Preface

At one time or another, all of us wonder about how our bodies work. This is the focus of human physiology. Not only is body function a topic of general interest, it is also a required course of study for many college students. Human physiology provides the scientific foundation for the field of medicine and all other professions related to human health and physical performance. The scope of topics included in a human physiology course is therefore wide-ranging, yet each topic must be covered in sufficient detail to provide a firm basis for future expansion and application. The rigor of the course, however, need not diminish the student's natural curiosity about the workings of the body. On the contrary, a basic understanding of physiological mechanisms can instill a deeper appreciation for the complexity and beauty of the human body and motivate the student to learn still more.

This text is designed to serve the needs of students in an undergraduate physiology course. The beginning chapters introduce basic chemical and biological concepts to provide these students--many of whom do not have extensive science backgrounds with the framework they need to comprehend physiological principles. In the chapters that follow, the material is presented in such a way as to promote conceptual understanding rather than rote memorization of facts. Every effort has been made to help students integrate related concepts and to understand the relationships between anatomical structures and their functions.

Abundant summary flowcharts and tables serve as aids for review. Beautifully rendered illustrations, with a functional use of color, are designed to enhance learning. Health applications are included throughout the text to heighten interest, deepen understanding of physiological concepts, and help students relate the material they have learned to their individual career goals. In addition, various other pedagogical devices are used extensively (but not intrusively) to add to the value of the text as a comprehensive learning tool.

SHAPING THE SEVENTH EDITION

Before I began writing the new edition, my editors at WCB/McGraw-Hill repeated a successful technique introduced at the last revision cycle: they requested users of the previous edition to send in their suggestions and comments, focusing on a chapter of particular interest. The responses were enthusiastic and insightful, as I had come to expect from my colleagues. Thus, every chapter in the previous book was reviewed several times over by people who had used the book in their own classrooms. The seventh edition benefited enormously from this input. It also benefited greatly from the input of other reviewers of diverse backgrounds who thoroughly examined various stages of the manuscript.

That the edition incorporates many new physiological concepts may come as a surprise to people who are unfamiliar with the field. Indeed, I am sometimes asked whether things change very much from one edition to the next. They do and that is one of the reasons physiology is so exciting to study. I have tried to impart a sense of excitement by indicating, in a manner appropriate for this level of text, where knowledge is new and where gaps in our knowledge remain. Here follows a partial listing of the additions, updates, and areas of expanded coverage that shaped this seventh edition.