Introduction to Veterinary Physiology

We share the earth with millions of wonderful living things. All uniquely adapted to their environments. Yet, despite our differences, we all have one thing in common, our survival.

A physiologist aims to understand and explain the differ­ent physical and chemical dynamics responsible for life’s origin, development, and progression at different systemic levels. The study of pathology and medicine is vital to com­prehend the abnormal functioning of the body; therefore, it is essential to understand the physiology if one to decipher the mechanisms of disease.

Every life form existing on the earth, from the simple virus to the biggest mammal, has its functional physiological attributes. Thus, the ocean of physiology divides into differ­ent subcategories: embryology, cellular physiology, endocri­nology, immunology, nutrition physiology, reproductive physiology, lactation physiology, and many more.

Veterinary physiology deals with exploring the structure and functioning of an animal’s system and the biological processes by which it interacts with its environment. Animals are exposed to several different environments; prob­ably, the environment presents the biggest challenge. A physiologist tries to examine and explain how biological processes function, adjust, and operate under various envi­ronmental conditions, further how homeostasis is achieved such that normal processes are integrated and regulated. For example, an animal’s external environment is never constant, and it keeps changing. The change in temperature, availabil­ity of feed and water, fluctuations in gas concentrations, and many more may occur daily or at regular intervals may pose a challenge to the basic functioning of animals. To acclima­tise and survive in these changing environments, animals need to modify their internal environment like bodily fluids, cellular functioning, endocrine systems, and so on. This con­tinuous maintenance of the internal state is known as homeo­stasis. The function of most of the organs and associated systems is to maintain homeostasis besides its regular operation. Complete details and associations between differ­ent cells, organs, and systems will be explained in further chapters.

Here is the thing, every time animals take a breath, open their eyes, or take a step; a multitude of scientific forces is at play. Thankfully advances made by physiologists and associated scientific researchers in and around the lab provide core information for veterinarians to tackle various signifi­cant health challenges animals face today.

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