews. Neuroscience |date=April 2014 |volume=15 |issue=4 |pages=250–63 |doi=10.1038/nrn3708 |pmid=24619342 |pmc=4091911}}</ref>

Changes in physiology can impact the mental functions of individuals. Examples of this would be the effects of certain medications or toxic levels of substances.<ref>{{cite web|title=Mental disorders|url=https://www.who.int/topics/mental_disorders/en/|website=World Health Organization|publisher=WHO|access-date=15 April 2017}}</ref> Change in [[behavior change (individual)|behavior]] as a result of these substances is often used to assess the health of individuals.<ref name = Davis2017>{{cite web | title = Eszopiclone | publisher = F.A. Davis | date = 2017 | access-date = April 15, 2017 | url = http://davisplus.fadavis.com/3976/meddeck/pdf/eszopiclone.pdf | archive-date = November 24, 2017 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20171124164653/https://davisplus.fadavis.com/3976/meddeck/pdf/eszopiclone.pdf | url-status = dead }}</ref><ref name =zolDavis2017>{{cite web | title = Zolpidem | publisher = F.A. Davis | url = http://davisplus.fadavis.com/3976/meddeck/pdf/zolpidem.pdf | access-date = April 15, 2017 | archive-date = December 22, 2017 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20171222105509/https://davisplus.fadavis.com/3976/meddeck/pdf/zolpidem.pdf | url-status = dead }}</ref>

Much of the foundation of knowledge in human physiology was provided by [[Animal testing|animal experimentation]]. Due to the frequent connection between form and function, physiology and [[anatomy]] are intrinsically linked and are studied in tandem as part of a medical curriculum.<ref name="NIH2013">{{cite journal |last1=Bergman |first1=Esther M |last2=de Bruin |first2=Anique BH |last3=Herrler |first3=Andreas |last4=Verheijen |first4=Inge WH |last5=Scherpbier |first5=Albert JJA |last6=van der Vleuten |first6=Cees PM |title=Students' perceptions of anatomy across the undergraduate problem-based learning medical curriculum: a phenomenographical study |pmc=4225514 |journal=BMC Medical Education |doi=10.1186/1472-6920-13-152 |date=19 November 2013 |quote=Together with physiology and biochemistry, anatomy is one of the basic sciences that are to be taught in the medical curriculum. |pmid=24252155 |volume=13 |page=152 |doi-access=free }}</ref>

===Subdisciplines by research objective===
====Comparative physiology====
{{Main|Comparative physiology}}
Involving [[evolutionary physiology]] and [[environmental physiology]], comparative physiology considers the diversity of functional characteristics across organisms.<ref name="Garland">{{cite journal|last=Garland| first=T. Jr. |author2=P. A. Carter|year=1994|title=Evolutionary physiology|url=http://www.biology.ucr.edu/people/faculty/Garland/GarlCa94.pdf|journal=Annual Review of Physiology|volume=56|pages=579–621|doi=10.1146/annurev.ph.56.030194.003051|pmid=8010752|access-date=2008-04-11|archive-date=2021-04-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210412150229/https://biology.ucr.edu/people/faculty/Garland/GarlCa94.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>