What are Body Functions in the ICF?

• A. Environmental factors like social support and policies
• B. Personal factors such as beliefs and coping styles
• C. Activities such as walking and dressing
• D. Physiological and psychological functions of body systems — e.g., heart rate, blood pressure, muscle strength, swelling, sensation, cognition

Answer: (D)

In the ICF, Body Functions describe the physiological and psychological functions of the body systems. This includes heart rate and blood pressure, muscle strength and swelling, sensation, and mental functions like cognition. These functions are about what the body is doing at a functional level, not about the parts themselves or what a person does in daily life. They are distinct from Body Structures (the anatomical parts), Activities and Participation (the tasks a person performs), and from Environmental or Personal factors (external supports or internal beliefs). The examples given—heart rate, blood pressure, muscle strength, swelling, sensation, and cognition—show the kinds of body-level functions we assess and consider in care.