physiology

American  

[fiz-ee-ol-uh-jee] / ˌfɪz iˈɒl ə dʒi /

noun

physiologies plural

1. the branch of biology dealing with the functions and activities of living organisms and their parts, including all physical and chemical processes.

2. the organic processes or functions in an organism or in any of its parts.

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physiology British  

/ ˌfɪzɪˈɒlədʒɪ /

noun

1. the branch of science concerned with the functioning of organisms

2. the processes and functions of all or part of an organism

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physiology Scientific  

/ fĭz′ē-ŏl′ə-jē /

1. The scientific study of an organism's vital functions, including growth and development, the absorption and processing of nutrients, the synthesis and distribution of proteins and other organic molecules, and the functioning of different tissues, organs, and other anatomic structures. Physiology studies the normal mechanical, physical, and biochemical processes of animals and plants.

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physiology Cultural  

1. The study of the function of living things, including processes such as nutrition, movement, and reproduction. (Compare anatomy and morphology.)

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• physiologist
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• physiologies
  plural

Etymology

Origin of physiology

First recorded in 1555–65; from Latin physiologia, from Greek physiología “science of natural causes and phenomena”; see physio-, -logy

Compare meaning

How does physiology compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• physiology vs. biology

Explanation

Physiology is the branch of biology that deals with the functions and processes of living organisms, both animals and plants. It's biology in motion. Physiology includes everything from how a single cell functions, to what makes your nerve receptors work, how your pancreas releases insulin, and what happens to your muscles when you exercise. Technology has made for great leaps in the science of physiology. The electron microscope, for instance, allows you to see down to even the molecules of the cell, and radioactive isotopes provide the means to track the movement of substances within an organism.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

physiology physiologies

“This just flies in the face of all logic and physiology that any doctor has learned for 100 years.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 8, 2026

Mike Tipton, professor of physiology at Portsmouth University and chair of the National Water Safety Forum says learning to float is the key to survival.

From BBC ● Jun. 22, 2026

“Pasteurizing milk kills or changes the natural enzymes, antibodies, and fatty acids that are critical to the physiology of how this works in your body.”

From Salon ● Jun. 22, 2026

By identifying an additional mechanism involved in water conservation, the study adds a new layer to decades of knowledge about kidney physiology.

From Science Daily ● Jun. 17, 2026

Out of an original population, the members of which vary greatly in qualities of structure, behavior, or physiology, it is the “tough” insects that survive chemical attack.

From "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson

He and colleagues have established a lab colony of the Llullaillaco rodents and other high-altitude mice in Chile to study their unique physiologies.

From Science Magazine ● Oct. 23, 2023

In another twist that invites multiple interpretations, the fleet-wide infection of Borg-altered DNA into the physiologies of Starfleet personnel only affects younger beings – in human terms, those 25 and under.

From Salon ● Apr. 20, 2023

In other words, all athletes possess different physiologies, but when does the disparity become unfair?

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 20, 2022

Nevertheless, the problem of mismatched physiologies remains, and many physicians are understandably nervous about calculating the right dosages.

From Scientific American ● Sep. 1, 2017

And we can, on occasion, deliberately alter some of these genes to change their functions, thereby resulting in altered human states, altered physiologies, and changed beings.

From "The Gene" by Siddhartha Mukherjee