PHYSIOLOGY IS A COMPLETE SUBJECT IN ITS OWN RIGHT

Abstract

Physiology is a branch of biology. It is the study of functions of the living matter. Living matter on earth is present in three forms, i.e., plants, animals and microbes. So physiology may be plant physiology, animal physiology and microbial physiology. The oldest branch of Physiology is human physiology.  Hippocrates, the father of medicine, was possibly the first physiologist around 420 BC. When scientific methods of observation and experimentation were used to study the movement of blood in the body, in the 17^th century, that was the dawn of modern physiology. One branch of human physiology is medical physiology which deals with the understanding and treatment of human diseases. Other branches of human physiology are sports physiology, space and aviation physiology, foetal or developmental physiology, environmental physiology, integrative physiology, practical physiology and comparative physiology. Each branch may further be divided into many subdivisions.

Physiology is the scientific background of medicine and is not only providing a strong base to the medical or life sciences but it is also playing a significant role in developing a more scientific reasoning in the society. Physiology defines the boundary between quackery and the scientific medicine. Physiologists should be proud of being physiologists because there is no medicine without physiology. Physiology broadens the vision and enlightens the minds of its learners towards life. It produces a more logical thinking about life processes and so helps to ward off superstitions from the society. We recommend that physiology may be included in the curricula of secondary, intermediate and undergraduate levels as an optional subject.