PHYSIOLOGY | pris-med-adventure

Human Physiology

Human physiology is a life science. It is specifically the study of how systems of the body function in a well state, and this analysis of function is often at the cellular level, not of single cells but of how cells work in concert to achieve a normal state of function. Basic human physiology studies the body’s systems that function appropriately and as expected, while other disciplines like pathophysiology may look at the way body systems develop disease in attempts to find insight into how to cure diseases.

It might be oversimplification to say that human physiology attempts to answer the question of "how things work". However, this is fairly accurate, and it’s an important question to answer. Understanding the normal function of the body’s systems is valuable because it establishes baselines for understanding what is abnormal.

It is very difficult to diagnose disease unless a clear deviation from the norm can be determined, and therefore establishing this norm is of great value in medicine and in human health. Hence the importance of learning human physiology in the foundation years.

Neuron synapse

Picture showing neuron synapse

Microscopic diagram neuron synapse

Synapse terminals of a few neurons (nerve cells)

Muscle bundle

A few muscle fibres are bundles together to form a muscle bundle. Surrounded by a sheath.

Neuron synapse

Picture showing neuron synapse

1/5

Please click picture to view FULL picture.

Please click left or right to view MORE pictures.

Reflection:

Human Physiology was one of the easier subjects to master in my semester one. However it is one of the basic subjects to help me understand how the human body functions at all physiological conditions, also known as homeostasis. I enjoy Dr Rekha's lessons as she is very thorough and systematic in her teaching; she would repeat the steps of a mechanism a few times until all of us grasp managed to grasp the concept of the human body. For example, the steps involved in neuron transmission of information and also muscle contraction.

Physiology is like Anatomy's best friend, both subjects had to be studied side by side in order for me to see the whole picture. I am grateful that we were given the chance to learn physiology our foundation years. It is not only helpful in our subsequent subjects, it is also a key for us to understand better when we come to second semester Physiology and system blocks.

Personally, I like physiology classes as it does not require much memorising, as long as I understand the whole concept, I do not need to memorise the notes given by the lecturers. Furthermore, this subject also helps me in my daily life. As I can now relate to every movement I make, and every blink of an eye are all related to the mechanisms if human physiology; and knowing this keeps it interesting for me.