What is Physiology?

Physiology is the study of how animals and humans work.

Physiologists conduct their investigations at various levels of biological organisation, including: the molecular biology of cell components, single or groups of cells under culture, individual organs in isolation and the whole animal or human.

Physiology is a key life science essential to our understanding of human and animal function. In particular, with the increasing specialisation of biomedical research, physiology provides an essential framework within which new knowledge of cells and molecules can be applied to improving human health.

Physiologists play a major role in improving human health by actively searching for and elucidating the mechanisms of action of clinically-relevant drugs or treatments used for relieving the suffering of humans and animals.