Human biology

Human biology is an interdisciplinary area of academic study that examines humans through the influences and interplay of many diverse fields such as genetics, evolution, physiology, anatomy, epidemiology, anthropology, ecology, nutrition, population genetics, and sociocultural influences. It is closely related to the biomedical sciences, biological anthropology and other biological fields tying in various aspects of human functionality. It wasn't until the 20th century when biogerontologist, Raymond Pearl, founder of the journal Human Biology, phrased the term "human biology" in a way to describe a separate subsection apart from biology. It is also a portmanteau term that describes all biological aspects of the human body, typically using the human body as a type organism for Mammalia, and in that context it is the basis for many undergraduate University degrees and modules. Most aspects of human biology are identical or very similar to general mammalian biology. In particular, and as examples, humans : maintain their body temperature have an internal skeleton have a circulatory system have a nervous system to provide sensory information and operate and coordinate muscular activity. have a reproductive system in which they bear live young and produce milk. have an endocrine system and produce and eliminate hormones and other bio-chemical signalling agents have a respiratory system where air is inhaled into lungs and oxygen is used to produce energy. have an immune system to protect against disease Excrete waste as urine and faeces. The key aspects of human biology are those ways in which humans are substantially different from other mammals. Humans have a very large brain in a head that is very large for the size of the animal. This large brain has enabled a range of unique attributes including the development of complex languages and the ability to make and use a complex range of tools. The upright stance and bipedal locomotion is not unique to humans but humans are the only species to rely almost exclusively on this mode of locomotion.