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1 - Introduction To Physiology
1 - Introduction To Physiology
Human Physiology
What is Human Physiology? ❖ The attempt to explain the specific characteristics and mechanism of the human body that
make it a living being
Cells
Define cells and bodily fluid ❖ The living units of the body
distribution ❖ Each organ is an aggregate of many different cells held together by intercellular supporting structures
❖ All cells have certain basic characteristics:
➢ Require nutrition
➢ Energy production (from O2, CHO, fats, & CHONS)
➢ Deliver end products of chemical reactions to surrounding fluid
➢ Almost all cells have the ability to reproduce
Bodily Fluid Distribution
❖ Intracellular fluid - ⅔ fluid within the cell
❖ Extracellular fluid - ⅓ found in the spaces outside the cells
➢ Constant motion throughout the body
➢ Contains ions and nutrients cells need
➢ Called the “internal environment”
Extracellular Fluid Intracellular Fluid
Contains large amounts of Na+, Cl-, and Contains large amounts of K+, Mg, and
Differences between Intracellular
bicarbonate ions phosphate ions
and Extracellular Fluids
Contains nutrients such as oxygen, glucose,
fatty acids, and amino acids
B. Origin of nutrients in the extracellular fluid
❖ Respiratory system
❖ Gastrointestinal tract
➢ Absorbs dissolved nutrients (glucose, fats, amino acids)
❖ Liver and other metabolic organs
➢ Changes chemical composition of many absorbed substances to usable forms
❖ Musculoskeletal system
➢ Aids body obtain food and provides motility for protection against adverse
surroundings
C. Removal of metabolic end products
❖ Removal of carbon dioxide by the lungs via diffusion during expiration
❖ Removal of urea, excess ions & water by the kidneys through filtration, secretion and excretion
❖ GI tract and the liver
D. Regulation of body functions
❖ The nervous and hormonal systems normally work together in a coordinated manner to control
essentially all of the organ systems of the body.
Nervous system
❖ Sensory division - through receptors which detect the state of the body or surroundings
❖ CNS (integrative portion) - (brain & spinal cord) brain creates thoughts, stores information
then transmits signals to motor portion of spinal cord = movement carried out
❖ ANS (autonomic nervous system) - operates at subconscious level and control many functions
of the internal organs such as: heart, GIT, and glands
Endocrine system
❖ Regulates mainly metabolic functions of the body complements the nervous system
❖ Examples of hormones and their functions:
➢ Oxytocin - increases uterine contraction & antidiuretic hormones
➢ Thyroid hormone (T3 & T4) - increases the rate of most chemical reactions in almost
all cells
➢ Insulin - controls glucose metabolism
➢ Adrenocortical hormone - controls ion & protein metabolism
➢ Parathyroid hormone - controls bone & Ca metabolism
E. Protection of the body
❖ Immune system
➢ Distinguish its own cells from foreign cells and substances
➢ Destroys invaders by phagocytosis or by producing lymphocytes or specialized proteins (e.g.,
antibodies) that destroy or neutralize the invaders
❖ Integumentary system
➢ Skin and its various appendages cover, cushion, and protect the deeper tissues and
organs of the body
➢ Also important for temperature regulation and excretion of wastes, and it provides a
sensory interface
F. Reproduction
❖ Helps homeostasis by generating new beings to take the place of those that are dying
❖ Helps maintain the automaticity and continuity of life
Characteristics of Control Systems
❖ Negative feedback
❖ Positive feedback
❖ Adaptive control/Delayed Negative Feedback
➢ Uses free forward control
Summary: The body is actually a social order of about 100 trillion cells organized into different functional structures some of which are called
organs, and each functional structure contributes its share to the maintenance of homeostatic conditions in the extracellular fluid which is called
the internal environment. As long as the normal conditions are maintained in this internal environment, the cells of the body continue to live and
function properly. Each cell benefits from homeostasis and in turn each cell contributes its share toward the maintenance of homeostasis. This
reciprocal interplay provides continuous automaticity of the body until one or more functional systems lose their ability to contribute their share of
function. When this happens, all the cells of the body suffer -- moderate dysfunction leads to sickness and extreme dysfunction leads to death.