Anatomy and physiology are two closely related fields of study that are essential to understanding the human body. However, they focus on different aspects.
Anatomy is the branch of biology that deals with the structure of organisms and their parts. It includes the study of the physical structure of the body, such as bones, muscles, organs, and systems, and how they are organized. In anatomy, you might learn about the cardiac system, the skeletal structure, or the layout of the digestive tract.
On the other hand, physiology is the study of how these structures function. It looks at the mechanical, physical, and biochemical processes that occur within the body. Physiology answers questions about how organs work, how systems interact, and how the body maintains homeostasis. For example, in physiology, you would explore how the heart pumps blood, how the lungs facilitate breathing, or how the nervous system controls movements.
To summarize, anatomy is about the ‘what’ of the body’s structures, while physiology is about the ‘how’ of their functions. Both fields are interdependent; understanding the structure (anatomy) can provide insights into how the body functions (physiology), and vice versa.