From a holistic perspective, functional body can be decomposed into functional core body of vital functions and functionally extended body of physical productivity activity; operational body stands for cognitive and volitive functionality that expresses as a person's interactions with environment and social settings and become perceived as behavior. A factory interpretation suggests to see human body as a bioautomaton, operationally utonomous but functionally non-autarkic. Analogies with complex organizations suggest distinction of functional levels, which are concatenated top-down in a "knitting" way, with an interpretation of emergent properties as next-lower level interactions.
1.1
Relevance of a holistic top-down approach in exploration of highly complex
structures is quickly understood: an edifice will be composed from raw materials like
concrete, steel, mortar, plastic tubes, metal cables, wood, glass, etc., but to understand its
functionality or even only its statics, one has to start with the whole and then -
pictorially speaking - to dig deeper. This also holds for the human whole-body system
(HWBS). Citing [
Though reservations based on practical limitations, "the physiologically relevant
functions of the majority of proteins encoded in most genomes are either poorly
understood or not understood at all" [
However, such demands may reach out too far today.
To understand the function logic of a major airport, for example, one would not need complete structuralphysical characteristics of each stone neither to record its vibration behavior and heat ow under operating conditions in real-time. Similarly, the function logic of a big organization's staff will not open up from brain wave recordings or concurrent physiological data of every person – it may rather be simpler principles of individual social behavior that can explain behavior of the whole fabric. The importance of molecular-biological research – and its extraordinary funding in the last decades – must not be disdained; nevertheless, it should be judged in relation to what is achievable: The predictive value of genetic information with respect to a person's physical course of life should be regarded with utmost skepticism as long as the body's life history cannot be read from genes in retrospect.
Already 45 years ago, a comparable upsurge of hopes had been connected with
technology of the living – methods of cybernetics [
In human body, control loops of feed-back have been described at cellular level [
Taking a functional perspective means to disregard material realization for a while and to study the rules by which components of a system interact, instead: This will involve exploration of their hierarchies, competences and roles in fulfillment of whole system's mission. A functional perspective of human body system then puts focus on structural aspects of function and less on anatomical, physiological or biochemical ways of how functions are carried out.
When the human body is seen as a production system, its similarity with a factory
opens up. Exactly this interpretation has actually been laid out systematically for
whole body and some of its parts in a five-volume collection of lay-press illustrations
between 1912 to 1930 [
The ancient Greek word κυβeρνητης means 'helmsman' and appears in Latin as 'gubernator', which is still visible in 'governor'. Since the complexity met in human life context could not yet be addressed computationally, enthusiastic exploration of the control aspect faded away about 50 years ago, such that only the information aspect survived; to now avoid the modern digital interpretation of cybernetics, I suggest the term' (theory of) automation' in English, instead; to mark the distinction I prefer kybernetik. 2.2
The purpose of this subsection is to introduce the reader to the way of thinking and
familiarize with the concepts used below without explanations; by intent, the
formulations are general.
2.2.1 Systems
1. A system is a class of elements that are mutually interconnected by relations; their
interconnectedness distinguishes elements of the class from other elements
outside.[
Now, look at the system as a whole, again.
6. An effectuation system1 is a system of mutually interacting elements; interaction
means transfers of energy (mass, information) and these transfers may be direct or
indirect.[
The role of kybernetik is the representation of an effectuation system's structure of couplings independent of their physical realization.
Effectuation systems of equivalent functional structures will have the same shaltgefüge.
Functional activity denotes transfers of energy (matter, information) between components of a system; it is then an internal or within-system activity. 1. A functional process is a set of task-oriented transfers of energy (matter, information) between functional components.
In systems context, the fundamental concepts are steering2, control3, and feed-back
control4 each based on information as common concept, cf. [
5. Functional steering is integrated control and monitoring of functional units (assembly groups, subsections) with distributed tasks, each of which controls its assigned technical processes and the set points of pertinent feed-back loops which serve to maintain the dynamic equilibria that are necessary for good operating conditions; in engineering, it is typically the task of human operator.
Operational activity is an interactive partaking in system's outside world; it is a
between-systems activity.
1. An operational process is any goal-oriented partaking in outside world; the
concept applies to effectuation systems.
2. An operational system is an effectuation system5 combined from functional units
required for realization of operational processes.
3. Systems steering is pursuit of an operational goal in due consideration of the
system's current or expected operational capacity, and adaptation to varying demands
of partaking in outside world; this is a typical commander's role.
(a) An operational capacity is limited by extent of operational self-sufficiency; this
concerns primarily self-sufficient energy (matter, information) exchange with
outside world to sustain functional activity, and then any supplemental amount
required in operational activity.
(b) On the other hand, demands of partaking in outside world concern a manifold
of tasks in interacting with surroundings, communication, processing of
information, decision-making for the purpose of effective and efficient achievement
of objectives; it includes consideration of operational rules, state of the art, and
other ambient conditions [
An operationally autonomous or self-steering operational system is an automaton.
This concept refers to self-su_ciency with regard to resources; separate resources will be needed that a system needs for functional and for operational activities. 1. Effectuation systems without interface modules for exchange of matter (energy, information) with system's outside world are closed systems, otherwise open systems. 2. Closed systems operate autarkically, open systems do not and their operational capacity then depends on ambient conditions.
Depending on their degree of complexity, systems exhibit stochasticity in their response to unexpected endogenous or exogenous impact - despite complete knowledge of structures and command of all controls and feed-back controls: 1. intrinsic stochasticity denotes internal, or endogenously arising random uctuations of dynamic equilibrium of internal energy transfers,and 2. extrinsic stochasticity denotes external, or exogenously arising random variations in matter (energy, information) exchanges with outside world.
Energy transfer dynamics are generally prone to random variation while the formal structure of their controls (couplings) will not.
Schaltgefüge is not affected by stochasticity. 2.3
Here are some examples of operational systems with autonomous steering; the discussion applies to systems in designated service.
Self-sufficiency is the core property for space missions; energy, communications with outside world, productive functionality as required by mission objectives, in-system security and safety, and a command stand are among the building blocks; the system is closed, but operationally autonomous due to its very limited operational capacity imposed by laws of physics, and tight ground control.
Such vessels are built to cruise at deep water for months, if not years, unnoticed; they are functionally self-sufficient to largest extent, and their commanders are welltrained to operate autarkically as supervision by superior authorities may be impossible. As warship it is subject to high extrinsic stochasticity, while intrinsic stochasticity can be assumed to be less due to small, highly selected and - because of facing underwater loss of ife - very compliant crew, and straigtforward arsenal.
Nuclear carriers may cruise for years but their productivity tools, fighter planes, will need fuel from outside, depend on ambient air for combustion, etc. while vessel, the "vital core" may be shut from ambient resources totally when protection against nuclear, chemical or biological contamination is needed. The commander-at-sea as "master next God" is autarkic in functional activities, and can be as well in operational activities, if needed. Intrinsic stochasticity is much higher because of thousands of crew and wider range of hazardeous weaponry and equipment; extrinsic stochasticity corresponds primarily to vulnerability under attack but also from the elements.
These vessels equally have a commander-at-sea who enjoys comparable competences, while the vessel is an open system in some respects, and a closed system in other respects: fuel, water, food, residuals and waste are carried for self-sufficiency while fresh air and combustion residuals of man and machine are exchanged with surrounding environment. Functional self-sufficiency by large and operationally autonomous only when needed, otherwise in pursuit of a booked journey. Because of thousand(s) of passengers, not crew, relatively high intrinsic stochasticity must be supposed, while extrinsic stochasticity may mainly be ascribed to the elements.
As in all preceding examples, huge industry plants appear as a "world of their own", in particular when their size is perceived as unmeasurable and their structures as unscrutable. As industry production plants, they are open systems which "import" raw or semifinished products and export finished ones. They will typically depend on permanent in-ow of energy and out-ow for disposal of residuals, actually also of their work force. Management will enjoy functional autarky with respect to in-system activities, and more or less also in operational activities, subject to company hierarchies. With their characteristics – circumscribed site, dedicated (and clearly identifiable) structures for energy, internal transportation services, on-site "homeland"-type security, communications with off-site "world", manufacturing facilities and production lines – they can make not plausible, but an intuitionally understood model of formal structures of functional control in human body.
Human body is an open system vitally depending on food and permanent supply with oxygen for combustion from environment, and correspondingly disposing residuals into its habitat. In this way it is like a machine; its "tools" – feet, legs, arms, hands – can precisely master complicated physical tasks due to sophisticated movement control and fine-motor skills combined with a complex sensory sub-system and wellcoordinating brain motor functions. Mastering the more demanding cognitive tasks is less widely available as it requires longer training in childhood and adolescence. Human body is functionally dependent on ambient conditions though it can care for self, and equipped for operational autonomy, cautiously speaking.
Human body system is hence a non-autarkic bioautomaton. 3 3.1
Viewing human body as a system for production - in solving either physical or
cognitive tasks - is the perspective of ergonomics [
For human body vital functions group and physical productivity group, function
aggregates are easily identified from a generic factory model analogue:
M: management and control of functional activity,
6 Of course, any operational process - cf. 2.2.3.(1) - will involve more parts of the body, but the
point here is that these "tools" are strictly necessary for productive activity, and they may even
be activated by functional body's autonomous nervous system as reflexes, i.e. without
operational control.
7 The cellular system represents living nature's material option [
H: 'homeland'-type security, safety, integrity of functional processes,
T: transportation logistics ('nutrients' supply and residuals removal),
K: communication with outside world, a 'signal corps' role,
P: physical productivity,
in site context Z provided by human body cellular system Z and other structures.
(Note, that a comprehensive representation of human body function aggregates will
need some supplements that do not fit in the generic factory context.)
For example, vital functions group, V say, consists of function aggregates M, E, T, H
in context of Z, symbolically V = {M, E, T, H|Z}8. On the other hand, physical
productivity functions group, P say, will involve function aggregate P in context of Z,
M, E, T, H, symbolically P = {P | V, Z}. The operational functions group, O say, will
involve function aggregate K in context of Z, V and also – because of limitations of
operational options – P, symbolically O = {K | Z, V, P}; note however, that
operational functions without physical productivity functions, i.e. {V, O | Z}, are also possible9.
Next, describe some function aggregates, cf. [
Life and function of cells must be maintained permanently. Hence, logistics in delivery of nutrients and oxygen to cell membranes and in removal of residuals from cells are an important issue when studying functional body. Transportation pathway is the hydraulic pumping system of two separate vascular parts, the arterial for delivery and the venous for removal; both do not serve at the "door", i.e. the cell membranes, but only to the "gate" of cell 'surroundings', the interstitial space filled with 11 L10 fluids; that gate for logistics – pictorially speaking – is the walls of close-by capillaries. The distance of generally < 50 from "gate" to "door" is covered by 'shaking' in a few seconds, while complete logistic distribution in the vascular system takes 30 seconds11 of 'stirring' in rest. Function units are heart, vessels, and blood plasma and blood cells (as vehicles for oxygen). 3.3
For intra-cellular adenosine triphosphate (ATP) energy production, body cells
consume amino acids, fatty acids, glucose from intestinal tract and liver and oxygen from
lungs for combustion; combustion residuals, water and carbon dioxide, and others are
disposed of from cells to kidneys and lungs (as appropriate) on same passage ways.
Function units of energy sub-system are alimentary tract, respiratory tract, liver, bile,
8 Clinically, V represents the functional condition of a person's body system reduced to keeping
its cellular system Z of 1014 cells alive, without any communication with its outside world
outside, activity only as reexes, and thus totally dependent on 24-hrs care – in clinical
terminology, in vegetative state – cf. [
Main function units of M are nervous systems and hormone or endocrine system; the
latter releases chemical messengers into blood vessels for delivery to cell's target
receptors; some of the former can do as well (neuroendocrines), though most nerves
use faster and very specifically targeted point-to-point transmission of chemical
(neurotransmitters) or electrical signals along nerve fibers; see [
I suggest a top-down approach that builds on analogies with engineered systems at each level and properties that emerge from structures of interaction among next level functional components. 4.1
The approach rests upon the distinction of material science and organizational
science, in other words, the separation of functional logic – or logical structure of
functional processes – in a multi-level design from physical realization at material level.
By analogy, consider multi-level network systems structure in computer science [
The cellular system, considered as material, can be disregarded in design of logical 'wiring' plan.
This is actually a paraphrase of the kybernetic paradigm, cf. Corollary 1; one will therefore try to model schaltgefge within each functional level by analogy with a functionally similar engineered system.
It is well-known, that complex adaptive systems (CAS) are characterized by highly
interwoven control structures across all levels of hierarchy and non-linear energy
transfer dynamics between components; this creates emergent properties of the
system – in parts or in whole – that cannot be explained by component properties, cf.
[
Consider [
As an example, consider function aggregate T (logistics); it actually connects all function aggregates listed in 3.2, including itself. This connectivity exists in material and in logic; the latter because of its physical realization (supplying all cells). It closely corresponds to IBM's Token RingTM computer network hardware: tokens are sent along a functional ring and every computer attached can read tokens and will either ignore or take the message up depending on whether it is named recipient or not. In human body system, it is not electrons and wire but hydraulic movement of a liquid medium, the blood, in pipes. 4.3
Consider any fixed functional level n in 3.1, n > 1, and assume there are kj function units, Bj,1, …, Bj,kj , that combine to function aggregate Aj , and assume j = 1, …, m. Then, properties of Aj emerge from interactions among respective Bj,1, …, Bj,kj and become visible at level n - 1 in interactions between A1, …, Am. In this way, properties visible in interactions at level n – 1 are binding in the sense of reducing the degrees of freedom for interactions at level n. Though emergent properties that arise from interaction of function units at lower level then express at upper level, such properties are only 'contextual' or 'relative' properties and not absolute properties that would apply irrespectively of upper level 'neighborhood' settings. This implies that bottom-up modeling may produce inconsistent results for different levels. 4.4
Development of a coherent control 'documentation' for HWBS may follow
engineering suggestions for plantwide control [
While physical realization of couplings is not an issue for kybernetik modeling of
management and control structures, any such modeling still requires a 'proof of
concept': it is to be demonstrated that dynamic subsystem performance is close to target
values. This can be achieved in mainly two ways, mathematical modeling of
component interaction dynamics (e.g. [
Re-engineering human body system controls holistically can be assumed to be viable
in top-down modeling with functionally defined levels: it permits to test models and
hypotheses in clinical settings before one proceeds to next lower functional level not
possible in the bottom-up approach that is prone to confuse cause and effect.
The commonly invoked 'genetic dogma' suggests viable bottom up modeling of
human body system from molecules, genes and proteins to cells, tissue and organs [
Therefore, top-down modeling is appropriate and it must start from Level-1 functional groups and a kybernetic model of their within-level interaction that can explain the emergent properties which express at Level 0 of a person's whole-body system (HWBS); such level-0 expression is called 'clinical' or 'behavioral', depending on context of observation.