Disciplines and Occupations

Physiology

The biological science concerned with the life-supporting properties, functions, and processes of living organisms or their parts.

National Library of MedicineMedical Subject Headings2026

Structured Summary

Abstract

The biological science concerned with the life-supporting properties, functions, and processes of living organisms or their parts.

MeSH Record

Classification

MeSH Qualifier

Used as a Subheading

Physiology is also a MeSH subheading (qualifier Q000502), attached to other headings to focus them on this aspect:

Used with organs, tissues, and cells of unicellular and multicellular organisms for normal function. It is used also with biochemical substances, endogenously produced, for their physiologic role.

Qualifier ID
Q000502
Qualifier Tree
Y08

Indexing annotation

subhead only; normal "function" only: for function in disease use /physiopathology; with endogenous chemicals only, for their physiologic role; see MeSH scope note in Introduction; indexing policy: Manual 19.8.55; DF: /physiol or /PH

Subheading synonyms

  • function

Qualifier graph

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Related Concepts

Knowledge Graph

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MeSH Record

Aspects Covered

12 allowable subheadings

Indexed with the subheadings classification, economics, education, ethics, history, instrumentation, legislation & jurisprudence, methods, organization & administration, standards, statistics & numerical data, trends.

MeSH Record

Indexing Annotation

the discipline (education, history, etc) only; use PHYSIOLOGICAL PHENOMENA or specifics treed under it for functions and processes of organisms, or the qualifier / physiology with specific anatomical terms, organisms, and physiological and psychological processes

MeSH Hierarchy

Tree Number

AMA Style

References

  1. National Library of Medicine. Physiology. Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). 2026. Unique ID D010827. http://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/2026/D010827
  2. Physiology. In: Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Physiology
  3. Physiology. In: Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q521