physiology
(fɪzɪˈɒlədʒɪ)
Also 6–7 phi-.
[ad. L. physiologia, a. Gr. ϕυσιολογία (Arist.), natural philosophy, natural science, f. ϕυσιολόγ-ος: see physiologer, and -logy; perh. immed. a. F. physiologie (1547 in Hatz.-Darm.).]
† 1. The study and description of natural objects; natural science or natural philosophy; also, a particular system or doctrine of natural science. Obs.
| 1564 Bauldwin's Mor. Philos. (Palfr.) ii. i. 73 That it may be knowen what they beleued of god, of themselues, and of his woorkes, all which they them selues call Phisiologie. 1603 Holland Plutarch's Mor. 1346 Certeine Epicureans..standing much upon this their goodly and beautifull Physiologie forsooth (as they terme it). 1662 H. More Def. Philos. Cabbala App. i. (1712) 113 Whence there must be no small affinity betwixt this ancient Moschical, or rather Mosaical Physiology, and the Cartesian Philosophy. 1704 J. Harris Lex. Techn. I, Physiology, Physicks, or Natural Philosophy, is the Science of Natural Bodies. 1797 Encycl. Brit. (ed. 3) XVI. 18/1 Re-action, in physiology, the resistance made by all bodies to the action or impulse of others that endeavour to change its state whether of motion or rest. |
2. The science of the normal functions and phenomena of living things.
It comprises the two divisions of animal physiology and vegetable physiology; that part of the former which refers specially to the vital functions in man is called human physiology.
| [1597 A. M. tr. Guillemeau's Fr. Chirurg. 1 b/1 Physiologia handelethe and threatethe of the structure and situatione of mans bodye. 1611 Cotgr., Physiologie,..also..that part of Phisicke which treats of the composition, or structure of mans bodie.] 1615 Crooke Body of Man 289 Amongst the new writers Fernelius the best learned Physitian of them all, in the 7. book of his Phisiologie, proueth that this bloud is not Alimentarie. 1704 J. Harris Lex. Techn. I, Physiology, is by some also accounted a Part of Physick, that teaches the Constitution of the Body so far as it is sound, or in its Natural State; and endeavours to find Reasons for its Functions and Operations, by the Help of Anatomy and Natural Philosophy. 1748 Hartley Observ. Man i. iv. Concl. 511, I..bring some Arguments from Physiology and Pathology. 1804 Abernethy Surg. Obs. 244 The anatomy and physiology of the nervous system. 1831 Carlyle Sart. Res. iii. vi, A Peasant unacquainted with botanical Physiology. 1831 Brewster Optics xxxv. 293 This important truth in the physiology of vision. 1860 Huxley Lay Serm. xii. 284 That part of biological science which deals with form and structure is called Morphology—that which concerns itself with function, Physiology. 1871 tr. Pouchet's Universe ix. 482 Hales, whose beautiful experiments laid the foundation of vegetable physiology. |
| fig. 1876 Lowell Among my Bks. Ser. ii. 26 As a contribution to the physiology of genius no other book is to be compared with the Vita Nuova. 1903 Westm. Gaz. 24 June 3/2 The amateur statistician may know something of the anatomy of commerce, but he knows nothing of what I may call its physiology—its circulating..and..digestive system[s]. |