To know the features of the functioning of the body, each of its parts, structure, to be able to investigate and predict changes and pathologies - this is an important task for specialists in the field of medicine. There is a whole science that deals with the study of just such questions. It's called physiology. This is the science of those processes that accompany the normal functioning of the body. It arose quite a long time ago, even Hippocrates for the first time showed interest in the functioning of living systems. Today, there are various methods of studying physiology that help to fully understand certain mechanisms and characteristics of the body.
General concept of physiology
Start with a general concept. Physiology is the science of the life of a living being, its relationship with external environmental conditions, their influence on the state of he alth and the normal functioning of organs and their systems. In general, the main idea of this science is to reveal the deep mechanisms of the existence of living things, to understand how its self-regulation and all other processes take place.
The object of physiology is only a living organism, because this is how it is possible to identify all the patterns of interest to people in itsstructure and functioning. The objectives of the discipline are clearly seen in the definition itself.
Thus, the subject, tasks and methods of physiology are three components of the theoretical foundations of science. Many scientists at all times tried to understand the essence of the changes taking place in the body, including the human one. However, this became fully possible only with the invention of modern instruments and devices, that is, science received its full development only starting from the 20th century.
This did not stop her from becoming one of the leading biological sciences. Physiology, anatomy and medicine are three closely interrelated disciplines that are the foundation for each other. Therefore, the methods of anatomy and physiology are in some cases similar to each other.
Sections of physiology
This science itself has several sub-disciplines. So, physiology is distinguished:
- general;
- comparative;
- private.
General deals with the study of life processes in general. That is, it considers the patterns of the course of those reactions that are manifestations of life. For example, nutrition, respiration, excretion, regulation, changes in sleep and wakefulness, and others. This also includes such a section as cell physiology, which deals with a detailed study of all its vital manifestations.
Comparative physiology compares the life processes of one or different types of organisms in the process of ontogenesis. As a result, a whole branch is also formed - evolutionary physiology.
Private deals with narrower specific research. So, there are several variants of disciplines included in this group.
- Human physiology, the methods of research of which we will consider a little later.
- Physiology of certain groups of living organisms (insects, birds, mammals, reptiles, and so on).
- Separate organs and tissues.
- Body systems (physiology of digestion, circulation, respiration, etc.).
The study of man from the point of view of this science has received especially wide development recently. After all, his body has the most complex structure. The methods of human physiology are diverse and effective enough to reveal everything necessary for understanding the essence of things. Highlight:
- age physiology;
- food;
- labor;
- sports;
- cosmic;
- pathological;
- clinical.
The aggregate data of these disciplines help to embrace all the boundless processes occurring inside a person and find access to managing them.
Research methods in physiology
There are several of them. There are historically developed ones that were used in antiquity. Today, new ones based on the latest scientific achievements in the field of technology, electronics, and the study of electromagnetic radiation have been formed.
The following methods of physiology are distinguished.
- Extirpation is one of the most ancient ways of learning. was inremoval of an organ from a living creature with further monitoring of the body's reaction and fixing the results.
- Fistula method. Its basis is the introduction of metal or plastic tubes into organs that have a cavity and thus fixation of biological fluids. Data are obtained on changes in the chemical nature of substances, that is, the secretory function of the body is being studied.
- Catheterization method - the introduction of special drugs through thin tubes into organs and vessels, causing changes in functioning. This is how the work of the heart, blood vessels, glands of external and internal secretion (not all) is studied.
- Denervation method. Used to study the relationship between nerves and working organs. For this, the irritation method is used with further fixation of the results.
- Methods of studying physiology based on the use of tools and equipment. This includes the implantation of macro- and microelements into organs and tissues, registration of nerve impulses, exposure to radiation, taking readings of the work of the heart and brain, and so on.
Some methods of research in physiology, we will consider in more detail later. They are the most commonly used and important.
Observation
These methods of physiology were used in Ancient Egypt, Rome, China, in the Ancient East. Even then, there were researchers interested in the changes occurring in living organisms. So, for example, in Egypt, during the mummification of pharaohs and their families, they performed an autopsy and recorded changes in the internalenvironment. The following indicators were evaluated:
- color and quality of biological fluids and masses;
- organ coloring;
- color of the eye sclera;
- quality and color of sputum;
- puffiness of the skin, its turgor and structure.
These characteristics were compared with those of he althy people and certain conclusions were drawn. It was even possible to determine the cause of death in some cases.
Today, observation has not lost its relevance, especially when it comes to psychophysiology. A person's behavior, his emotions, temperament, external manifestations of trembling, sweating - all these signs serve as certain wake-up calls for research. They make it possible to understand the relationship between the structure and the external manifestation of certain indicators, physiological functions, processes in the body.
The doctrine of human temperament was created by the scientist Pavlov precisely on the basis of studying the processes of inhibition and excitation, which outwardly manifested themselves in various emotional colors in behavior and reactions to certain events, words, actions. He proved that the basis of choleric, sanguistic, melancholic and phlegmatic manifestations are precisely the nervous processes associated with the mental activity of the brain, its reactions.
These conclusions have been repeatedly confirmed by various scientists and psychologists, researchers. Therefore, such methods of human physiology as observation and experiment, which will be discussed later, were and are relevant, important and effective.
Experiment
Experimental methods of studying physiology are fundamental and historically the most ancient and popular. Indeed, how else to know, if not to look? Therefore, along with observation, various kinds of tests were carried out, most often on animals. It was they who gave almost one hundred percent results in research, allowed to obtain the most reliable data.
There are experimental methods for studying anatomy and physiology, which can be reduced to two main groups.
- Sharp experiments. This method of research was used until the end of the 19th century, until the Russian scientist Ivan Petrovich Pavlov found another option. What was the essence of such intervention in the body? The experiment was carried out on a living animal organism, which was tied to a special machine. Then a live section was carried out to the organ needed for the study, and thus the observed results of its work were recorded. However, a number of significant shortcomings made this method ineffective. In addition to being morally inhuman and cruel, because the animal was subjected to terrible torment and torture, very painful operations, even anesthesia did not help, but also emotional suffering, physical pain experienced by the victim of the experiment, significantly distorted the results obtained. It turned out a vicious circle. To get to the right organ, one had to inflict suffering. They, in turn, distorted the normal course of physiological processes, and the result was not very effective.
- Chronic experiment. It is this method andsuggested Pavlov. He himself was against sharp experiments because of their extreme cruelty, perhaps this prompted him to invent a more humane version. The test organism was also an animal. However, the procedure was very different. Before the operation of a surgical nature, high-quality anesthesia was performed. Then a fistula was implanted into the walls of the desired organ - a plastic or metal tube, which was sewn to the skin from the outside. After that, the animal was given time to recover, heal the formed wound and completely normalize vital processes. Thus, through the fistula, information was obtained about the course of certain processes in the studied part of the body, while it was completely reliable, since the body was functioning normally. Research could be carried out for a long time without harming the he alth of the animal and in accordance with all the rules of its natural existence.
Thus worked the basic methods of physiology, relevant in some cases to this day. Although, of course, modern technical innovations are gradually completely replacing human intervention directly into the body. Now it is possible to get the necessary information in completely different, less painful, more accurate and suitable ways for a person.
Graphic registration
Methods of human physiology are based on the use of certain equipment. Among such devices, the following occupy an important place.
- Electrocardiograph. Apparatus,used to fix cardiac bioelectric potentials. As a result, an electrocardiogram drawn on paper comes out of the device, which a knowledgeable medical specialist deciphers and draws a conclusion about the state of he alth of the heart and circulatory system. To date, this device has saved the lives of millions of people. After all, early detection of the problem is the key to successful treatment.
- Microelectrodes. The smallest structures that can be implanted directly into the cell and fix the membrane biopotential. Today it is one of the most important achievements in electronics, which concerns the physiological studies of the human body. These electrodes can even be inserted into the human brain, which makes it possible to observe and record psychosomatic changes in the state of he alth and vital activity.
- Radionuclide methods of physiology - used to obtain quantitative characteristics of physiological processes.
- Various sensors that emit electromagnetic waves. The return response in the form of an electrical impulse is recorded by a special device - an oscilloscope - and then transferred to a computer for processing. Here, a detailed processing of the information received is already taking place and certain conclusions are being formed. So you can set the chemical concentration of certain ions, the magnitude of pressure, temperature, movement and other parameters).
Thus, the modern methods of the science of physiology, based on the use of instruments, are the most accurate, painless and scientifically informative of all we have discussed above.
Chemical andbiochemical methods
Methods of anatomy and physiology are not only similar to each other. They are also related to other sciences. So, there is biological physiology, biochemistry, and also physical physiology. These sciences study the processes inside the body from their point of view, that is, from chemical, physical and biological.
So, with the help of these methods, the influence of a particular substance (mediator, hormone, enzyme) on the processes occurring in the body is established. Chemistry helps in establishing the properties of this compound, physics reveals its thermodynamic parameters that can affect the body. Physiology requires studying the impact not only on a specific process, but also on the organism, organ, and the totality of external conditions in general. Together, these sciences are united under the general name of biological chemistry.
Methods of pathological physiology
The subject and methods of physiology are closely related and interdependent concepts. However, a normal science that studies a he althy living organism is not all. There is also pathophysiology, or pathological, which studies the violation of vital processes, their course, the effect on the body as a whole and each of its organs, and so on. Therefore, this discipline has its own set of ways in which it is possible to study the identified issues.
What are these methods of physiology?
- Modeling. It is divided into two groups: on a living object of study and invitro, that is, an artificial physical system. To create any model of the pathogenic process, a computer or mathematical calculations on paper are used. Also often used for this is the usual logical conclusions and conclusions. The model, as a rule, is built on the basis of the received theoretical data on any issue.
- Theoretical analysis. On the basis of the data obtained during laboratory studies of the material (living object), a theory is built. It includes hypothetical answers to the questions: "What is the patient? How is the pathological process going on? What is its condition and extent of influence? What control measures are appropriate in this case to stop?"
- Clinical research. Mandatory method, without which the existence of all others is impossible. After all, theoretical knowledge appears precisely on the basis of the results of the patient's clinic. For this method, a number of related techniques are used:
- biochemical;
- chemical;
- physical;
- histochemical;
- morphological;
- statistical and others.
Only on the basis of the material obtained using all methods, the doctor can make a diagnosis and prescribe a course of treatment.
Plant physiology
This is the science of the vital activity (functioning) of plant organisms. We are talking about all forms of life: from unicellular to higher, including algae. The tasks of plant physiologists are as follows:
- examine and identify the mechanisms of functioning of plants;
- create theoretical foundations for the possibility of photosynthesis in artificial conditions;
- build a model that reflects the essence of the methodology for obtaining increased yields of important crops.
Of course, the tasks are not easy at all. After all, plants are real living organisms, in which hundreds of biochemical reactions occur every second, just like in humans. The physiologist must study each of them. Plants breathe, feed, carry out the process of photosynthesis, multiply, grow and develop - these are normal forms of life for any living creature. The study of all these processes is the task of physiologists.
Solving the problem of photosynthesis under artificial conditions means giving people access to a huge potential source of food. After all, then hunger in the world will disappear, the quality of life of people will increase significantly. But so far this problem has not been completely solved, although many issues in the field of the photochemical side of the process have already been resolved.
Methods of this science
Plant physiology closely borders on the following modern sciences:
- biotechnology;
- molecular biology;
- genetic engineering;
- biophysics;
- cell engineering.
Naturally, this is reflected in the methods by which studies of plant organisms are carried out. So, the methods of plant physiology are as follows.
- Cultivation.
- Methods of light andelectron spectroscopy.
- Electrochemical.
- Optico-acoustic.
- Chromatographic.
- Spectrophotometric.
Obviously, all of them are aimed at measuring numerical indicators: productivity, weight, growth, development, results of plastic and energy metabolism. What do such methods allow to solve? Very important agricultural tasks such as:
- plant breeding;
- obtaining heterotic forms;
- introduction;
- acclimatization;
- zonation of varieties;
- artificial irrigation;
- plant growing areas.
Thus, plant physiology is another fundamental biological science that plays an important role in human life.
