Draft:Original research/Animal physiology

Physiology has traditionally been divided into plant physiology and animal physiology but the principles of physiology are universal, no matter what particular organism is being studied. For example, what is learned about the physiology of yeast cells can also apply to human cells.

Physiology, as opposed to pure anatomy, is the study of how things function and work. For example, the parts of the kidney nephron would be considered anatomy (cortex, loops of Henle...) but how filtration and urine formation works is physiology.

Physiology
Physiology is the study of the mechanical, physical, and biochemical functions of living organisms.

Def. 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" is called physiology.

Physiology is the scientific study of the functions and mechanisms which work within a living system.

As a sub-discipline of biology, the focus of physiology is in how organisms, organ systems, organs, cells, and biomolecules carry out the chemical and physical functions that exist in a living system. This is commonly studied in medical sciences.

Animals
Animals are heterotrophic eukaryotic organisms which ingest food produced by primary producers. They are unable to produce their own energy and must take derived energy from the sun. They are off the phylum Animalia.

Def. "a multicellular organism that is usually mobile, whose cells are not encased in a rigid cell wall (distinguishing it from plants and fungi) and which derives energy solely from the consumption of other organisms" is called an animal.

Theoretical animal physiology
Here's a theoretical definition:

Def. "a branch of zoology that deals with the functions and activities of single or multicellular organisms that are usually mobile, whose cells are not encased in a rigid cell wall and which derive energy solely from the consumption of other organisms, and of the physical and chemical phenomena involved" is animal physiology. This is emphasized as theoretical because of the widespread possibilities of what animal physiology can contain.

Functionings
Central to an understanding of physiological functioning is the investigation of the fundamental biophysical and biochemical phenomena, the coordinated homeostatic control mechanisms, and the continuous communication between cells.

"All humans are capable of producing the same wide range of vowel sounds." For example, we know that "Huh? is the product of convergent evolution. This term refers to the independent evolution of similar structures in unrelated species."

"Huh? has a similar form across languages because the same set of conditions leads in all languages to something like the Huh? word being produced. In the flow of conversation, people need to be sure that others know when they have failed to understand. Time runs by quickly in conversation, and there is only a short window in which to signal a comprehension problem. In that situation, one needs a syllable that is fast and easy to pronounce. Huh? does the job. The particular vowels that Huh? is restricted in all languages happen to be the vowels that are most easily pronounced when a person’s tongue is in a relaxed position." This shows convergent evolution because they were developed independently (mostly) inside their own languages or cultures.

States
The physiologic state is the condition occurring per normal body function, while the pathologic state is centered on the abnormalities that occur in animal diseases, including humans. The goal of your body is to maintain homeostasis, which is the state of balance. This homeostasis makes sure you stay healthy and any imbalance can cause disease.

Hierarchy of Study
According to the type of investigated organisms, the field can be divided into, animal physiology (including that of humans), plant physiology, cellular physiology, and microbial physiology. They all study the function of their respective subjects and can be related. For example, studies of E. coli, a microorganism, can give us information about the function of something in humans or more macroscopic organisms.

Example: Killer whales
The image on the left show the approximate location of the organs: melon, blowhole, esophagus, brain, lung, heart, sternum, liver, stomach, intestines, kidney, bladder, vagina, and colon.

The image on the right shows the basic external anatomy including dorsal fluke, dorsal cape, caudal peduncle, caudal fin, belly spot, pectoral fins beak, melon, and white eye patch.

On the skeleton in the center, note the four fingers (two are fused of the original five).