Topic: Introduction to Physiology  Class/Period: General Physiology 

 
Questions:  Notes:  
 

  Human Physiology 
What is Human Physiology?  ❖ The attempt to explain the specific characteristics and mechanism of the human body that 
make it a living being 

  Cells 
Define cells and bodily fluid  ❖ The living units of the body 
distribution  ❖ Each organ is an aggregate of many different cells held together by ​intercellular supporting structures 
❖ All cells have certain basic characteristics: 
➢ Require nutrition 
➢ Energy production (from O2, CHO, fats, & CHONS) 
➢ Deliver end products of chemical reactions to surrounding fluid 
➢ Almost all cells have the ability to reproduce 
 

 
 
Bodily Fluid Distribution 
❖ Intracellular fluid​ - ⅔ fluid within the cell 
❖ Extracellular fluid​ - ⅓ found in the spaces outside the cells 
➢ Constant motion throughout the body 
➢ Contains ions and nutrients cells need 
➢ Called the “​internal environment​” 
 

Components of the Extracellular  Components: 

Fluid  ❖ Plasma or intravascular fluid = 5% of BW 
➢ (Total blood vol. = 8% of BW) 
❖ Interstitial fluid = 15% of BW 
 
Solid Components of an Average Young Adult: 
❖ Proteins & related substances = 18% of BW 
❖ Minerals = 7% 
❖ Fats & other lipids = 15% 
❖ CHO (glycogen = 200 gms stored in muscle & liver) 

   
 
Extracellular Fluid  Intracellular Fluid 
 
 
Contains large amounts of Na+, Cl-, and  Contains large amounts of K+, Mg, and 
Differences between Intracellular 
bicarbonate ions  phosphate ions 
and Extracellular Fluids 
Contains nutrients such as oxygen, glucose,   
fatty acids, and amino acids 

Contains carbon dioxide and other cellular   

waste 
 
   Homeostasis 
What is Homeostasis?  ❖ The maintenance of nearly constant conditions in the internal environment 
❖ Any self-regulating process by which biological systems tend to maintain stability 

  A. Extracellular fluid transport and mixing system 

Homeostatic Mechanisms  ❖ Blood circulatory system 
 

 
 
B. Origin of nutrients in the extracellular fluid 
❖ Respiratory system 
❖ Gastrointestinal tract 
➢ Absorbs dissolved nutrients (glucose, fats, amino acids) 
❖ Liver and other metabolic organs 
➢ Changes chemical composition of many absorbed substances to usable forms 
❖ Musculoskeletal system 
➢ Aids body obtain food and provides motility for protection against adverse 
surroundings 
 
C. Removal of metabolic end products 
❖ Removal of carbon dioxide by the lungs via ​diffusion​ during expiration 
❖ Removal of urea, excess ions & water by the kidneys through filtration, secretion and excretion 
❖ GI tract and the liver 
 
D. Regulation of body functions 
❖ The nervous and hormonal systems normally work together in a coordinated manner to control 
essentially all of the organ systems of the body. 
 
Nervous system 
❖ Sensory division​ - through receptors which detect the state of the body or surroundings 
❖ CNS (integrative portion)​ - (brain & spinal cord) brain creates thoughts, stores information 
then transmits signals to motor portion of spinal cord = movement carried out 
❖ ANS (autonomic nervous system​) - operates at subconscious level and control many functions 
of the internal organs such as: heart, GIT, and glands 
 
Endocrine system 
❖ Regulates mainly metabolic functions of the body complements the nervous system 
❖ Examples of hormones and their functions: 
➢ Oxytocin​ - increases uterine contraction & antidiuretic hormones 
➢ Thyroid hormone (T3 & T4)​ - increases the rate of most chemical reactions in almost 
all cells 
➢ Insulin​ - controls glucose metabolism 
➢ Adrenocortical hormone​ - controls ion & protein metabolism 
➢ Parathyroid hormone​ - controls bone & Ca metabolism 
 
E. Protection of the body 
❖ Immune system 
➢ Distinguish its own cells from foreign cells and substances 
➢ Destroys invaders by ​phagocytosis​ or by producing ​lymphocytes​ or ​specialized proteins​ (e.g., 
antibodies​) that destroy or neutralize the invaders 
❖ Integumentary system 
➢ Skin and its various appendages cover, cushion, and protect the deeper tissues and 
organs of the body 
➢ Also important for temperature regulation and excretion of wastes, and it provides a 
sensory interface 
 
F. Reproduction 
❖ Helps homeostasis by generating new beings to take the place of those that are dying 
❖ Helps maintain the automaticity and continuity of life 

Define and Enumerate the Control  Control Systems of the Body 

Systems of the Body  ❖ operate within the organs to control functions of the individual parts of the organs; 
 ❖ operate throughout the entire body to control the interrelations between organs 
❖ Respiratory and nervous system​ - regulates the concentration of carbon dioxide in the ECF 
❖ Liver and pancreas​ - regulates the concentration of glucose in the ECF 
❖ Kidneys​ - regulates the concentration of hydrogen, sodium, potassium, phosphate, and other 
ions in the ECF 

  Examples of Control Systems 

Examples and Characteristics of  ❖ Regulation of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the extracellular fluid 
Control Systems of the Body  ❖ Regulation of arterial blood pressure 
❖ Normal ranges and physical characteristics of extracellular fluid components 
 

 
 
Characteristics of Control Systems 
❖ Negative feedback 
❖ Positive feedback 
❖ Adaptive control/Delayed Negative Feedback 
➢ Uses ​free forward control 
 

 
 
 
Summary: The body is actually a social order of about 100 trillion cells organized into different functional structures some of which are called 
organs, and each functional structure contributes its share to the maintenance of homeostatic conditions in the extracellular fluid which is called 
the internal environment. As long as the normal conditions are maintained in this internal environment, the cells of the body continue to live and 
function properly. Each cell benefits from homeostasis and in turn each cell contributes its share toward the maintenance of homeostasis. This 
reciprocal interplay provides continuous automaticity of the body until one or more functional systems lose their ability to contribute their share of 
function. When this happens, all the cells of the body suffer -- moderate dysfunction leads to sickness and extreme dysfunction leads to death.