Study Of Human Physiology

STUDY OF HUMAN PHYSIOLOGY The beginning of the study of human physiology takes place right from the time of conception, though unconsciously. Consciously the study begins with learning of the interactions amongst family members and the living and non living surroundings. But this study is informal or non-formal. Formal and conscious learning of human physiology begins when one starts going to school. Here a variety of interactions in the nature are taught with respect to their effects on human life. This knowledge is sometimes categorized as human physiology and sometimes not. The professoinal or academic study of human physiology begins when one enters a graduation or professional course. The foundation of the study of human physiology is to get oriented to the fact that you are going to study everything in nature with respect to its effects on human life. (The study of the effects of the human life on the nature constitutes the various arts, languages, politics, religions and so on.) Thus to begin with, we study the structure and then functioning of these structures and their interactions in following way. 1. We observe signs and symptoms in patients and correlate them with the structural and functional abnormalities. 2. We use observations in day to day life and correlate their cause and effect e.g. the effect of day night on sleep and wakefulness cycle. 3. We use the knowledge of physics, chemistry etc and apply the principles involved to the human body to explain the interactions in human body. 4. We use technology such as microscope to study smaller structures such as cells, their membranes etc. 5. The actual events (phenomena) in the body are compared with other observed events (phenomena) such as electricty in the nature and thus the nature of the body activities are defined. 6. The various control mechanisms in the machines are correlated with body and the nature of regulatory and control mechanisms in the body are identified or hypothesized and verfied. 7. Experimentation such ablation (removal) of an organ and its effects are observed and correponding function is assigned to that organ. 8. Stimulation experiments withb rain elicit functions of organs related to that part of brain. 9. Observations of effects of practice of pranamaya, different exercises and other alterations in the environment or diet add to our knowledge of human physiology. 10. Various measurements such as hemoglobin, pulmonary ventillation, blood pressure are also important. 11. Techniques such electrocardiography, electroencephalography,

electroretinography give quantitative perspective of corresponding structures their functions. 12. Based on these and other studies and observations, one learns to make hypotheses and learn to verify them and make the understanding of human physiology deeper and more accurate. 13. Learning human physiology can not grow without asking questions at every point. 14. Learning human physiology requires (like any other field) unprejudiced and realistic mind. It is said that various techniques can be used to develop crystal clear and unselfish mind, which facilitates effective learning of human physiology. Dr.Shriniwas J. Kashalikar