The Organization of the Text

This edition of Understanding Human Anatomy and Physiology has a renewed emphasis on homeostasis. A significant portion of chapter 1 is devoted to explaining the concept of homeostasis and outlining the role the systems of the body play in to maintaining homeostasis. The Working Together illustrations that appear throughout the text describe how each organ system works with other systems to achieve homeostasis.

Part I: Human Organization
Chapter 1 explains the organization of the human body and the terms used to describe the location of body parts. It introduces the various organ systems and the concept of homeostasis, an equilibrium that is maintained by these systems.

Chapters 2 through 4 describe the chemistry of cell, cell structure and function, body tissues and membranes. Chapter 5 reviews the structure, functions, and disorders of the skin. This chapter has a Working Together illustration.

Part II: Support and Movement
The two chapters in this section concern the skeletal system and the muscular system, which support and protect the body and allow its parts to move. Both chapters have a Working Together illustration.

Chapter 6 considers the functions of the skeletal system before taking up the axial skeleton, the appendicular skeleton and the joints. Lists, tables, and oversize illustrations facilitate student learning. Chapter 7 considers the functions of the muscular system and the contraction of muscle fibers before reviewing the skeletal muscles of the body. The sliding filament theory is explained in an easy-to-understand manner.

Part III: Integration and Coordination
Separate chapters are devoted to the nervous system, the senses, and the endocrine system. The nervous and endocrine systems are vitally important to the coordination of body systems and therefore to homeostasis.

The first part of chapter 8 describes the structure and function of a neuron, a description of the central nervous system precedes that of the peripheral nervous system. In this chapter, illustrations coordinate closely with the discussion of brain structure and function. Chapter 9 is divided into general receptors (skin, visceral and proprioceptors); chemoreceptors (taste and smell); photoreceptors (those of the eye); mechanoreceptors (hearing and balance). The explanations of how we taste, smell, see and hear in this chapter are well presented. Chapter 10 considers the cellular mechanism of hormonal action before taking up the endocrine glands in turn. A table of the principal endocrine gland and their hormones is central to this chapter. Human hormonal disorders, such as diabetes mellitus, are emphasized.

Part IV: Maintenance of the Body
In this part chapter 11 reviews the composition of blood and functions of blood before taking up blood groups and typing. Chapter 12 first considers the anatomy of the heart before the vascular system and disorders of the circulatory system. Chapter 13 includes a description of the lymphatic system as well as a modern discussion of the defense mechanisms. In chapter 14, a description of the anatomy of the respiratory system precedes mechanisms of breathing and gas exchange.Chapter 15 describes the organs of the digestive system, mechanical and chemical digestion, and nutrition. Chapter 16 reviews the organs of the urinary system before explaining urine formation and the regulatory functions of the kidneys. Working Together illustrations appear before each chapter summary except for chapter 11. The functions of blood are included in the Working Together illustration for the circulatory system.

Part V: Reproduction and Development
This part includes chapters on the reproductive system, human development and genetics.