Respiratory Physiology : The Essentials

Kevin McCarthy

This sixth edition of Dr. West's classic primer on respiratory physiology once again provides the reader with a concise description of the major features of respiratory physiology in an easy to read and understand format. The book was originally designed 25 years ago as an introductory textbook to accompany lectures on this topic for medical students and allied health students. In this function, the book is unsurpassed in simplicity of approach and integration of the essential concepts in respiratory physiology. Medical residents and fellows will gratefully find this a quick read and an excellent way to review this important topic for board exams. The author has fine-tuned this material based on his thirty years of experience lecturing on respiratory physiology to medical students. The illustrations have been redrawn from earlier editions, most being presented as simple line drawings with the important features of each figure highlighted in red -- perfect for presenting the material for the first time or as a quick review. This book stands alone among texts of pulmonary physiology. The stated goals of providing a means to quickly develop a working knowledge of pulmonary physiology while sparing the reader the daunting equations that riddle most texts on this topic are met.

Booknews

An introductory text for medical students and allied health students, and a review for residents and fellows preparing for licensing, covering ventilation, diffusion, blood flow and metabolism, ventilation-perfusion relationships, the mechanics of breathing, and tests of pulmonary function. This fifth edition includes material on exercise, gas exchange in peripheral tissues, and nonrespiratory functions of the lung. Includes self-tests and numerous b&w diagrams. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

From The Critics

Reviewer: Steven K. Hamick, BIS, RCP, RRT, AE-C(William Beaumont Hospitals)
Description: In its eighth edition, this book continues the classic tradition of its predecessors as a highly informative yet concise primer and remains true to its roots of its original 1977 publication.
Purpose: This is meant to be an introductory book for respiratory physiology and for board exam reviews. Given the continual advances in medicine, revisions are occasionally needed and the author has met his objectives of providing an updated yet concise and lean introductory book.
Audience: It is intended as an introduction for medical and allied health students, and it serves well as a review for residents and fellows in pulmonary medicine, anesthesiology, and internal medicine. It should also be noted that this is one of the primary references used by the Michigan Society of Respiratory Care for its annual statewide respiratory care quiz bowl competition.
Features: Often referred to as the "gold standard" by many educators, the book consists of 10 chapters beginning with structure and function. With the architecture of the lung firmly in place, the book then progressively builds on respiratory physiology topics such as ventilation, perfusion, gas transport, blood flow and metabolism, etc. The final chapter covers tests of pulmonary function. Each chapter begins with a list of objectives and a paragraph overview. Nearly every page contains at least one descriptive simple line drawing or table to reinforce the material. The chapters end with a key concepts review and questions in USMLE format. Answers appear in one of two the appendixes; the other appendix contains symbols, units, and equations.
Assessment: This eighth edition continues the gold standard tradition of its predecessors. It is well written and well laid out. Dr. West takes the complex topic of respiratory physiology, breaks it down into its individual components, and writes the specifics in a very simple, easy to understand language. This is a must-have book not only for medical and respiratory care students but for university, college, and hospital libraries.

4 Stars! from Doody