Credit: iStock/pepifoto When we learn about the heart in school, it’s usually described as a pump: strong, steady and rhythmic. That’s true. But what fascinates me most, as a physiologist, is that the heart is also a communicator, constantly exchanging messages with your brain, kidneys, muscles and blood vessels to keep your body balanced, safe … Continue reading Not Just a Pump: How Your Heart Talks to the Rest of Your Body
Muscular System
Why Do You Need Protein (And How Much) In Menopause?
Credit: iStock Protein is the building block for all the muscles in our body. We rely on protein to maintain structural support and aid in nearly all cellular processes. Our muscles are necessary for breathing, walking and balance, all of which allow us to maintain our normal activities. Loss of muscle mass (called sarcopenia) is … Continue reading Why Do You Need Protein (And How Much) In Menopause?
The Top 10 Most-read I Spy Physiology Posts of 2025
Credit: iStock This year marked the 10th anniversary of the I Spy Physiology blog! In a year of great challenge to science funding, talking about the value of science has never been more important, and our contributors understood the assignment. They’ve shared their stories about becoming a science advocate and transitioning from mentee to a … Continue reading The Top 10 Most-read I Spy Physiology Posts of 2025
Embrace the Burn: Dispelling Years of Lactate Misconceptions
Credit: iStock You may be familiar with the feeling known as “the burn”—the tingling soreness emanating from deep within your muscles, telling you to stop what you’re doing and rest. The burn can appear during the last few reps at the gym, the end of a long jog or even during the last few twists … Continue reading Embrace the Burn: Dispelling Years of Lactate Misconceptions
Boogie in the Bladder: Cracking the Code of Your Body’s Most Urgent Dance Routine
Credit: iStock/shironosov Imagine sitting in a meeting or enjoying a night out when, out of nowhere, the urgent need to find a bathroom strikes. For most of us, it's a minor inconvenience, but for millions dealing with urinary incontinence, it's a daily struggle that seriously impacts their quality of life. The detrusor smooth muscle (DSM) … Continue reading Boogie in the Bladder: Cracking the Code of Your Body’s Most Urgent Dance Routine
How Black Pepper Spices Up Your Muscle Power
Credit: iStock/ayala_studio The primary function of skeletal muscle is to move our limbs. These muscles are attached to our bones and pull on them during contraction. When contracting, muscles consume energy—like a Ford Mustang using fuel to generate propulsion. Like teeth, we only get one set of muscles, so we need to take care of … Continue reading How Black Pepper Spices Up Your Muscle Power
The Top 10 Most-read I Spy Physiology Posts of 2024
Credit: iStock/gustavofrazao It’s been another “ph-un” filled year of physiology on the I Spy Physiology blog! We’ve featured posts ranging from marijuana research and bone cancer in children to how many steps do we really need to take per day and if alkaline water lives up to the hype. To complement our Women’s Health Research … Continue reading The Top 10 Most-read I Spy Physiology Posts of 2024
How Does Eating and Exercising at the Right Time Reduce Your Risk of Chronic Disease?
Karyn Esser, PhD, presents her research at the 2024 American Physiology Summit. Credit: American Physiological Society The role of the biological clock (circadian rhythm) on human health and disease was covered in depth at the 2023 American Physiology Summit. Learning about how the body’s clock works with other organs is a topic scientists are continually … Continue reading How Does Eating and Exercising at the Right Time Reduce Your Risk of Chronic Disease?
Physiology Continues to Help You Protect Your Health
American Physiology Summit attendees attend the poster reception in April 2023. Scientists who study physiology are gathering in Long Beach, California, this week for the 2024 American Physiology Summit—a conference dedicated to sharing discoveries on the cutting-edge of bioscience. Studies highlighted at the Summit span from racial differences in small artery disease in prostate cancer … Continue reading Physiology Continues to Help You Protect Your Health
Wearing High Heels May Help You Walk More Efficiently
Credit: iStock High heels—whether it’s an ultra-slim stiletto, a chunky block heel or a versatile wedge—have been making a fashion statement since the 16th century. King Louis XIV of France popularized wearing heels for men and women a couple of centuries later. If you don’t wear heels regularly, you may wonder how people who do … Continue reading Wearing High Heels May Help You Walk More Efficiently