What term describes the study of the function of living things?

The study of the function of living things is known as physiology. This field focuses on the mechanisms and processes that enable organisms to sustain life, including how organs and systems function individually and in relation to one another to maintain homeostasis. Physiology encompasses a wide range of topics, such as the functioning of the cardiovascular system, respiratory system, and nervous system, as well as cellular processes.

Other terms mentioned, while related to biology and the study of living organisms, refer to different areas. Anatomy deals with the structure of organisms and their parts, providing a physical description of what things look like. Pathology is the study of diseases and the changes they cause in body tissues and organs, concentrating on how living systems are disrupted by illness. Histology focuses on the microscopic structure of tissues, serving as a bridge between anatomy and physiology by looking at how tissue structures relate to their functions. Each of these fields provides important insights, but they do not directly address the functions of living organisms in the same way physiology does.