The body and how it works

This branch covers human body structure and function, divided by the biological area: anatomy and physiology, cellular signalling and transport, the gut microbiome, and nutrition and exercise. It leaves disease-specific accounts, the actions of particular medicines and population health to neighbouring branches.

• Human anatomy and physiology for medical writers — anatomical vocabulary, body systems, early development and spaceflight physiology
• How cells signal and how substances move through the body — membrane transport, communication between and within cells, blood gas transport and sugar uptake
• The gut microbiome — composition and development, disease associations, chronic pain and therapies that alter the microbiome
• Nutrition and exercise — nutrients, dietary recommendations and intake, exercise physiology, energy balance and physical inactivity