Human Biology 9th Edition

Book Preface

Human Biology, Ninth Edition, is written specifically with the undergraduate, non-science major in mind. The text contains an abundance of timely and important information about the structure and function of the human body, exploring the world from the cellular level, then the level of tissues and organs. This book also introduces readers to common diseases they are likely to encounter during their lives as well as an abundance of information on ways to prevent disease and live long, healthy lives.

The central organizing theme of the book—homeostasis— illustrates the internal balancing act that has evolved over the history of humankind, allowing our bodies to regulate conditions integral to our survival. For our bodies to achieve homeostasis and maintain health, they must regulate their temperature, levels of chemicals in the blood, as well as a host of cellular functions. Homeostasis and health also depend on our bodies’ external environment—the quality of the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the foods we eat. When I began writing this book, many years ago,

I had several goals in mind. The first was to educate you about your body and the ways to take good care of it. The more you know about how your body works, the more able you are to make healthy decisions now and in the future. The book is also meant to teach you about scientific literacy—how scientists gather information, analyze it, and come to conclusions about it—which will make you a more informed citizen. When you read about a scientific discovery in the news, you will be able to make better decisions about how reliable the information might be and how it might affect your life. This knowledge will also help you understand difficult and controversial political issues, like stem cell research (why it’s controversial and why many people feel it is important). Finally, this book encourages you to think critically about the human body and health, looking at the body as a system—a collection of organs and molecules working together, influenced by stimuli inside and out.

Organization

Human Biology is divided into four parts:
Part 1: Organization of Life
Part 2: Human Body Systems
Part 3: Cell Division and Human Heredity
Part 4: Evolution and Ecology (Available online)
Part 1 outlines the fundamental biological and chemical principles you need to know to understand the human body, as well as introducing the cell, the unit of all life. You will also read about the scientific method and critical thinking, both of which are applied throughout the book. I’ve also added material to explain the organization of life.

In Part 2, you’ll learn about basic tissues that make up the organs of the body. You’ll study all the vital organs systems of the human body, including the circulatory system, the digestive system, the skin, and the respiratory system. You’ll learn about the bones and muscles that allow us to move about in our environment and perform many important tasks. You’ll study the systems that help control these systems, including the endocrine and nervous systems. You’ll learn how the body rids itself of waste and protects itself from infectious agents like bacteria and viruses. You’ll study reproduction, embryonic development, and aging.

In this section, you’ll explore the structure and function of these systems, especially how they help maintain homeostasis. You’ll also learn about diseases that many of you will encounter over your lifetime. You’ll also learn a great deal about safeguarding your health – living a long healthy, disease-free life.

In Part 3, we’ll delve into human heredity. You’ll learn how cells divide during development and the production of sperm and ova. You’ll study how genes control the structure and function of the body and important developments in genetic engineering.

In Part 4, which is available online for all users, we’ll explore evolution, ecology, and the environment.