Basic methods of physiology. The subject and tasks of physiology

To know the features of the functioning of the organism, each part of it, structure, to be able to investigate and predict changes and pathologies is an important task for specialists in the field of medicine. There is a whole science that studies exactly such issues. It is called physiology. This is the science of those processes that accompany the normal life activity of the organism. It arose long ago, even Hippocrates first showed interest in the functioning of living systems. Today, there are various methods of studying physiology that help to fully understand certain mechanisms and features of the body.

General concept of physiology

We should begin with a general concept. Physiology is the science of the vital activity of a living being, its interrelation with the external conditions of the environment, their influence on the state of health and the normal functioning of organs and their systems. In general, the main idea of this science is to reveal the deep mechanisms of existence of the living, to understand how its self-regulation and all other processes take place.

The object of physiology is only a living organism, because it is so possible to reveal all the laws of interest to people in its structure and functioning. The tasks of the discipline are clearly traced in the definition itself.

Thus, the subject, tasks and methods of physiology are the three components of the theoretical foundations of science. Many scientists at all times tried to understand the essence of what is happening in the body, including human, changes. However, it became completely possible only with the invention of modern instruments and devices, that is, the full development of science has only been available since the XX century.

This did not prevent her from becoming one of the leading among the biological sciences. Physiology, anatomy and medicine are three closely interrelated disciplines, which are the foundation for each other. Therefore, the methods of anatomy and physiology are similar in some cases.

Sections of physiology

In itself, this science has several sub-disciplines. So, the physiology is distinguished:

• General;
• Comparative;
• Private.

The general is engaged in studying of processes of ability to live as a whole. That is, he considers the patterns of the course of those reactions that are manifestations of life. For example, nutrition, respiration, secretion, regulation, sleep and wakefulness, and others. This section also includes such a section as the physiology of the cell, which deals with a detailed study of all its life manifestations.

Comparative physiology compares the processes of vital activity of one or different types of organisms in the process of ontogeny. As a result, an entire branch is formed - evolutionary physiology.

Private is engaged in narrower specific studies. So, it is possible to distinguish several variants of the disciplines included in this group.

1. The physiology of man, the methods of investigation of which we will consider later.
2. Physiology of individual groups of living organisms (insects, birds, mammals, reptiles, and so on).
3. Separate organs and tissues.
4. Systems of the body (the physiology of digestion, circulation, respiration, etc.).

Particularly widespread development recently received a study of man from the point of view of this science. After all, his body has the most complex structure. Methods of human physiology are sufficiently diverse and effective to reveal all the things necessary for understanding the essence. Allocate:

• Age physiology;
• Power supply;
• Labor;
• Sports;
• Space;
• Pathological;
• Clinical.

The aggregate data of these disciplines help to grasp all the immense processes taking place inside a person and to find access to their management.

Methods of research in physiology

There are several such. There are historically developed, which were used in ancient times. Today, new ones have been formed, based on the latest scientific achievements in the field of engineering, electronics, and the study of electromagnetic radiation.

The following methods of physiology are distinguished.

1. Extirpation is one of the most ancient ways of learning. He was involved in the removal of one or another organ from a living being with further observation of the reaction of the organism and fixation of the results.
2. Fistulous method . Its basis is the introduction into the organs with a cavity, tubes of metal or plastic and thus fixing biological fluids. Data are obtained about the change in the chemical nature of substances, that is, the secretory function of the organism is examined.
3. The method of catheterization - the introduction of thin tubes in the organs and vessels of special medicines that cause changes in the functioning. Thus, the work of the heart, blood vessels, glands of external and internal secretion (not all) is studied.
4. The method of denervation. Used to investigate the relationship between nerves and working organs. For this, a method of stimulation is used with further fixation of the results.
5. Methods of studying physiology, based on the use of tools and equipment. This includes implantation of macro- and microelements in organs and tissues, recording of nerve impulses, exposure to radiation, taking indications of the work of the heart and brain, and so on.

We will discuss some research methods in physiology in more detail. They are most often used and important.

Observation

These methods of physiology have been used in ancient Egypt, Rome, China, the Ancient East. Even then, there were researchers interested in the changes that occur in living organisms. So, for example, in Egypt, mummification of pharaohs and their families produced an autopsy of corpses and fixed changes in the internal environment. The following indicators were evaluated:

• Color and quality of biological fluids and masses;
• Coloring of organs;
• 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 healthy people and certain conclusions were drawn. It was even possible to establish in some cases the cause of death of a person.

Today, surveillance has not lost its relevance, especially when it comes to psychophysiology. The behavior of a person, his emotions, temperament, external manifestations of trembling, sweating - all these signs serve as definite bells for research. They make it clear the relationship between the structure and external manifestation of certain indicators, physiological functions, processes in the body.

The doctrine of man's temperament was created by the scientist Pavlov precisely on the basis of studying the processes of inhibition and excitation, which were externally manifested by a different emotional coloration in behavior and reaction to certain events, words, actions. He proved that at the heart of choleric, sanguine, melancholic and phlegmatic manifestations are precisely the nervous processes associated with the mental activity of the brain, its reactions.

These conclusions were repeatedly confirmed by various scientists and psychologists, researchers. Therefore, such methods of human physiology as observation and experiment, which will be discussed further, were and are relevant, important and effective.

Experiment

Experimental methods of studying physiology are the most basic and historically the most ancient and popular. Indeed, how else to find out if you do not look? Therefore, along with observation, various tests were conducted, most often on animals. It was they who gave practically a 100% result in the research, allowed to obtain the most reliable data.

There are experimental methods for studying anatomy and physiology, which are reduced to two main groups.

1. Acute experiments. This method of research was used until the end of the XIX century, until the Russian scientist Ivan Petrovich Pavlov found another option. What was the essence of such interference in the body? The experiment was carried out on a living animal body, which was attached to a special machine. Then, the vivisection was performed to the organ needed for the study and thus the observed results of his work were recorded. However, a number of significant shortcomings made this method ineffective. In addition to being inhuman and cruel from the side of morality, because the animal was subjected to terrible tortures and tortures, very painful operations, even anesthesia did not help, as well as emotional suffering, the physical pain experienced by the victim of the experiment significantly distorted the results obtained. It was a vicious circle. To get to the right organ, it was necessary to cause suffering. They, in turn, distorted the normal course of physiological processes, and the result was of little effect.
2. Chronic experiment. It was this method that Pavlov proposed. He himself was opposed to sharp experiments because of their extreme cruelty, perhaps this encouraged him to invent a more humane option. Animal was also an experimental organism. However, the procedure was very different. Before the surgical operation, qualitative anesthesia was performed. Then the fistula was implanted in the walls of the desired organ - a plastic or metal tube that was sewn to the skin from the outside. After this, the animal was given time to recover, heal the formed wound and completely normalize the vital processes. So they received through the fistula information about the current of certain processes in the part of the body being examined, and it was absolutely reliable, because the body functioned normally. Studies could be conducted for a long time without damage to the health of the animal and according to all the rules of its natural existence.

Thus, the basic methods of physiology, which are relevant in some cases to this day, have been working. Although, of course, modern technological innovations gradually completely replace the interference directly into the body from the person. Now it is possible to obtain the necessary information in completely different, less painful, more accurate and suitable ways for man.

Graphical registration

Methods of human physiology are based on the use of certain equipment. Among these devices an important place is occupied by the following.

1. Electrocardiograph . The device used to fix cardiac bioelectric potentials. As a result, an electrocardiogram written on paper is output from the device, which a knowledgeable medical specialist deciphers and concludes on the state of health of the heart and circulatory system. To date, this device has saved millions of lives. After all, timely detection of the problem is the key to successful treatment.
2. Microelectrodes . The smallest structures capable of implanting directly into the cell and fixing the membrane biopotential. Today, this is one of the most important achievements in electronics, which concerns physiological studies of the human body. These electrodes can be injected even into the human brain, which makes it possible to observe and record psychosomatic changes in the state of health and vital activity.
3. Radionuclide methods of physiology are used to obtain quantitative characteristics of physiological processes.
4. A variety of sensors that emit electromagnetic waves. The reciprocal response in the form of an electric pulse is fixed by a special device-an oscilloscope-and then transmitted for processing to a computer. There is already a detailed processing of the information received and certain conclusions are formed. So you can set the chemical concentration of certain ions, the amount of pressure, temperature, motion and other parameters).

Thus, modern methods of science of physiology, based on the use of instruments, are the most accurate, painless and scientifically informative of all of the above.

Chemical and biochemical methods

The methods of anatomy and physiology are not only similar. They are also connected with other sciences. So, there is biological physiology, biochemistry, and also physical physiology. These sciences study the processes within the body from their point of view, that is, from the chemical, physical and biological.

So, with the help of these methods, the influence of a 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 have an impact on the body. Physiology requires studying the impact not only on a specific process, but also on the organism, organ and the set of external conditions. 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 healthy living organism is not all. There is also pathophysiology, or pathological, which examines the disruption of life 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, through which it is possible to study the indicated issues.

What are the methods of physiology?

1. Modeling . It is divided into two groups: on a living object of research and in vitro, that is, an artificial physical system. To create any model of the pathogenic process, use a computer or mathematical calculations on paper. Also, for this, the usual logical conclusions and conclusions are often used. The model, as a rule, is based on the theoretical data obtained on any issue.
2. Theoretical analysis. Based on the data obtained in the laboratory studies of the material (living object), a theory is constructed. It includes the presumptive answers to the questions: "What is wrong with the patient? How is the pathological process going on? What is its state and extent of influence?" What measures of struggle are appropriate in this case for termination? "
3. Clinical researches. A mandatory method, without which the existence of all others is impossible. After all, theoretical knowledge appears on the basis of the results of the patient's clinic. A number of related techniques are used for this method:

• Biochemical;
• Chemical;
• Physical;
• Histochemical;
• Morphological;
• Statistical and other.

Only on the basis of the material obtained by using all methods, the doctor can diagnose and prescribe a course of treatment.

Plant Physiology

This is the science of the vital activity (functioning) of plant organisms. It is about all forms of life: from unicellular to higher, including algae. The tasks of plant physiologists are as follows:

• To consider and reveal mechanisms of plant functioning;
• To create theoretical bases for the possibility of performing photosynthesis in artificial conditions;
• To build a model reflecting the essence of the methodology for obtaining high yields of important crops.

Of course, the tasks are not at all simple. After all, plants are real living organisms, in which hundreds of biochemical reactions occur every second, as in man. The physiologist should study each of them. Plants breathe, eat, carry out the process of photosynthesis, multiply, grow and develop - these are normal kinds of vital activity for any living beings. The study of all these processes is the task of physiologists.

To solve the problem of making photosynthesis in artificial conditions means to give people access to a huge potential source of nutrition. After all, then the hunger in the world will disappear, the quality of people's lives will greatly increase. But this problem has not been completely solved yet, although many questions in the field of the photochemical side of the process have already been resolved.

Methods of this science

Plant physiology is closely bounded by the following modern sciences:

• Biotechnology;
• Molecular biology;
• Genetic engineering;
• Biophysics;
• Cell engineering.

Naturally, this is reflected in the ways in which research of plant organisms is conducted. Thus, the methods of plant physiology are as follows.

1. Cultivation.
2. Methods of light and electron spectroscopy.
3. Electrochemical.
4. Opto-acoustic.
5. Chromatographic.
6. Spectrophotometric.

Obviously, all of them are aimed at measuring the numerical parameters: productivity, mass, growth, development, the results of plastic and energy exchange. What allow to solve similar methods? Very important agricultural tasks, such as:

• Plant breeding;
• Reception of heterotic forms;
• introduction;
• acclimatization;
• Zoning of varieties;
• Artificial irrigation;
• Places of growing plants.

Thus, the physiology of plants is another fundamental biological science that plays an important role in human life.