Anatomy and Physiology both these terms are both very commonly used in the medical field. While most people think these terms are the same, people tend to study these subjects with each other, and they understand that both are linked to each other.
Knowledge of these two subjects is critical before understanding the other subject, as both are extremely important and interrelated. Even though both these subjects appear to be the same, they are entirely different from each other.
Key Takeaways
- Anatomy studies the structure and organization of living organisms, including their organs and tissues.
- Physiology is the study of the functions and processes of living organisms, including how they maintain homeostasis and respond to stimuli.
- Anatomy and physiology are closely related and are often studied together to gain a comprehensive understanding of living organisms.
Anatomy vs Physiology
Anatomy and physiology differ because anatomy has the dictionary meaning of โstructureโ. People study different body parts of the human body in the field of anatomy. On the other hand, physiology which has the dictionary meaning of โfunctionโ, taught people how these body parts function with each other and how these body parts are interlinked to each other.
Comparison Table
| Parameter of Comparison | Anatomy | Physiology |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | Anatomy is a field of medical study which teaches people about the body structures of living beings. It includes the study of bones, muscles and various body parts. | Physiology is the field of medical study which teaches about the functioning of various body orders in a coordinated way. It includes a study related to respiration, digestion etc. |
| Experimented on | Experiments in anatomy can be performed on either dead or living being. | Experiments in physiology are performed only on living creatures. |
| Functions | In anatomy, the study is done on body organs, overall body structure, muscles etc. | It focuses mainly on how different body organs function together. |
| Relevance | Anatomy helps in teaching individuals about various organs of the body. | Physiology helps in teaching people how different functions are carried out in the body of a living being |
| Example | If we are studying the anatomy of the heart, it means study about arteries, veins etc. | If we are studying the physiology of the heart, it means understanding how the heart pumps blood all across the body. |
What is Anatomy?
The word anatomy is very significant in Greek, which means โcuttingโ. The study related to any body part of a living being is known as anatomy.
The body of any living being on the earth has various parts. Some body parts can be viewed by the naked eye, whereas some can be seen with the help of a microscope.
Study-related the body parts of human beings is called human anatomy. The idea of the importance of human anatomy pops in the mind when soldiers get injured.
This interest helps in allowing physicians so they can cut the human body and learn more about human anatomy.
Dead bodies of human beings are dissected in medical institutions as part of this subject so that students can gain information about various body parts.
Nowadays, various technologies help in understanding the internal organs of the body. Some of these technologies are X Rays, ultrasound, etc.
There are two ways to understand the structures of the body. Regional anatomy helps gain knowledge related to a particular body area, like the abdomen.
Systematic anatomy helps us understand how different structures of different regions of the body function together.
What is Physiology?
Physiology is also known as the science of life. It is that part of biology that helps understand living thingsโ functioning. It includes the functioning of all organs of the body.
Physiology is the study of learning how different organs of the bodywork, in coordinated ways support the proper functioning of a living creatureโs body.
It involves observing the functioning of various organs of the body. Some of the body functions included in this study are:
- Respiration
- Cardiovascular
- Urinal
To understand physiology in detail, letโs discuss this with the example of respiration.
In respiration, it is imperative to understand how a person is breathing oxygen with the help of noise and how the lungs function.
Main Differences Between Anatomy and Physiology
Although both are fields of biology and related to the body parts of living beings still, there exists a lot of differences between anatomy and physiology:
- Anatomy deals with the study of various body structures, whereas physiology involves the study of various functions of the body, like respiration and urinal functions.
- Anatomy is performed on the dead and living beings. The study focuses on various structures and shapes of the body. In contrast, physiology is performed only on living beings as it focuses on how different organs function along with others.
- Anatomy makes people understand various body parts of a living being body being it human or any other creature on earth. In contrast, physiology helps make people understand how these parts work.
- https://asa.scitation.org/doi/pdf/10.1121/1.1398047
- https://cjasn.asnjournals.org/content/3/Supplement_3/S131.short
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Piyush Yadav has spent the past 25 years working as a physicist in the local community. He is a physicist passionate about making science more accessible to our readers. He holds a BSc in Natural Sciences and Post Graduate Diploma in Environmental Science. You can read more about him on his bio page.
