Which term describes the study of the functions of living organisms or how the body works?

• A. Pathological Anatomy
• B. Physiology or Physiological Anatomy
• C. Gross Anatomy
• D. Histology

Answer: (B)

Understanding how the body works is the realm of physiology. It focuses on function—the mechanisms by which organs perform tasks, how different systems coordinate, and how processes like metabolism, nerve signaling, muscle contraction, and hormonal regulation keep the organism alive. For example, physiology explains how the heart regulates blood flow, how lungs manage gas exchange, and how the nervous and endocrine systems maintain homeostasis.

In contrast, anatomy deals with structure—where parts are and what they look like—while histology studies tissue microscopic architecture, and pathological anatomy examines structural changes caused by disease. Since the question asks for the study of functions and how the body works, physiology (or physiological anatomy) is the best fit.