Variations in Human Physiology

H. Bruce Bosmann

This is the second edition of a book that focuses on nonstandard conditions of physiologic functions. Nonstandard conditions are defined by the authors as conditions that differ from those of a young, 70-kg male. Chapter-by-chapter, the book introduces the following nonstandard conditions: the pregnant woman; the fetus and the neonate; puberty; the menopause; old age; altered temperature; life at altitude; life underwater; acceleration forces; altered time; exercise and injury. "The purpose is to fill the gap between standard physiology texts and texts that deal exclusively with the nonstandard conditions themselves. "The book is aimed at individuals who have taken (or are taking) a basic graduate-level physiology course. The book would be useful to anyone wanting an introduction to physiology under the various nonstandard conditions. "The book is well organized and has some basic data in the form of graphs and tables. However, because this is an introductory-level text, the amount of original data and research results presented are limited. The references could be much more extensive because the book at best is only a beginning point for those wishing more information on physiologic functions under differing conditions. "This is a very useful book for readers who want an introduction to nonstandard physiology in a concise, easily read form. Certainly this material is present to some degree in most physiology texts and is present in great detail in books dealing with the various conditions themselves. This book, however, puts many of the physiologic actions under nonstandard conditions together in one place, and it allows the reader to follow up with more comprehensive and morespecialized texts.

From The Critics

Reviewer: H. Bruce Bosmann, PhD (University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine)
Description: This is the second edition of a book that focuses on nonstandard conditions of physiologic functions. Nonstandard conditions are defined by the authors as conditions that differ from those of a young, 70-kg male. Chapter-by-chapter, the book introduces the following nonstandard conditions: the pregnant woman; the fetus and the neonate; puberty; the menopause; old age; altered temperature; life at altitude; life underwater; acceleration forces; altered time; exercise and injury.
Purpose: The purpose is to fill the gap between standard physiology texts and texts that deal exclusively with the nonstandard conditions themselves.
Audience: The book is aimed at individuals who have taken (or are taking) a basic graduate-level physiology course. The book would be useful to anyone wanting an introduction to physiology under the various nonstandard conditions.
Features: The book is well organized and has some basic data in the form of graphs and tables. However, because this is an introductory-level text, the amount of original data and research results presented are limited. The references could be much more extensive because the book at best is only a beginning point for those wishing more information on physiologic functions under differing conditions.
Assessment: This is a very useful book for readers who want an introduction to nonstandard physiology in a concise, easily read form. Certainly this material is present to some degree in most physiology texts and is present in great detail in books dealing withthe various conditions themselves. This book, however, puts many of the physiologic actions under nonstandard conditions together in one place, and it allows the reader to follow up with more comprehensive and more specialized texts.

3 Stars from Doody