What is the distinction between the fields of anatomy and physiology?

Answer 1

Anatomy, from the Greek anatome, meaning "to cut" or "dissect," is the study of pieces, the sum of which makes up the whole. Human anatomy, then, is the study of the various organ systems which make up the human organism.

This same definition can be extrapolated to any other complex system. Ship anatomy, then could be the study of rudders, sails, planking and anchors - all of the systems which, together, make a ship, a ship. Physiology, on the other hand, is from the Greek physi + logia, "meaning the study of the combined form," is the study of the organs vital functions. This includes growth and development, self replication, function of organ systems, and the absorption and processing of nutrients. These are all studied in the normal subject. The study of the disordered subject is Pathophysiology, and deals with the "physiology of disease."

Answer 2

Anatomy is the study of the structure of body parts, while physiology is the study of how these body parts function and work together to maintain life. Essentially, anatomy examines the physical components of an organism, while physiology focuses on the mechanisms that enable those components to function.

Answer 3

Anatomy is the body's parts or organs, and physiology is the study of what they are made up of, and how they work. You cannot have one without the other. Anatomy and Physiology go hand in hand.

Answer 4

Its about time someone asked this question. Biology is the study of all things organic it is an umerella term for many smaller subjects including anatomy and physiology. Anatomy is the study of the body at the level of the naked eye. It is concerned with where parts are, what they are supplied by and what they do for the body. Physiology is the study of living organisms at the level of a microscope (usually). It is concerned with how cells work and what they do for the organ system they are involved in. So something like the nervous sysytem can be studied in both anatomy and physiology. In anatomy we would look at where the nerves run, what they supply, what kind of supply and were it comes from. Physiologists would also look at the kinds of inervation but they would also be concerned with how the neurons in the nerve manage to pass the innervation on.

Answer 5

I will put it in a example. Lets say we're talking about the heart.

The physiology of the heart means 'how the heart works' as for pomping the blood through your body. The anatomy of the heart means 'How does it looks like, how is it build, what structures' as for the heart has two atriums and two ventricles. The heart is made out of muscle tissue.

I hope you'll undertand what I mean

Answer 6

anatomy = the study of the organs, blood vessels, muscles, tissue, etc of an organism.

physiology = the study of the INTERACTION BETWEEN those things WITHIN the organism (ie. the respiratory system includes the heart, lungs, etc working together to perform the function of breathing in oxygen and breathing out carbon dioxide).

(i took anatomy and physiology in my undergraduate studies in college - one semester of anatomy and one semester of physiology - back to back semesters - they went hand in hand, really that way - enjoy!)

Answer 7

anatomy is the physical structures physiology involves how parts of the body work :)

Answer 8

Biology is the study of life. Anatomy is the study of the structure of living things.

Anatomy is a part of biology.

Answer 9

Anatomy - parts of the body and their location.

Physiology - how the parts of the body work.

Answer 10

anatomy refers to a specific part of the body while physiology refers to how that specific part functions within the body.