Introduction to Physiology &

the concept of Homeostasis

Dr.Annamalai.C
Physiology-Associate
professor
Unisza kota kampus
 Learning Objectives

 Describe the role of various physiological

systems in the body
 Describe the concept of homeostasis,
 Describe the mechanism of homeostatic
system with examples.
 Explain the consequences of dysfunctional
homeostatic system
 What is Physiology?
• Physiology is the science of studying the functional
activities and its mechanisms in biological body.
• For example: why can heart automatically beat?
• Physiology derived from two Greek words –
physis = nature;
logos = study
 The History of Physiology
• Aristotle emphasized the relationship between structure
and function
• Galen was the first to perform experiments to understand
the function of the body; so known to be father of
physiology
• The first “physiologist” of the world, in the modern sense,
was William Harvey. In the 17th century William Harvey first
describes the circulatory system and its interaction with
the body
• Claude Bernard (1813-1878) propounded the concept of
milieu interieur or internal environment and established
physiology as the scientific basis of medicine.
• THE FATHER OF MODERN PHYSIOLOGY IS THE FRENCH
PHYSIOLOGIST CLAUDE BERNARD
 Field of Physiology
• Physiology can be divided into viral physiology,
bacterial physiology, cellular physiology, plant
physiology, human physiology, and many more
subdivisions.
• Human physiology is the science of studying
the rule of physiological functions in human
body.
 Function and Process:
Teleological vs. Mechanistic Approach to Science

Teleological:
• What is purpose or function?
• Why does something exist?
• Why does it need to be done?

Mechanistic:
• What are processes involved?
• How does something work?
Distinguish between Process & Function
Process Function

• How do we breathe? • Why do we breathe?

• How does blood flow? • Why does blood flow?

• How do RBCs • Why do RBC transport

transport O2? O2?

Integrate both for complete picture!

Levels of Structural Organization
Cell Structure and Function
Cell Structure and Function
Cell Structure and Function

Power house of cell

Levels of Structural Organization
 Key Themes in Physiology:
1.Homeostasis
• Body systems work together (Integration of
function)
• Internal vs. external failure of homeostasis

1.Communication and movement across cell

membranes
• Vital to integration & homeostasis
• Cells communicate with other cells, tissues &
organs
Organ System

Integumentary System

DEFINITION The integument (skin) and

structures derived from it (hair, nails, and
oil sweat glands).

FUNCTIONS
Protects the body,
regulates body temperature, eliminates
wastes, and
receives certain stimuli (tactile,
temperature, and pain).
 Organ System
DEFINITION Bones, cartilage, and
ligaments (which steady the bones at
the joints).

FUNCTIONS
Provides body support and protection,
permits movement and leverage,
produces blood cells (hematopoiesis),
and stores minerals.
 Organ System
DEFINITION Skeletal muscles of the
body and their tendinous attachments.

FUNCTIONS
Effects body movements, maintains
posture, and produces body heat.
 Organ System
DEFINITION Consists of the
lymphatic vessels, lymph nodes, and
other lymphatic organs.

FUNCTIONS
Removes foreign substances from the
blood and lymph, combats disease,
maintains tissue fluid balance, and
absorbs dietary fats from the digestive
tract.

Returns tissue fluids to the heart

 Organ System

DEFINITION The body organs

concerned with movement of respiratory
gases (O2 and CO2) to and
from the pulmonary blood (the blood
within the lungs).

FUNCTIONS
Supplies oxygen to the blood and
eliminates carbon dioxide;
also helps to regulate acid–base balance.

Pharynx is part of digestive and

respiratory system
 Organ System
DEFINITION The body organs that
render ingested foods absorbable.

FUNCTIONS
Mechanically and chemically breaks
down foods for cellular use and
eliminates undigested wastes.
 Organ System
DEFINITION Brain, spinal cord,
nerves, and sensory organs such as the
eye and the ear.

FUNCTIONS
Detects and responds to changes in
internal and external environments,
enables reasoning and memory, and
regulates body activities.
 Organ System
DEFINITION The hormone-
producing glands.
•Hypothalamus
•Pineal gland
•Pituitary gland
•Thyroid
•Parathyroid
•Thymus
•Adrenal gland
•Pancreas
•Ovaries
•Testes

FUNCTIONS
Controls and integrates body
functions via hormones secreted
into the bloodstream.
 Organ System
DEFINITION The heart and the
vessels that carry blood or blood
constituents (lymph) through the
body.

FUNCTIONS
Transports respiratory gases,
nutrients, wastes, and hormones;
protects against disease and fluid
loss;
helps regulate body temperature
and acid–base balance.
 Organ System
DEFINITION The organs that operate
to remove wastes from the blood and to
eliminate urine from the body.

FUNCTIONS
Removes various wastes from the blood;
regulates the chemical composition,
volume, and electrolyte balance of the
blood;
helps maintain the acid–base balance of
the body.
 Organ System

DEFINITION The body organs that produce, store, and transport reproductive
cells (gametes, or sperm and ova).
FUNCTIONS Reproduce the organism, produce sex hormones.
 Organ Systems Interrelationships
Digestive system Respiratory system
Takes in nutrients, breaks them Takes in oxygen and
down, and eliminates unabsorbed eliminates carbon dioxide
matter (feces)
Food O2 CO2

•All cells depend on

Cardiovascular system
Via the blood, distributes oxygen
and nutrients to all body cells and

organ systems to meet delivers wastes and carbon

dioxide to disposal organs

their survival needs. Blood

CO2
O2

Organ systems work Heart

Urinary
system
Eliminates
Nutrients
cooperatively to perform nitrogenous
wastes and
Interstitial fluid excess ions
necessary life functions

Nutrients and wastes pass

between blood and cells
via the interstitial fluid

Integumentary system
Feces Protects the body as a whole Urine
from the external environment
 Homeostasis
Homeostasis homeo-, the
same) is the existence and
maintenance of a
relatively constant
environment within the
body despite fluctuations
in either the external
environment or the
internal environment.

Walter Cannon coined the

term "homeostasis" (1929)
 Homeostatic Regulation
This process of adjustment (called homeostatic
regulation) involves:
1.a receptor (which receives information about a change
in the environment),
2.a control center (which receives and processes
information from the receptor), and
3.an effector (which responds to signals from the control
center by either opposing or enhancing the stimulus).
1.Receptor
2.Afferent Pathway
3.Integrating or control center
4.Efferent Pathway
5.Effector
 Feedback
The signal sent by the effector is called feedback;
feedback can be either negative or positive.
•Negative feedback: when the effector opposes the
stimulus (such as a dropping temperature) and reverses
the direction of change (causing the temperature to
rise). Example: Decrease in Blood Glucose
and Blood pressure
•Positive feedback: when the effector reinforces the
stimulus (such as uterine contractions during childbirth,
which trigger the release of the hormone
oxytocin) and amplifies the direction of change (causing
even greater contractions and further release
of oxytocin). Example: Blood clotting, protein digestion, a
temperature of 100.2F causes further increase
Negative Feedback Control of Car Speed
Negative Feedback – Temp Regulation
Response to Heat Stress
1.Thermoreceptors in skin detect a rise in body
temperature
2.Nervous system in brain sends message to
hypothalamus
3.Hypothalamus response:
Sweating: Sweat glands to initiate sweating –
evaporation of sweat cools body
Vasodilation: Blood vessels to dilate – more blood
glows to skin, which has been cooled by evaporation
Negative Feedback – Temp Regulation
Regulator center

Effector

Effector
Negative Feedback – Temp Regulation
1.Thermoreceptors in the skin send a message to
the hypothalamus
2.Hypothalamus response:
– Vasoconstriction: Constricts smooth muscle of
arterioles – blood flow is limited, heat loss from
skin is reduced
– Piloerection: Constricts smooth muscle around hair
follicles, causing hair to stand on end – erect hair
traps warm air next to skin
– shivering : Skeletal muscles to initiate rhythmic
contractions (10 – 20x per minute)
Negative Feedback – Temp Regulation

Effector

Regulator center

Effector
Positive Feedback during childbirth
 Take Home Message
1. Negative Feedback: Example 1.Decrease in
blood glucose 2.Decrease in blood pressure
2. Positive Feedback: Example
1.Clotting
2.Protein digestion
3.A temperature of 100.2 0F causes further
increase
 References

• Textbook of Medical physiology-

AC Guyton
• Human physiology- sheer wood
• Review of medical physiology-WF
Ganong

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