Etym. physiology (n.) 1560s, “study and description of natural objects,” from Middle French physiologie or directly from Latin physiologia “natural science, study of nature,” from Greek physiologia “natural science, inquiry into nature,” from physio- “nature” + logia “study.” Meaning “science of the normal function of living things” is attested from 1610s. Related: Physiologic; physiologist.
Etym model. Sense of “thing or person to be imitated” is 1630s.
Definition
The mathematical computer models governing complex human physiology in a simulated patient case so that reasonable responses occur automatically to events inputted into the program. For example: a pharmacodynamic model could predict effects of drugs on heart rate, cardiac output, or blood pressure and display them on a simulated clinical monitor. (Howard Schwid, Rosen, 2013).
A computer model that allows for a method of operation in which an operator inputs a value to a given parameter, and it automatically adjusts the other variables in a physiologically realistic manner (Palaganas, Maxworthy, Epps, and Mancini, 2015).
Compare: MANUAL INPUT, PREPACKAGED SCENARIO,
“RUNNING ON THE FLY”