Table of Contents

I. Introduction to Physiology: The Cell and General Physiology

1. Functional Organization of the Human Body and Control of the "Internal Environment"

2. The Cell and Its Functions

3. Genetic Control of Protein Synthesis, cell function, and cell reproduction

II. Membrane Physiology, Nerve, and Muscle

4. Transport of Substances Through Cell Membranes

5. Membrane Potentials and Action Potentials

6. Contraction of Skeletal Muscle

7. Excitation of Skeletal Muscle: Neuromuscular Transmission and Excitation-Contraction Coupling

8. Excitation and Contraction of Smooth Muscle

III. The Heart

9. Cardiac Muscle; The Heart as a Pump and Function of the Heart Valves

10. Rhythmical Excitation of the Heart

11. The Normal Electrocardiogram

12. Electrocardiographic Interpretation of Cardiac Muscle and Coronary Blood Flow Abnormalities: Vectorial Analysis

13.Cardiac Arrhythmias and Their Electrocardiographic Interpretation

IV. The Circulation

14. Overview of the Circulation; Biophysics of Pressure, Flow, and Resistance

15. Vascular Distensibility and Functions of the Arterial and Venous Systems

16. The Microcirculation and Lymphatic System: Capillary Fluid Exchange, Interstitial Fluid, and Lymph Flow

17. Local and Humoral Control of Tissue Blood Flow

18. Nervous Regulation of the Circulation and Rapid Control of Arterial Pressure

19. Role of the Kidneys in Long-Term Control of Arterial Pressure and in Hypertension: The Integrated System for Aterial Pressure Regulation

20. Cardiac Output, Venous Return, and Their Regulation

21. Muscle Blood Flow and Cardiac Output During Exercise; the Coronary Circulation and Ischemic Heart Disease

22. Cardiac Failure

23. Heart Valves and Heart Sounds; Valvular and Congenital Heart Defects

24. Circulatory Shock and Its Treatment

V. The Body Fluids and Kidneys

25. The Body Fluid Compartments: Extracellular and Intracellular Fluids; Edema

26. The Urinary System: Functional Anatomy and Urine Formation by the Kidneys

27. Glomerular Filtration, Renal Blood Flow, and Their Control

28. Renal Tubular Reabsorption and Secretion

29. Urine Concentration and Dilution; Regulation of Extracellular Fluid Osmolarity and Sodium Concentration

30. Renal Regulation of Potassium, Calcium, Phosphate, and Magnesium; Integration of Renal Mechanisms for Control of Blood Volume and Extracellular Fluid Volume

31. Acid-Base Regulation

32. Diuretics, Kidney Diseases

VI. Blood Cells, Immunity, and Blood Coagulation

33. Red Blood Cells, Anemia, and Polycythemia

34. Resistance of the Body to Infection: I. Leukocytes, Granulocytes, the Monocyte-Macrophage System, and Inflammation

35. Resistance of the Body to Infection: II. Immunity and Allergy

36. Blood Types; Transfusion; Tissue and Organ Transplantation

37. Hemostasis and Blood Coagulation

VII. Respiration

38. Pulmonary Ventilation

39. Pulmonary Circulation, Pulmonary Edema, Pleural Fluid

40. Principles of Gas Exchange; Diffusion of Oxygen and Carbon Dioxide Through the Respiratory Membrane

41. Transport of Oxygen and Carbon Dioxide in Blood and Tissue Fluids

42. Regulation of Respiration

43. Respiratory Insufficiency - Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, Oxygen Therapy

VIII. Aviation, Space, and Deep-Sea Diving Physiology

44. Aviation, High Altitude, and Space Physiology

45. Physiology of Deep-Sea Diving and Other Hyperbaric Conditions

IV. The Nervous System: A. General Principles and Sensory Physiology

46. Organization of the Nervous System, Basic Functions of Synapses, and Neurotransmitters

47. Sensory Receptors, Neuronal Circuits for Processing Information

48. Somatic Sensations: I. General Organization, the Tactile and Position Senses

49. Somatic sensations: II. Pain, Headache, and Thermal Sensations

X. The Nervous System: B. The Special Senses

50. The Eye: I. Optics of Vision

51. The Eye: II. Receptor and Neural Function of the Retina

52. The Eye: III. Central Neurophysiology of Vision

53. The Sense of Hearing

54. The Chemical Senses - Taste and Smell

XI. The Nervous System: C. Motor and Integrative Neurophysiology

55. Motor Functions of the Spinal Cord; the Cord Reflexes

56. Cortical and Brain Stem Control of Motor Function

57. Contributions of the Cerebellum and Basal Ganglia to Overall Motor Control

58. Cerebral Cortex, Intellectual Functions of the Brain, Learning, and Memory

59. Behavioral and Motivational Mechanisms of the Brain - The Limbic System and the Hypothalamus

60. States of Brain Activity - Sleep, Brain Waves, Epilepsy, Psychoses, and Dementia

61. The Autonomic Nervous System and the Adrenal Medulla

62. Cerebral Blood Flow, Cerebrospinal Fluid, and Brain Metabolism

XII. Gastrointestinal Physiology

63. General Principles of Gastrointestinal Function - Motility, Nervous Control, and Blood Circulation

64. Propulsion and Mixing of Food in the Alimentary Tract

65. Secretory Functions of the Alimentary Tract

66. Digestion and Absorption in the Gastrointestinal Tract

67. Physiology of Gastrointestinal Disorders

XIII. Metabolism and Temperature Regulation

68. Metabolism of Carbohydrates and Formation of Adenosine Triphosphate

69. Lipid Metabolism

70. Protein Metabolism

71. The Liver as an Organ 

72. Dietary Balances; Regulation of Feeding; Obesity and Starvation; Vitamins and Minerals

73. Energetics and Metabolic Rate

74. Body Temperature Regulation and Fever

XIV. Endocrinology and Reproduction

75. Introduction to Endocrinology

76. Pituitary Hormones and Their Control by the Hypothalamus

77. Thyroid Metabolic Hormones

78. Adenocortical Hormones

79. Insulin, Glucagon, and Diabetes Mellitus

80. Parathyroid Hormone, Calcitonin, Calcium and Phosphate Metabolism, Vitamin D, Bone, and Teeth

81. Reproductive and Hormonal Functions of the Male (and Function of the Pineal Gland)

82. Female Physiology Before Pregnancy and Female Hormones

83. Pregnancy and Lactation

84. Fetal and Neonatal Physiology

XV. Sports Physiology

85. Sports Physiology

Reviews

"Although the pocket companion is designed to be used as a brief overview/review in this manner, it functions well on its own and can be useful to all biomedical students. Its special value is that the brief overviews cover the same breadth of topics that the main textbook does.This allows students to not only review the key points of more detailed processes they've already learned, but also quickly become informed about topics they've yet to study." Reviewed by David R. Bell, PhD (Indiana University School of Medicine-Fort Wayne) for Doody's Review Service

My medical physiology course is extremely intense and there is no time to read all of the assigned reading in the textbook. Thanks to this pocket version of the text I am able to review chapters in half the time. I also recommend the textbook which provides detail description of figures that may not be covered in the pocket companion.

Pretty good text and a must for serious advanced physiology students who are headed toward medical or advanced nursing/PA degrees. It helps to simplify and consolidate the immense amount of minute and detailed info stocked up in the big text.

I wish many other books with complex topics had a pocket companion comparable to this one. If the topic is important to your success, then having the pocket companion is indispensable. I see the pocket companion as the architect's view (high level design) of physiology and the first step to learning. Depending on interest and time, you can selectively drill down into the textbook to explain topics of greater importance to you. If a particular topic is not that important you can just read the companion. I have already swept through many chapters and when I hit a chapter I wanted to understand in more detail, such as sports physiology, I went off and read the entire textbook chapter. When other chapters have more detail then I need I stick with the companion. Count yourself lucky to have this pocket companion as a first "cut" to the knowledge in the textbook, it will help immensely during the absorption and after for the quick and convenient recall.

I have been using this book, along with the 'Big Daddy' version for preparation for my surgical primary exams. In summary, it's gold. No, it won't tell you everything that the big book does, and certainly not as much detail as thicker texts like Ganong, but I think that is the real benefit of it. ALL IT HAS IS THE BASIC FACTS, and that is all you need to grasp the concepts and therefore answer most questions. If you are looking for a high distinction on your exams, then take a month off work and read Ganong. If you have less than a week and are trying just to pass, then 'Baby Guyton' is gold. Five stars.