What is the name for the study of body function?

The study of body function is referred to as physiology. This branch of biology explores how various systems within the body work individually and together to maintain life and health. It encompasses the functions of organs, tissues, and cells, and examines processes such as respiration, circulation, digestion, and reproduction.

Anatomy, on the other hand, focuses on the structure and organization of the body's parts, rather than their functions. It provides a foundation for understanding how these structures contribute to physical form and work, but does not delve into the dynamic processes that physiology investigates.

Pathology involves the study of diseases and the changes they cause in the body's structures and functions, focusing on how these conditions alter normal physiological processes. Clinical chemistry often deals with the analysis of bodily fluids to diagnose diseases and monitor health, linking to physiology but more focused on laboratory results rather than the systemic functions themselves.

Therefore, physiology is the correct term that specifically addresses the study of how the body and its systems operate, highlighting the mechanisms and processes essential for sustaining life.