💓 Physiology — Intro#

Scope — How living systems function at the organ and organism level, emphasizing integration across cells, tissues, and systems.

Key concepts#

• Homeostasis — maintenance of stable internal conditions despite external change.
• Organ systems — coordinated groups (e.g., cardiovascular, respiratory, nervous) performing essential functions.
• Feedback control — negative and positive feedback loops regulate physiological variables.

Seed Q&A triads#

• Q: What is homeostasis and why is it essential?
  A: Homeostasis keeps internal conditions (temperature, pH, glucose) within narrow limits necessary for cellular function and survival.

• Q: How do organ systems work together rather than independently?
  A: Systems are interdependent; for example, the respiratory and cardiovascular systems jointly deliver oxygen to tissues.

• Q: What is negative feedback in physiology?
  A: A control mechanism where a change in a variable triggers responses that counteract the change and restore balance.

Quick activities#

• Identify one physiological variable regulated by negative feedback and outline the sensor, control center, and effector.