Physiological function

Definition

A response or activity of a living organism that can be observed or measured, such as heartbeat or breathing.

Used by OCR

Specification PAG 6 · Paper 1 (Foundation), Paper 2 (Foundation), Paper 3 (Higher), Paper 4 (Higher)

Paper 1 (Foundation), Paper 2 (Foundation), Paper 3 (Higher), Paper 4 (Higher)

A process carried out by a living organism, such as breathing or maintaining a heartbeat.
A physiological function is something a living organism does to stay alive, such as breathing or circulating blood. A response is a change in what it does when conditions change. In OCR’s physiology and responses practical activity group, one possible investigation measures how a person’s pulse rate or ventilation rate changes with exercise and then during recovery.

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