Physiological Collection (#7)

Pancreatic cell, TEM
Pancreatic cell. Coloured transmission electron micrograph (TEM) of part of an acinar (exocrine) pancreatic cell. Mitochondria (red) are seen in the cells endoplasmic reticulum (yellow)

Stomach and liver, artwork. The stomach (centre) is the main organ involved in digestion. The liver (left) is the largest organ in the body and is involved in making bile

Lung lining, SEM
Lung lining. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of mucus-producing cells (orange, round) and cilia (yellow) lining a bronchus (lung airway)

Large intestine, TEM
Large intestine. Coloured transmission electron micrograph (TEM) of a section through the wall of the large intestine. The surface consists of many small hair-like absorptive cells (green)

Pancreatic alpha cell, TEM
Pancreatic alpha cell. Coloured transmission electron micrograph (TEM) of a hormone-secreting (endocrine) alpha cell, found in the islets of Langerhans of the pancreas

Tongue papillae, SEM
Tongue papillae. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of filiform papillae on the surface of the tongue. Some types of papillae, or small projections, house tastebuds

Mechanics of swallowing, diagram
Mechanics of swallowing. Cutaway diagrams showing the process of swallowing. At left the mouthful of food (the bolus, green) is being pushed to the back of the mouth by the tongue

Pancreas. Computer artwork of a human pancreas. The pancreas is between 15 and 20 centimetres in length. It is located in the abdominal cavity behind the stomach

Stressed cells (image 2 of 2). Immunofluorescent light micrograph of stressed kidney cells. Stress is caused by chemicals, UV light, viral infection and heat shock. The cell enters an emergency mode

Pancreas cells, SEM
Pancreas cells. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of acinar (exocrine) pancreatic cells. Acinar cells produce and excrete digestive enzymes to the small intestine, via the pancreatic ducts

Lung alveoli, SEM
Lung alveoli. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of alveoli (air spaces) in the lungs. Blood vessels containing erythrocytes (red blood cells) are also seen

Small intestine, TEM
Small intestine. Coloured transmission electron micrograph (TEM) of a section through the wall of the small intestine. The surface consists of many small hair-like absorptive structures (red)

Kidney tubules, SEM
Kidney tubules. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of proximal convoluted tubules (dark brown) in the kidney. The proximal convoluted tubules function to reabsorb water

Inner ear balance sensing, SEM
Inner ear balance sensing. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of bundles of cilia (hair cells, yellow) and otoliths (round, red) in the human inner ear

Kidney

Insulin-secreting pancreatic cells
Insulin production. Artwork of a section through beta cells secreting insulin (blue spheres) into a capillary (small blood vessel, grey tube). Beta cells are found in the pancreas

Brain nerve cells
Nerve cells in the brain. Artwork showing the different types of nerve cells in the grey matter of the brain. Neurons (yellow, for example at lower right) relay nerve signals around the brain

Oligodendrocyte and microglia brain cells
Oligodendrocyte and microglia action in the brain. At top, the axon (output process, orange) of a neuron (nerve cell) is seen

Lens fibre of an eye
Lens fibre from an eye. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of the fibre-like cells that form the crystalline lens of the eye

Contour map of the brain, computer artwork. The contours on this map describe the uneven surface the cortex of the brain, shown here from the left side

Individual brain standing out from others, conceptual computer artwork

Astrocyte / neuron synapse in the brain
Astrocyte/neuron synapse in the brain. Artwork of a nerve cell (neuron, yellow) synapse in the brain with an associated regulatory astrocyte cell (red)

Bone resorption. Computer artwork of an osteoclast (green, bone-removing cell) destroying a piece of bone. This process, known as bone resorption

Skeleton from above, X-ray artwork
Skeleton. Computer X-ray artwork of a human skeleton viewed from above

Bone reabsorption, SEM
Bone reabsorption. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of reabsorption of bone by an osteoclast. The osteoclast is partially seen at upper left

Palm. Magnified section of palm, historical artwork. The external ridged surface is the cuticle, with the thin layer of skin below this known as the rete mucosum, or epidermis

Gut muscle cells, TEM
Gut muscle cells, coloured transmission electron micrograph (TEM). Nuclei are pink. The involuntary contraction of this smooth muscle is responsible for peristalsis

Female pelvis, coloured 3-D CT scan
Female pelvis, coloured 3-D computed tomography (CT) scan. The upper part of each thigh bone (femur) is seen at each side of the pelvis, where they form the hip joints

Abdominal bones, 3-D CT scan
Abdominal bones, coloured 3-D computer tomography (CT) scan. The lower part of the ribcage is in upper frame, with the pelvis in lower frame. They are connected by the spine, which runs down centre

Smooth muscle, SEM
Smooth muscle. Coloured scanning electron micrograph of smooth muscle from the trachea (windpipe). Smooth muscle is not under voluntary control, unlike skeletal (striated) muscle

Female pelvis, coloured X-ray. The upper part of each thigh bone (femur) is seen at each side of the pelvis, where they form the hip joints

Magnified section of scalp, historical artwork. The external surface is the cuticle, with the layer of skin below this known as the rete mucosum, or epidermis

Dendritic cell, TEM
Dendritic cell. Coloured transmission electron micrograph (TEM) of a section through dendritic cells. These are part of the human immune system

Brain nausea reflex. Artwork of the location in the brain of the area responsible for the various nausea reflexes, and some of the causes

Fibrin mesh in a blood clot. Coloured scanning electron micrograph of fibrin fibres in a blood clot. When blood vessels become damaged

Blood vessel types, artwork
Blood vessel types. Artworks of the three types of blood vessels, from left: arteries, veins, and capillaries. Arteries are thick blood vessels carrying oxygenated blood around the body away from

Platelets in a blood clot. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of platelet cells (thrombocytes) in a blood clot. They are oval shaped

Vomiting reflex. Computer artwork of the vomiting reflex. The reflex starts when a message is sent to the vomiting centre of the brainstem (at base of brain, blue)

Irradiation illusion. The white square against a black background on the left appears to be larger than the black square against a white background on the right. They are actually the same size

Simultaneous contrast example. The green squares look brighter on the left, where they are in yellow bands, compared to the right, where they are in blue bands

Calcium channel blocker effect, artwork
Calcium channel blocker effect. Conceptual computer artwork of calcium ions (orange) controlling blood flow through the blood vessels (springs) of a human heart

Diuretic effect, computer artwork
Diuretic effect. Computer artwork of the effect of diuretics (grey barriers) on a renal tubule (red) inside the kidney. These tubules regulate the levels of chemicals such as sodium (orange)

Virtual human. Conceptual computer artwork of the head of a virtual human being. This could represent artificial intelligence, or the use of computers to model the human body

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"Exploring the Intricacies of Physiology: From Airpumps to Blood Cells" Delving into the world of physiology, we uncover a fascinating array of scientific discoveries and visual wonders. Joseph Wright's masterpiece, "The Airpump, " captures the essence of early physiological experiments, showcasing humanity's thirst for knowledge. Intricate synapse nerve junctions depicted through Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) reveal the intricate communication network within our bodies. These microscopic connections enable seamless transmission of signals between neurons, shaping our thoughts and actions. Moving upwards to the head, we encounter an astonishing view of the muscular system. The complexity and precision required for even simple movements become apparent as ligaments intertwine with bones in perfect harmony. Venturing deeper into female physiology, a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) reveals the uterus lining during menstruation. This glimpse into nature's cyclical process sheds light on one aspect of womanhood that has both fascinated and perplexed scientists throughout history. Stepping away from biology but still within the realm of physiology, lie detector tests emerge as tools to decipher truth from deception. By monitoring physiological responses such as heart rate and perspiration levels, these tests attempt to unravel hidden truths buried within our bodies. Returning to cellular structures through TEM imaging once again unveils rough endoplasmic reticulum - a vital component responsible for protein synthesis in cells. Its intricate web-like structure showcases nature's elegance at work. Tracing back centuries ago brings us to Descartes' optics theory from the 17th century - an exploration into how vision is perceived by our eyes and interpreted by our brains. This groundbreaking theory laid foundations for understanding human perception today. Transitioning towards physicality itself leads us to skeletons intertwined with ligaments - providing structural support while allowing flexibility in movement. These silent heroes ensure smooth locomotion throughout life's journey.