Anatomy & Physiology: The Unity of Form and Function

Book Preface

Anatomy & Physiology: The Unity of Form and Function tells a story comprised of many layers, including core science, clinical applications, the history of medicine, and the evolution of the human body. Saladin combines this humanistic perspective on anatomy and physiology with vibrant photos and art to convey the beauty and excitement of the subject to beginning students.
To help students manage the tremendous amount of information in this introductory course, the narrative is broken into short segments, each framed by expected learning outcomes and self-testing review questions. This presentation strategy works as a whole to create
a more efficient and effective way for students to learn A&P.

Writing Style and Level
Saladin’s text is written using plain language for A&P students who may be taking this course early in their curricula. Careful attention
has been given to word selection and paragraph structure to maintain the appropriate writing level for all students.

CHANGES TO THE NINTH EDITION

New Science
This edition draws on recent literature and scientific conferences attended by the author to update many topics, including but not limited
to molecular, vascular, and brain imaging techniques; peroxisome and mitochondrial behavior; the DNA damage response; gene regulation; epigenetics; the tissue interstitium; regenerative medicine; osteoporosis; prosthetic joints; fibromyalgia; sleep physiology; trigeminal
neuralgia; pain physiology; endocrine functions of osseous and adipose tissue; diabetes mellitus; cord blood transplants; thrombopoiesis;
AIDS; prostate diseases; breast cancer; aging; life expectancy; and assisted reproductive technology.
New Deeper Insight sidebar essays have been added on cardiac tamponade; biopsy; stem-cell therapy; regenerative medicine; osteomalacia and rickets; vertebral disc herniation; rotator cuff injury; carpal tunnel syndrome; shinsplints; calcaneal tendon rupture; plantar
fasciitis; brain connectomics and diffusion tensor imaging; lumbar puncture; stroke; blindness; alcoholic ascites; diverticulosis and diverticulitis; colorectal cancer; and cleft lip and palate.

While new science has been added, keeping up with such growth also means pruning back topics discredited by newer literature. For
this edition, these include adult cerebral neurogenesis; endorphins and runner’s high; human pheromones; pineal tumors and precocial
puberty; prophylactic use of low-dose aspirin; myocardial regeneration; female ejaculation; and the free-radical DNA damage theory of
senescence.

In consideration of user and reviewer suggestions to reduce detail in a few areas, this edition has more concise discussions of some
topics: chromatin coiling; apoptosis; skin grafting; the hair cycle; calcium and phosphate homeostasis; and spinal cord tracts.