Physiology 3120 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Endothelium, Lipid Bilayer, Cholesterol

• School: Western University
• Department: Physiology
• Course: Physiology 3120
• Professor: Tom Stavraky

Document Summary

Physiology: the study of function in the living organism. It embraces biochemistry, biophysics, genetics, pharmacology, anatomy, histology, pathology and behavioral psychology. An understanding of diseases requires and understanding of normal physiology. Internal environment: all fluids that cells are bathed in and surrounded by. It"s important to maintain the internal environment so the cells can function properly (cid:498)milieu interieur(cid:499): maintenance of this constancy by physiologic mechanisms. Maintenance of relatively stable conditions in the internal environment: maintain temperature, body fluid compositions, blood pressure, etc, body values can fluctuate, homeostatic mechanisms are dynamic (always changing) and self-regulatory. Every system in the body is trying to maintain the internal environment and homeostasis: reproductive system is not responsible for maintaining homeostasis (only exists to pass on genes, we can live without it) Both these control systems work through negative feedback: sometimes positive feedback. Set point: value around which the body is trying to maintain (proper level) Set point is built into a control center.