Physiology is the study of the normal functions of the body—the study of the body’s molecules, cells, and organ systems and the interrelationships among them. Because the study of medicine is the study of the abnormal functions of the body, it is essential to understand normal physiology if one is to understand the mechanisms of disease. For this reason, physiology and other important sciences basic to medicine are introduced frst in the veterinary curriculum.
Physiology is a vast subject, and veterinary students are too busy to learn all that is known about it. Berefore, an effort was made to limit the concepts presented in this book to those germane to the practice of veterinary medicine. Because the scope of physiology encompasses many scientifc disciplines and levels of analysis, the authors not only represent the feld of physiology, but others such as neuroscience, cell biology, and molecular biology. Some of the authors are also veterinarians, but all have consulted with veterinary clinicians regarding content. Sections on the immune system and cancer underscore the intimate relationship between the understanding of cell and molecular biology, physiological function, and veterinary medicine.
This book is designed for frst-year veterinary students. The goal is to introduce the student to the
principles and concepts of physiology that are pertinent to the practice of veterinary medicine. Other goals are to introduce the reader to physiopathology and clinical problem-solving techniques and to help the reader understand the relationship between physiology and the practice of veterinary medicine.
Tis book is designed to be as student friendly as possible. New concepts in the text are introduced by a declarative statement designed to summarize the essential point. Tis format also helps the reader survey the chapter or review for an examination. Tese declarative statements are also listed at the beginning of the chapter as an outline of Key Points.Chapters include one or more Clinical Correlations at the end. Tese are designed to show the reader how knowledge of physiology is applied to the diagnosis and treatment of veterinary patients. Tey also provide the student with an additional way to think through the principles and concepts presented, and they can serve as a basis for classroom case discussions.
Several Practice Questions are included in each chapter as another method for students to review the book’s content. The brief Bibliography for each chapter is designed to lead the reader to more advanced textbooks, as veterinary students are ofen too busy to read original literature. However, for those who may find the time, some original literature references are also included in several chapters.
Accompanying resources for the text can be found on Elsevier’s Evolve website. Tese include additional Practice Questions and Clinical Correlations, as well as relevant animations from Elsevier’s existing collection. Instructors will appreciate the items in the illustration bank, which can be downloaded
into PowerPoint format. A nascent Glossary has been added to the site that will continue to grow in subsequent editions. The terms included represent a subset of the italicized words in the printed text.
In addition to insuring that the information in this latest edition is accurate and up-to-date, some notable improvements include an expansion of the number of fgures and in-text Clinical Correlations; reorganization of the introductory chapter of the Gastrointestinal Physiology and Metabolism portion; addition of sections on micturition, visceral afference, and hyperaldosteronism (Conn’s Syndrome); expanded information on electrocardiogram and heart sounds, renal system transporters, feline hyperthyroidism, gut peptides, and rumen motility and digesta flow. Te expertise of two authors, Drs. Ayman I. Sayegh and Juan E. Romano, has been respectively added to existing expertise in the areas of gastrointestinal physiology and male reproductive physiology. Suggestions of ways to improve this text
in subsequent editions are always welcome.
Particular thanks are due to the book’s medical illustrator, Mr. George Barile, who drew the new illustrations for this edition and to Ms. Jeanne Robertson who revised much of the existing artwork. Tanks are also in order for the folks at Elsevier who were instrumental in producing the ffh edition, among them Kate Dobson, Carol O’Connell, Heidi Pohlman, Penny Rudolph, Shelly Stringer, and particularly Brandi Graham who always kept a cool head and pleasant demeanor while dealing with innumerable crises and complexities. Drs. Virginia BuechnerMaxwell, Ian Herring, William Huckle, and Bonnie Smith unselfishly provided their valuable opinions on various aspects of the book that resulted in its improvement. Furthermore, this book would not exist without the invaluable expertise of the section authors/editors who worked so hard to make this the best veterinary physiology text possible. A great debt is due to
Dr. Jim Cunningham, whose vision, guidance, and expertise made the Textbook of Veterinary Physiology a reality and a success.
The instructional style he instituted continues in this edition, and will continue in future editions of the text. And last, thanks are due to the many veterinary students whose constructive suggestions for improvements have led to the current edition of the book.
Brad Klein