Anatomy vs Physiology – Difference and Comparison

What is Anatomy?

Anatomy is the study of living things, especially their structure. Studying anatomy can lead to a variety of careers, such as becoming a surgeon, anaesthesiologist, or physical therapist.

There are many reasons why one should study anatomy, but most importantly, it can help in understanding how diseases and other medical problems occur. One can also learn about what happens to each organ and how it affects the rest of the body.

It takes around four years to complete a degree in anatomy, but this may vary depending on which university you attend and your previous educational background.

The first step to deciding if you want to study anatomy is considering what area interests you most.

For example: – Do you like science and math? – Do you enjoy working with your hands? Do you enjoy working with people? Are you interested in the human body and how it works? Are there certain organs that interest you more than others? Do you want to be able to help people feel better when they are sick or injured?

If any of these questions resonate with what interests you, then studying anatomy may be worth exploring further. A career in anatomy requires a lot of studying and practicing. Students can expect to spend much time doing lab work, learning new techniques, and the like.

Anatomists work in hospitals or medical schools to help with surgeries and other work that is closely related.

What is Physiology?

Physiology is the scientific study of the functions and processes of living organisms, including how these functions contribute to life. One example of this is how the body uses food for fuel. The word “physiology” comes from the same root word as “physical.”

This is a branch of biology that examines how organs function by themselves, and in relation to one another. It includes all aspects, including growth, development, reproduction, and homeostasis.

It is a field that has been around for centuries, and many people from different backgrounds have studied it. Interest in the field has been growing over the past decade due to an increase in new discoveries concerning genetic coding for proteins that result in changes for many organ systems.

It is important to study anatomy because it helps us understand how our bodies work, what happens if there are changes in our bodies, and what goes on inside of us. The study helps the medical fraternity understand how diseases are caused and find cures for them, what poses risks to health, and how to avert them.

Difference Between Anatomy and Physiology

Anatomy is the study of the body and its structure and is rooted in Latin. The root word for anatomy is “anatomia,” which means “to cut apart” or “to dissect.” Anatomy focuses on the physical structures of organisms like organs, bones, tissues, and cells.

Physiology studies how an organism’s structure relates to its function and originates from Greek. The science of physiology is concerned with how organisms function in relation to each other and their environment, through studying body systems, processes and cells.

Comparison Between Anatomy and Physiology

Parameter of ComparisonAnatomyPhysiology
Scientific StudyIt is a study of a body’s internal and external makeup, and how they relate to each other.Studies how these internal and external structures work.
OriginIt comes from Latin.It comes from Greek.
FocusConcentrates on the form.Concentrates on how the form or structures work.
InvestigationInvestigates dead bodies and also life ones.Investigates only life bodies.
Career FocusWorks with bones and actual physical organs.Works with functions and finds cures for malfunctions.

References

  1. https://books.google.co.ke/books?id=aSaVDwAAQBAJ&lpg=PR4&ots=le5jUN5FyH&dq=anatomy%20vs%20physiology&lr&pg=PR4#v=onepage&q=anatomy%20vs%20physiology&f=false
  2. https://books.google.co.ke/books?id=-uwGCwAAQBAJ&lpg=PA16&ots=8pmfD8btyT&dq=anatomy%20vs%20physiology&lr&pg=PA19#v=onepage&q=anatomy%20vs%20physiology&f=false