Which term studies how living organisms function?

Which term studies how living organisms function?

• A. Anatomy
• B. Physiology
• C. Histology
• D. Cytology

Answer: (B)

Understanding how living organisms function means focusing on the processes and mechanisms that keep organisms alive—how organs carry out tasks, how systems coordinate, and how life-sustaining activities are regulated. This is physiology, the study of function and how biological processes work together to maintain life, such as how the heart pumps blood, how lungs exchange gases, how nerves transmit signals, and how enzymes regulate digestion and metabolism. Anatomy, by contrast, is about form and structure—the layout of parts. Histology looks at tissues under a microscope to see their microscopic makeup. Cytology studies cells and their components. So physiology is the term that best captures the study of how living organisms function.

Understanding how living organisms function means focusing on the processes and mechanisms that keep organisms alive—how organs carry out tasks, how systems coordinate, and how life-sustaining activities are regulated. This is physiology, the study of function and how biological processes work together to maintain life, such as how the heart pumps blood, how lungs exchange gases, how nerves transmit signals, and how enzymes regulate digestion and metabolism.

Anatomy, by contrast, is about form and structure—the layout of parts. Histology looks at tissues under a microscope to see their microscopic makeup. Cytology studies cells and their components. So physiology is the term that best captures the study of how living organisms function.