Answer
According to the principle of complementarity, anatomy relates to physiology because structure is related to function. Anatomy is the study of the structure of the body and its many parts, while physiology is the study of the functions of the body and its many parts. The function, or physiology, of any part of the body is directly based on the structure, or anatomy of that part of the body. For example, the anatomy of blood vessels includes valves, and the physiology of blood vessels is to keep blood flow moving in one direction. The structure of these valves reflects their function: keeping blood flowing in one direction.
Work Step by Step
There are countless more examples of anatomy (structure) being related to physiology (function). The function of the kidneys to filter blood is based on the structure of their filtering units, the nephrons. The function of a bone to protect organs is based on its structure, which includes hard mineral deposits.
