Concentrate on processes that lead to a specific result. Physiologic functions exist to maintain the constancy of the internal environment. 1st, the intracellular environment of the cell. Mechanisms exit to maintain cell volume etc. 2nd, the internal environment of the body, the extracellular compartment or interstitial compartment.
Human body is a society of cells.
Each has processes to maintain their own environment, yet specialized functions that contribute to the function of the whole. There is a saying in physiology that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts Society of cells - Cells are organized into tissues, tissue in to organs, organs into systems. Organs perform a specialized function to contribute to the survival of all cells as well as to provide an internal environment in which cell can function. Physiologic functions are homeostatic control functions Homeostatic - constant stays the same. This requires two things 1.