Seeley et al/Anatomy and Physiology

Preface

Human anatomy and physiology courses present tremendous challenges to both students and teachers. Acquisition of basic anatomical and physiological facts is essential to the study of anatomy and physiology, but it is also important for students to develop the ability to solve practical, real-life problems related to the knowledge they have acquired. It is impossible to memorize all of the body's responses to all possible situations. Students who have accumulated background knowledge and who are prepared to reason effectively can accurately anticipate responses to new situations and are better prepared to be effective citizens and health care professionals. In addition, it is not possible for students to learn all of the details of anatomy and physiology that are known. Selecting the most important information to provide a solid understanding of anatomy and physiology and to prepare students to solve problems effectively are major challenges for teachers and for authors.

We have written each edition of Anatomy & Physiology with the same major intention: to help students learn basic anatomy and physiology. We chose to present the major concepts that provide a current understanding of the subject. We presented the information in a readable form that seeks to explain rather than dictate so that concepts may be truly understood rather than simply memorized. When teaching beginning students, it is important not to obscure the "big picture" with an overwhelming deluge of detail. It is also important to provide enough pieces of information to allow the students to solve basic problems. It is our goal to present basic content at an appropriate level and in a way that supports the development of problem-solving skills that emphasize the practical application of concepts in anatomy and physiology to real-life situations.

Anatomy & Physiology is unique in its approach to the development of problem-solving skills. The fifth edition provides the teacher with a great deal of flexibility and assistance. It can be used very successfully to focus content and learning of the vocabulary of anatomy and physiology. The fifth edition can also provide an introduction to problem-solving techniques that can be emphasized to a greater extent as students progress through the course. It can also be used for courses that emphasize problem-solving and application of concepts to clinical situations.

Themes

We have chosen to emphasize the following two major themes throughout this text: the relationship between structure and function and homeostasis.

Just as the structure of a hammer makes it well-suited for the function of pounding nails, the structures of specific cells, tissues, and organs within the body allow them to perform specific functions effectively. For example, muscle cells contain proteins that make contraction possible, and bone cells surround themselves with a mineralized matrix that provides strength and support. Knowledge of structure and function relationships makes it easier to understand anatomy and physiology and greatly enhances one's appreciation for the subject.

Homeostasis, the maintenance of an internal environment within an acceptably narrow range of values, is necessary for the survival of the human body. The emphasis in this book is on how mechanisms operate to maintain homeostasis. Because failure of these mechanisms also illustrates how they work, pathological conditions that result in dysfunction, disease, and possibly death are also presented. Changes in response to increased physical exercise or aging also illustrate how these mechanisms work. Consideration of pathology, exercise, and aging adds relevance and interest, makes the material more meaningful, and enhances the background of the people who plan to pursue areas related to health. The two themes—the relationship between structure and function and homeostasis—combined with the book's strong problem-solving orientation and numerous clinical and other related examples, make this text unique among anatomy and physiology texts.

General Features

The following general features are combined to distinguish Anatomy & Physiology from other texts:

1. Essential Study Partner. The Essential Study Partner CD-ROM is an interactive student study tool packed with hundreds of animations and learning activities. From quizzes to interactive diagrams, students will find that there has never been a more exciting way to study anatomy and physiology. A self-quizzing feature allows students to check their knowledge of a topic before moving on to a new module. Additional unit exams give students the opportunity to review coverage for a more complete understanding. This CD-ROM tutorial supports and enhances the material presented in Anatomy & Physiology, 5th edition and is packaged free when students purchase a new textbook. In addition to the study activities and quizzes, a film icon is placed in the text beside topics and concepts that are animated on the CD-ROM. These animations will ease students into a better understanding of the most difficult topics.

Online Learning Center http://www.mhhe.com/biosci/ap/seeleyap/

When you use Anatomy & Physiology, 5th edition, you are getting much more than a textbook. A multitude of learning opportunities are at your fingertips on our password protected web site. You'll gain access to our Online Learning Center where you'll find quizzes, links, case studies, clinical applications, and a world of ways of explore anatomy and physiology.

The Online Learning Center features both Student Resources and Instructor Resources. For students who want an edge in their course, they'll have immediate access to additional study questions, problem-solving exercises, applications, and much more-all in one place. The Online Learning Center gives students the password to success. A free password to the Online Learning Center Student Resources is available with the purchase of a new textbook.

Instructors will gain access to lecture outlines, illustrations from the textbook, templates to help build a web site course, suggested classroom activities, and a host of ways to enhance their anatomy and physiology course.

3. Systematic Presentation. The systematic presentation of content is designed to be consistent with the problem-solving approach of the text. Explanations are based on a conceptual framework that allows students to tie together individual pieces of information. Simple facts are presented first, and explanations are developed in a logical sequence. Special care has been taken to provide explanations that are thorough enough to support the problem-solving emphasis of the book, but without making the explanations ponderous.

4. Balanced Coverage. We offer balanced coverage of anatomy and physiology. Some texts emphasize anatomy at the expense of physiology coverage. As a result, when health professionals return to school for further training, it is invariably because they need a better understanding of physiology. Other texts do not adequately integrate anatomy with physiology and fail to help students understand how structures carry out functions. This text provides a solid foundation in anatomy as well as thorough coverage of physiology. Two chapters in this text are particularly illustrative of the emphasis we put on providing adequate coverage of physiology. These are Chapter 9, "Receptor Responses and Membrane Potentials," and Chapter 17, "Functional Organization of the Endocrine System." These chapters present current information that makes it easier to understand the relationships between the molecular structure of membranes and the functions of organ systems.

5. Problem-Solving Examples. Problem-solving is encouraged by the addition of relevant contextual examples related to both anatomy and physiology. Clinical information should not be an end in itself. In some texts, mere clinical descriptions or medical terminology represent a significant portion of the material. Some texts also provide lists of pathologies with brief explanations. This text provides clinical examples to promote interest and demonstrate relevance, but clinical information is used primarily to illustrate the application of basic knowledge. The ability to apply information is a skill that will always be an asset for students, even after knowledge learned today is no longer current. We encourage students using Anatomy & Physiology to apply the knowledge they have gained through problem-solving to their professional and private lives.

6. Problem-Solving Questions. We present systematic inclusion of questions that require the solution of practical problems. At best, some anatomy and physiology texts include a few "thought" questions that, for the most part, involve a restatement or a summary of content. Yet once students understand the material well enough to state it in their own words, it only seems logical for them to proceed to the next step-that is, to apply the knowledge to hypothetical situations. This text features two sets of problem-solving questions in every chapter: Predict questions and Develop Your Reasoning Skills questions. These questions provide students with an opportunity and challenge because we believe that practice in solving problems greatly enhances problem-solving skills.

This text helps to develop problem-solving skills in several ways. First, all the information necessary to solve a problem is presented at a level that is sufficiently simple to avoid unnecessary confusion. Second, the opportunity to practice problem-solving is made available through Predict questions embedded within the chapter material and the Develop Your Reasoning Skills questions found at the end of each chapter. Third, answers and explanations for the Predict questions are included at the end of the book in Appendix F. Explanations for Develop Your Reasoning Skills questions are presented in the Instructor's Manual. The explanations illustrate the methods used to solve problems and provide a model for the development of problem-solving skills. When students are exposed to the reasoning used to correctly solve a problem, they are more likely to be able to successfully apply that reasoning to future problems. The acquisition of problem-solving skills is necessary for a complete understanding of anatomy and physiology. It is fun, and it makes it possible for the student to deal with the many problems that occur as part of professional and everyday life.

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