SECTION 1: INTRODUCTION
: Claude Bernard (1878)
CHAPTER 1 FOUNDATION OF PHYSIOLOGY
 What is Physiology
- the dynamic study of life; “vital” functions of living organisms and their
organs, cell, and molecules
- structures perform (emanates) the functions [inextricably linked]
: Medical Physiology - deals with how the human body functions -->
(depends) > how the human body function --> individual organ system
function --> component cells function --> interaction among subcellular
organelles and countless molecules.
- requires integrated understanding of events at molecular, cellular
and organ level.
 Physiological Genomics is the Link Between the Organ and the Gene
- individual organ systems must work hand-in-hand with each other; actions
must be interdependent
- cells must act in concert to perform the proper function of the organ or
tissue; sharing of information with cells in another organ and make decisions
appropriate for the cell and the person; cell release molecule --act->
neighboring cells or enters bloodstream --> cells (distance away)
eg. Neuron --axon(neurotransmitter mol.)--> rapid modulation of
another cell/organ activity.
: Genome - (grand organizer) controls mol., cell & organs & their
interaction
- Physiology intertwined with mol. Bio. Because DNA encodes the proteins
: cloning of genes - a candidate gene (homologous to one of known
function) --> determien the fxn of the gene product
: Physiological Genomics (functional gen.) - understanding of the roles
that genes play in physio ( from organ --> cell to Molecule --> gene)
- physiological parameters (eg. Blood p.) may be under the control of many
genes; polymorphism of genes cause cumulative effect producing results of
parameters (determine potential to modulate & mechanisms of the effect)
 Cells Live in a Highly Protected milieu interieur
- 2 environments of animals:
1. Milieu exterieur that physically surrounds the whole organisms;
2. Milieu interieur, in which the tissues and cells of the organism
live; (well-controlled liquid environment- ECF) “the
organic liquid that circulates and bathes all the anatomic
elements of the tissues, thel ymph or the plasma.”
- isolates the organs and tissues from the vagaries of the
external physical condition.
- some are continuous with ME; eg. Contents of the GITract,
sweat ducts and renal tubules are all outside the body.
3. “fixite du milieu interieur” - (the constancy of the ECF) is the
condition of “free, independent life.”organ differentiation is
the exclusive property of higher organisms an that each organ
contributes to “compensate and equilibrate” against
environmental changes.
Individual cell types act in concert to support the constancy of the
internal milieu--> <-- internal milieu provides these cell w/ culture
medium in w/c they can thrive
4 Fundamental Properties Distinguish the Living Body
1. Only living organisms exchange matter and energy with the
environment to continue their existence
2. Only living organisms can receive signals from their
environment and react accordingly
3. What distinguishes a living organisms is the life cycle of growth
and reproduction
4. The living organism is able to adapt to changing circumstances
 Homeostatic mechanisms- Operating Through Sophisticated Feedback
Control Mechanisms- are Responsible for Maintaining Constancy of the
milieu interieur
: Homeostasis- the control of a vital parameter. (eg. Arterial pressure
and blood volume)
 - also occurs at the level of the single cell. Thus, cells regulates
many of the same parameters that the body as a whole regulates.

: Negative Feedback Mechanism - responsible for homeostasis; (4 elements)

system must be able to sense vital parameter, compare the input signal
with some internal reference value (set-point) thereby forming a
difference signal, multiply the error signal by some proportionality
factor to produce some sort of output signal, & the output signal must
be able to activate an effector mechanism that opposes the source of
the input signal and therby brings the vital parameter closer to the
set-point.
: Positive Feedback - the body controls a parameter
: Redundancy - the more vital a parameter is, the more systems that the
body mobilizes to regulate it.

-- a stable milieu interieur is a result of many homeostatic systems controllnig

many vital parameters

-- a well-regulated parameter is generally in a steady state. When a vital

parameter is well-regulated, it is not in equilibrium. Equilibrium is a state that
does not involve energy consumption.

-- the adaptability of an organism depends on its ability to alter its response;

acclimatization; genetic factors

 Medicine is the Study of “Physiology Gone Awry”

- physiology is a reference state to know how organs and systems fxn in the
healthy person to grasp w/c components may be malfunctioning in a patient.