Human Physiology 12th Edition

Book Preface

Features

What Sets This Book Apart?

The study of human physiology provides the scientifi c foundation for the fi eld 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 wideranging, yet each topic must be covered in suffi cient detail to provide a fi rm basis for future expansion and application. The rigor of this course, however, need not diminish the student’s initial fascination with how the body works. 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 students to continue learning more.

“The rigor of this course, however, need not diminish the student’s initial fascination with how the body works. 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 students to continue learning more.” —Stuart Fox

Human Physiology, twelfth edition, is written for the undergraduate introductory human physiology course. Based on the author’s extensive experience with teaching this course, the framework of the textbook is designed to provide basic biology and chemistry (chapters 2–5) before delving into more complex physiological processes. This approach is appreciated by both instructors and students; specifi c references in later chapters direct readers back to the foundational material as needed, presenting a self-contained study of human physiology.

In addition to not presupposing student’s preparedness, this popular textbook is known for its clear and approachable writing style, detailed realistic art, and unsurpassed clinical information.

What Makes This Text a Market Leader?

Writing Style—Easygoing, Logical, and Concise

The words in Human Physiology, twelfth edition, read as if the author is explaining concepts to you in a one-on-one conversation, pausing now and then to check and make sure you understand what he is saying. Each major section begins with a short overview of the information to follow. Numerous comparisons (“Unlike the life of an organism, which can be viewed as a linear progression from birth to death, the life of a cell follows a cyclical pattern”), examples (“A callus on the hand, for example, involves thickening of the skin by hyperplasia due to frequent abrasion”), reminders (“Recall that each member of a homologous pair came from a different parent”), and analogies (“In addition to this ‘shuffl ing of the deck’ of chromosomes . . .”) lend the author’s style a comfortable grace that enables readers to easily fl ow from one topic to the next.

Exceptional Art—Designed from the Student’s Point of View

What better way to support such unparalleled writing than with high-quality art? Large, bright illustrations demonstrate the physiological processes of the human body beautifully in a variety of ways:

“Fox provides excellent figures and illustrations and is ahead of all others in creativity and usability for instructors.” —Vikki McCleary, University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences

• Stepped-out art clearly depicts various stages or movements with numbered explanations.
• Labeled photos placed side by side with illustrations allow diagrammatic detail and realistic application.
• Clearly labeled atlas-quality cadaver images of dissected human cadavers provide detailed views of anatomical structures, capturing the intangible characteristics of actual human anatomy that can be appreciated only when viewed in human specimens.