physiology

Meanings

1. A branch of biology that deals with the functions and activities of life or of living matter (as organs, tissues, or cells) and of the physical and chemical phenomena involved.
2. The biology and/or form of a living organism.
3. The study and description of natural objects; natural science.

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *bʰuH- Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *bʰuHyéti Ancient Greek φῠ́ω (phŭ́ō) Proto-Indo-European *-tis Ancient Greek -τις (-tis) Ancient Greek -σῐς (-sĭs) Ancient Greek φῠ́σῐς (phŭ́sĭs) Proto-Indo-European *leǵ- Ancient Greek λόγος (lógos) Proto-Indo-European *-h₂ Proto-Indo-European *-éh₂ Proto-Indo-European *-i-eh₂ Proto-Hellenic *-íā Ancient Greek -ῐ́ᾱ (-ĭ́ā) Ancient Greek -λογῐ́ᾱ (-logĭ́ā) Ancient Greek φῠσῐολογίᾱ (phŭsĭologíā)bor. Latin physiologiabor. French physiologie English physiology From French physiologie, from Latin physiologia, from Ancient Greek φυσιολογία (phusiología, “natural philosophy”), from φύσις (phúsis, “nature”) + λόγος (lógos, “word”). Equivalent to physio- + -logy.