This book is written to help, among others, students in advanced high school biology courses and in introductory college courses such as fundamentals of physiology as well as those in the allied health sciences, for example, respiratory therapists, x-ray technicians, occupational/physical/recreational health therapists, nurses-to-be, and physician’s assistants. And also for those who have recently entered professional fields of health and medicine and are beginning to care for patients.
Physiology as the basis of medicine and as a prerequisite to understanding one’s health should help the student and practitioner gain a clearer understanding of our marvelous bodies and how they work. If someone knows how a thing works, it makes it easier for them to care for that thing.
Perhaps with encouragement and information such as that offered here, students (and their patients) will take better care of their bodies, will require less health care intervention, and will live qualitatively more productive lives. Moreover, with this understanding the reader should be better informed when difficult decisions like those raised above have to be made.
Contents
1 The Foundation 1
- Structure and Function
- Homeostasis, Equilibrium, and the Steady State
- Physiological Gradients
- Physiological Reflexes
- Control Systems Analysis
- Feedback and Feedforward
2 Understanding the Mammalian Nervous System
- What Are Neurons?
- What Is the Nervous System?
- Neuron Communication, Electrical and Chemical Transmission
- Different Neurotransmitters and Their Locations and Functions
- Discomfort, Pain, and the Nervous System
- Mental Activity, Cerebral Blood Flow, and Health of the Nervous System
3 The Endocrine System and Physiological Communication
- Advances in Endocrinology
- Hormones, Proteins, and Peptides
- The Hypothalamic-Pituitary Axis
- Excesses and Deficiencies of GH and Health
- The Adrenal Gland and Growth
- The Thyroid Gland
4 The Cardiovascular System and the Blood
- The Blood
- The Heart and Cardiac Cycle
- The Blood Vessels
- Lifestyle and Monitoring Cardiovascular Health
- Reactive Hyperemia and Blood Flow to Organs and Tissues
5 Health and the Respiratory System
- Components of the Respiratory System
- Pulmonary Ventilation, or Lung Inflation and Deflation
- Respiration, Exchange, and Transport of Blood Gases
- Central and Peripheral Regulation of the Respiratory System
- Lungs and Balance of Acids and Bases
- Lifestyle and Care of the Lungs
6 Kidneys and Renal Physiology
- Functional Morphology of the Kidneys
- Glomerular Filtration Rate and Urine
- Regulation of GFR and RPF
- Reabsorption, Secretion, and the Formation of Urine
- Renal Health, Hydration, and Urination
- Diabetes and Sugar in the Urine
7 The Gastrointestinal System
- Components of the Gastrointestinal (GI) or Enteric System
- Mechanics and Reflexes of the GI Tract
- Secretions of the GI Tract
- Digestion of Carbohydrates, Fats, and Proteins
- Health of the Oral Cavity and Vocalization
- Health of the GI Tract and Diet
8 The Reproductive System
- Gametogenesis, Genetic, Gonadal, and Phenotypic Sex
- The Sexually Indifferent Embryonic Gonad
- Spermatogenesis and the Male Reproductive System
- Oogenesis, Folliculogenesis, and the Female Reproductive System
- Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs), Sexual Behavior, and Infertility
9 The Immune System
- Cellular Defenses
- Chemotaxis, Margination, Diapedesis, and Phagocytosis
- Ports of Entry for Pathogens and the Reticuloendothelial System (RES)
- Immunity, Regenerative Medicine, and Stem Cells
10 Muscle Function
- Muscle Diversification
- Excitation-Contraction Coupling in Muscle
- Cycling of Cross-Bridges and Shortening of Sarcomeres
- Muscle Levers, Hypertrophy, and Atrophy
- Muscle Diseases and Conditions
- Experimenting with Muscle
11 Integrated Physiological Responses
- Hypovolemic Hypotension
- Baroreceptor Reflexes and Cardiac Output
- Vasomotor Responses and Blood Pressure
- Renal Response and the Renin-Angiotensin System
- Blood Flow and Its Distribution and Redistribution during Hypotension
- Long-Term Responses to Hypotension
12 For the Record 170
- Blood Pressure and Your Health
- Blood Lipids and Physical Activity
- Blood Cells and Good Health
- Blood Sugar, Diabetes, and Metabolic Syndrome
Glossary
Notes and Suggested Reading
Index
Product Details
- Hardcover: 240 pages
- Publisher: Rutgers University Press; 1 edition (March 7, 2008)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0813542812
- ISBN-13: 978-0813542812
- Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6 x 1.1 inches
List Price: $39.95