Physiology at a Glance

Jeremy P. T. Ward Roger W. A. Linden

Extensively revised and updated, this fourth edition of Physiology at a Glance continues to provide a thorough introduction to human physiology, covering a wealth of topics in a comprehensive yet succinct manner.This concise guide breaks this often complex subject down into its core components, dealing with structures of the body from the cellular level to composite systems. New to this edition are three chapters on cell signalling, thermoregulation, and altitude and aerospace physiology, as well as a glossary of terms to aid medical, dental, health science and biomedical students at all levels of their training.Featuring clear, full-colour illustrations, memorable data tables, and easy-to-read text, Physiology at a Glance is ideal as both a revision guide and as a resource to assist basic understanding of key concepts.

Preface viiAcknowledgements viiiAbbreviations ixAbout the companion website xiPart 1 Introduction 11 Homeostasis and the physiology of proteins 22 Body water compartments and physiological fluids 43 Cells, membranes and organelles 64 Membrane transport and ion channels 85 Biological electricity 106 Conduction of action potentials 127 Cell signalling 148 The autonomic nervous system 169 Blood 1810 Platelets and haemostasis 2011 Defence: inflammation and immunity 2212 Principles of diffusion and flow 2413 Thermoregulation 2614 Altitude and aerospace physiology 28Part 2 Muscles 3115 Skeletal muscle and its contraction 3216 Neuromuscular junction and whole muscle contraction 3417 Motor units, recruitment and summation 3618 Cardiac and smooth muscle 38Part 3 The cardiovascular system 4119 Introduction to the cardiovascular system 4220 The heart 4421 The cardiac cycle 4622 Initiation of the heart beat and excitation-contraction coupling 4823 Control of cardiac output and Starling's law of the heart 5024 Blood vessels 5225 Control of blood pressure and blood volume 5426 The microcirculation, filtration and lymphatics 5627 Local control of blood flow and specific circulations 58Part 4 The respiratory system 6128 Introduction to the respiratory system 6229 Lung mechanics 6430 Transport of gases and the gas laws 6631 Carriage of oxygen and carbon dioxide by the blood 6832 Control of breathing 7033 Ventilation-perfusion matching and right to left shunts 72Part 5 The renal system 7534 Introduction to the renal system 7635 Renal filtration 7836 Reabsorption, secretion and the proximal tubule 8037 The loop of Henle and distal nephron 8238 Regulation of plasma osmolality and fluid volume 8439 Control of acid-base status 86Part 6 The gut and metabolism 8940 Gastrointestinal tract: overview and the mouth 9041 Oesophagus and stomach 9242 Small intestine 9443 The exocrine pancreas, liver and gallbladder 9644 Large intestine 98Part 7 Endocrinology and reproduction 10145 Endocrine control 10246 Control of metabolic fuels 10447 The hypothalamus and pituitary gland 10648 Thyroid hormones and metabolic rate 10849 Growth factors 11050 Somatic and skeletal growth 11251 Control of plasma calcium 11452 The adrenal glands and stress 11653 Endocrine control of reproduction 11854 Sexual differentiation and function 12055 Fertilization, pregnancy and parturition 12256 Lactation 124Part 8 The sensory and motor systems 12757 Introduction to sensory systems 12858 Sensory receptors 13059 Special senses: taste and smell 13260 Special senses: vision 13461 Special senses: hearing and balance 13662 Motor control and the cerebellum 13863 Proprioception and reflexes 140Glossary 142Appendix I Comparison of the properties of skeletal, cardiac and smooth muscle 144Appendix II Normal physiological values 145Index 148