HUMAN ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY

• Main Author: Gaudin, Anthony J. (Author)
• Other Authors: Jones, Kenneth C.
• Format: Book
• Language: English
• Published: San Diego Harcourt Brace Jovanovich 1989; ©1989
• Subjects: Human anatomy; Physiology
• Online Access: Click Here to View Status and Holdings.

 Prefaces presumably are intended to be read first, since they are always placed at the beginning of a book. How ever, this preface should be read after you have spent some time browsing through the pages that follow. As you do so, notice the way the book has been organized and the many elements that we have included to help you in your study of human anatomy and physiology. In writing this book, we have been guided by the experiences of students whom we have taught over the past two decades. Our classroom and laboratory encoun ters showed us a need for a text that not only presents and organizes information, but also motivates and helps the student in a significant way to understand the sub ject, its implications, and its relevance. Our experience has been that many students confuse reading with study. ing, and often can't understand why reading a chapter one or two times is not sufficient for a thorough under- standing of a subject. Unless one is an exceptional stu- dent, reading alone will not provide the insights and understanding that a deeper and more intensive exami- nation will provide. This is as true in anatomy and phys iology as it is in any subject. By the time you have completed your study of this text, you will realize that the human body is exceedingly complex in structure and function, yet not so complex as to defy analysis. Regardless of the detail in which any of the topics are described, you should be aware that much more could have been written and that our coverage can only be considered an introduction to human anatomy systems. and physiology. By the time you read this, even more will be known about many of the mechanisms, pro- cesses, and structures we have described. Like any sci- ence, human anatomy and physiology is a dynamic field, constantly growing and changing in the light of new in- formation. We hope that this introductory textbook will provide you with a foundation for understanding and appreciating new discoveries as they develop. Organization and Elements The text is organized into seven logical groupings of chapters. Unit L, not surprisingly, focuses on fundamen tal principles that underlie the subject matter covered in the remaining units. In Chapter 1, you will be introduced to some of the basic terminology of anatomy and physi ology and be given an overview of the subjects. Chapters 2,3, and 4 deal with the fundamental principles of chem istry, cell structure and function, and the organization of cells into tissues. These subjects are the foundation of everything that follows in the text. Units II through VI deal with anatomical structures and physiological pro cesses involved in the development and maintenance of the body, including the organs used for support and movement, integration and control of body processes supply of nutrients and oxygen, transport and dis tribution, waste excretion, and maintenance of the in ternal environment. Unit VII describes the structures and mechanisms of reproduction, development, and heredity. Each chapter begins with a brief introduction and a list of the important concepts in the chapter. The chapter itself is divided into sections that logically break down the subject into major subdivisions, with each section preceded by a short list of learning objectives. Within each section, key words are introduced in boldface type and are accompanied by the pronunciation. Etymologies (word origins) for selected terms are provided in the up per margin on the page where the term is introduced. A narrative outline at the end of each chapter summarizes the chapter according to primary and secondary head ings. A set of objective and essay questions is provided at the end of each chapter, with answers to the objective questions appearing in an appendix at the end of the tea Supplementing the information in each chapter are "boxed" sections that describe several clinical conditions related to the chapter topic. You may find that this mate rial heightens your interest in the subject and provides clinical relevance by describing what happens to the body when something malfunctions. In addition, em bryologic development is included in boxes in those chapters that deal with anatomical structures and How to Use the Text When beginning each chapter, read the introduction carefully, being sure that you grasp the general signifi cance of the subject and the points to be covered. As you read the chapter, stop occasionally and reflect back on the introduction to remind yourself of the importance and role of the information you are reading. As you begin each section, read the objectives carefully, noting terms that are new and unfamiliar and the purpose of each objective. It might be useful to jot them down so they will be immediately available as you read the section that follows. As you read the section, identify the points that relate to the objectives. When you finish the section, stop, think about the objectives, and see if you can meet them. Don't be afraid to go back and dig out the answer if you can't remember certain points. After finishing the chapter, slowly read and think about each statement in the Study Outline. Since it is a summary, much of the detailed information is omitted. Try to remember that information, and again, don't hes itate to go back into the chapter to refresh your memory on points you can't recall. Ask yourself how each state