Physiologique

Physiologique is a French adjective meaning "physiological" in English. It describes things related to the functioning of living organisms and their parts, rather than to structure alone. In scientific and medical French, it is used to distinguish normal biological processes from disease-related states, often in contrast to pathologique.

The term derives from the noun physiologie (physiology) and ultimately from Greek physis, meaning nature, and logia, meaning study. The suffix -ique marks it as an adjective.

Common phrases include fonctionnement physiologique (physiological function), processus physiologique (physiological process), and paramètres physiologiques (physiological parameters) such as temperature, pH, and heart rate when within normal ranges. The word appears in discussions of homeostasis, regulation, and normal organismal function.

In bilingual scientific writing, physiologique is typically translated as physiological in English. It is used to frame studies of normal physiology and to contrast with pathologique, indicating deviations caused by injury, disease, or abnormal conditions.

Related terms include physiologie (physiology), physiologiste (physiologist), and the English adjective physiological. The term underpins a wide range of disciplines, from human medicine to comparative biology, and is central to describing how living systems maintain stability and perform their essential functions.