Physiology of Respiration / Edition 2

by Michael P. Hlastala, Albert J. Berger

Overview

This concise, lucid textbook provides a basis for understanding the function of the respiratory system and a framework for the treatment of many respiratory diseases. It was developed as a working text with problem-solving exercises for the student's use in reviewing each chapter. The writing style flows easily from one topic to another. Mathematical relationships are presented in a simple way and are clearly explained. The illustrations are carefully designed to convey ideas in an easy-to-understand format. The book's scope is comprehensive, encompassing all aspects of respiratory physiology, including pulmonary anatomy and microstructure, mechanics, gas exchange, acid-base balance and control mechanisms. Unlike many texts, this one strikes a good balance between the principles of pulmonary gas exchange (ventilation, perfusion, gas exchange efficiency) and the neural control of respiration (central and chemical mechanisms and reflexes). It emphasizes integrative aspects of respiration such as the system's response to altitude, hyperbaric environments, exercise, sleep, and the in utero and early postnatal period. The second edition has been reorganized to make the book more approachable by students, and it has been updated throughout, including many new ideas about the distribution of lung blood blow and respiratory rhythm generation.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780195138474
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Publication date:	03/08/2001
Edition description:	REV
Pages:	288
Product dimensions:	9.22(w) x 6.18(h) x 0.61(d)

About the Author

Hlastala, Michael P., PhD; Berger, Albert J., PhD

Table of Contents

1. Overview and Physical Principles2. Functional Pulmonary Anatomy3. Mechanics of Ventilation4. Ventilation5. Pulmonary Circulation6. Blood Gas Transport and Tissue Gas Exchange7. Pulmonary Gas Exchange8. Central Mechanisms of Respiratory Control9. Chemical Control of Breathing10. Airway and Lung Receptors, Reflexes and Autonomic Regulation11. Respiratory Physiology with Altered Atmospheric Pressure12. Respiratory Physiology During Special States13. Acid-Base Regulation14. Comparative Respiratory

Editorial Reviews

Reviewer: Robert W. Teel, PhD (Loma Linda University)
Description: This book is a thorough treatment of pulmonary physiology. The chapter organization is appropriate and facilitates understanding of the subject. There are study questions at the end of each chapter with answers near the end of the book. The appendix provides information on symbols used in the book and normal values for various parameters associated with respiratory function.
Purpose: This book is an authoritative an excellent source of information for anyone who wishes to learn about pulmonary function as it relates to graduate studies in physiology or to pulmonary care of patients.
Audience: The author states that the book is for students in the healthcare professions and graduate students, but I believe the depth and scope of the book make it most appropriate for graduate students in pulmonary physiology and for residents and physicians in pulmonary care. There are simpler and more appealing texts available on the subject for the other audiences. The authors are experienced and knowledgeable in the field and are credible authorities.
Features: In addition to covering the basic elements of pulmonary function such as ventilation, gas transport, and regulation and control of lung function, the book covers respiration under adverse conditions and includes a chapter on comparative respiration. This last chapter would be of interest to a graduate student in physiology but not particularly relevant to students in healthcare fields. There are lots of equations that might be useful to some but many are not essential to grasping a basic understanding of pulmonary function. The illustrations are appropriate in number and most are simple enough to enhance learning of concepts.
Assessment: Judging from the authors' comments in the preface, the revised text is necessary, particularly since it includes recent advances in the field. The question is for what audience is the text designed, for if it is for students in healthcare professions, then for the most part, I feel that it is beyond this group and I could not recommend it, especially since there are other books that are easier to read. For this group, I would more likely recommend a book like Respiratory Physiology: The Essentials, 6th edition (Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2000) by West, who has distilled the important concepts of pulmonary function into a readable and appealing text. However, there is a market for this book among those who need in-depth coverage of pulmonary physiology, but it is a bit much for the majority of students in healthcare fields, even medicine.

Doody's Review Service

4 Stars! from Doody

This book is written by two highly qualified physiologists with different but complementary areas of expertise. The book covers classical subjects of respiratory physiology: pulmonary mechanics, gas exchange, transport and diffusion, acid-base balance, and control of respiration. There are sections on nonrespiratory functions of the lung, respiration in special conditions, and comparative physiology of respiration. "The purpose is to provide the students with the modern concepts necessary to understand respiratory physiology, and to make this a learning tool rather than a compendium of research findings. "The target audience is medical, dental, and nursing students; graduate students; and physicians interested in basic mechanisms of respiratory physiology. "The illustrations are of good quality, adequate in number, clear, and of good educational value. The references are up-to-date and mostly consist of reviews, monographs, and book chapters; this is adequate for this type of book. There is a list of study questions in each chapter with answers at the end of the book. "The book comes into a crowded field, but it has some good features that distinguish it from most of its competitors. It is highly readable and up-to-date, with a good balance of subject coverage. It has an excellent description of basic principles; some areas that are covered succinctly in other texts are well developed here: respiration in hypobaria and hyperbaria, in the fetus and neonate, during exercise and during sleep. A chapter on comparative physiology and a detailed discussion of tissue gas exchange are fairly unique features. The level of complexity and depth is adequate for medical and graduate students;however, it is too high for general nursing and most allied health students. On balance, this is a very good book.

Norberto C. Gonzalez

"This small educational book 'written with the student in mind' provides a state-of-the-art knowledge in the broad subject of respiratory physiology. In summary, this book is highly didactic. It is to be recommended not only to pre- and postgraduate medical students, but also to clinicians involved in respiratory and critical care medicine." — European Respiratory Journal

"an excellent reference for the student in respiratory therapy and other allied health disciplines. I would also recommend it as a review tool for the experienced practitioner." — Canadian Journal of Respiratory Therapy

From the Publisher