Includes bibliographical references and index.

Contents: Functional Organization of the Human Body and Control of the "Internal Environment" -- The Cell and its Functions --Genetic Control of Protein Synthesis, Cell Function, and Cell Reproduction -- Transport of Substances Through Cell Membranes -- Membrane Potentials and Action Potentials -- Contraction of Skeletal Muscle -- Excitation of Skeletal Muscle: Neuromuscular Transmission and Excitation-Contraction Coupling -- Excitation and Contraction of Smooth Muscle -- Cardiac Muscle; The Heart as a Pump and Function of the Heart Valves -- Rhythmical Excitation of the Heart -- The Normal Electrocardiogram -- Electrocardiographic Interpretation of Cardiac Muscle and Coronary Blood Flow Abnormalities: Vectorial Analysis -- Cardiac Arrhythmias and Their Electrocardiographic Interpretation -- Overview of the Circulation; Biophysics of Pressure, Flow, and Resistance -- The Microcirculation and Lymphatic System: Capillary Fluid Exchange, Interstitial Fluid, and Lymph Flow -- Local and Humoral Control of Tissue Blood Flow -- Nervous Regulation of the Circulation, and Rapid Control of Arterial Pressure -- Role of the Kidneys in Long-Term Control of Arterial Pressure and in Hypertension: The Integrated System for Arterial Pressure Regulation -- Muscle Blood Flow and Cardiac Output During Exercise; the Coronary Circulation and Ischemic Heart Disease -- Cardiac Failure -- Heart Valves and Heart Sounds; Valvular and Congenital Heart Defects -- Circulatory Shock and its Treatment -- Somatic Sensations: II. Pain, Headache, and Thermal Sensations -- The eye:i.optics of vision -- The eye:ii.receptor and neural function of the retina -- The eye:iii.central neurophysiology of vision -- The sense of hearing -- Motor functions of the spinal cord;the cord reflexes -- Cortical and brain stem control of motor function -- Contributions of the cerebellum and basal ganglia to overall motor control -- Cerebral cortex,intellectual functions of the brain,learning,and memory -- Behavioral and motivational mechanisms of the brain- the limbic system and the hypothalamus -- State of brain activity-sleep,brain waves epilepsy,psychoses -- The autonomic nervous system and the adrenal medulla -- Cerebral blood flow,cerebrospinal fluid,and brain metabolism -- General principle of gastrointestinal function-motility,nervous control,and blood circulation -- Propulsion and mixing of food in the alimentary tract -- Secretory function of the alimentary tract -- Digestion and absorption in the gastrointestinal tract -- Physiology of gastrointestinal disorders -- Metabolism of carbohydrates,and function of adenosine triphosphate -- Lipid metabolism -- Protein metabolism -- The liver as an organ -- Dietary balances;regulation of feeding;obesity and starvation;vitamins and minerals -- Energetic and metabolic rate -- Body temperature regulation,and fever -- Introduction to endocrinology -- Pituitary hormones and their control by the hypothalamus -- Thyroid metabolic hormones -- Adrenocortical hormones -- Insulin,glucagon,and diabetes mellitus -- Parathyroid hormone,calcitonin,calcium and phosphate metabolism,vitamin D,bone,and teeth -- Reproductive and hormonal functions of the male (and function of the pineal gland) -- Female physiology before pregnancy and female hormones -- Pregnancy and lactation -- Fetal and neonatal physiology -- Sports physiology