Changes to the Fifth Edition

The fifth edition of Essentials of Anatomy and Physiology is the result of extensive analysis of the text and evaluation of input from anatomy and physiology instructors who have thoroughly reviewed chapters. We have used the constructive comments provided by these professionals in our continuing efforts to enhance the strengths of the text.

Visualizing the Relationships Between Structures and Functions

The artwork in the fifth edition has seen a major transformation. The following changes have been made to enhance the effectiveness of the illustrations in the text.

• We have modified nearly every figure in the text to reflect a more contemporary style and to make the colors and styles of structures in multiple figures consistent with one another throughout the book. The emphasis has been to make a given structure such as the cell membrane, cartilage, or an organ the same color, shape and style throughout the text. The resulting continuity between figures makes each structure readily identifiable so students can focus on understanding the concept the artwork intends to convey rather than having to first analyze and interpret the artwork.
• Continuing our increasing emphasis on coordinating the text and illustrations, many new Process Figures have been developed to provide well-organized, self-contained visual explanations of how physiological mechanisms work. These figures help students learn physiological processes by combining illustrations with parallel descriptions of the principal phases of each process.
• Homeostasis Figures have been redesigned and condensed to make it easier for students to trace the regulatory mechanisms involved in maintaining homeostasis. These simplified flow charts succinctly map out key homeostatic events, giving students a quick summary of complex mechanisms.

Organizing Information in a Logical Sequence of Topics

With input from instructors who teach anatomy and physiology, this edition has undergone the following carefully implemented organizational changes.

• Coverage of the nervous system (chapter 8) has been reorganized. The reorganization aims to provide basic knowledge of nervous system structure and function, and then build on that foundation by incorporating thorough explanations of how the parts of the nervous system work together. The new sequence of topics presents the basic organizational and functional characteristics of the nervous system, the structure and function of the spinal cord and spinal nerves, the structure and function of the brain and cranial nerves, and integrative functions of the nervous system in response to sensory input and the generation of motor responses. Presentation of the special senses and the autonomic nervous system follow in chapter 9.
• Coverage of the digestive system (chapter 16) has been reorganized. The reorganization aims to provide anatomical knowledge of a major segment of the digestive system followed by presentation of the functional characteristics of that segment. This emphasis on structure followed by function brings functional and structural characteristics of each segment of the digestive system together, rather than a description of the structure of the entire digestive system followed by a description of the function of each section of the digestive system.
• A new illustration in chapter 14, figure 14.7, provides an overview of the parts of the lymphatic system and their relationship to one another. Also, the addition of figure 14.15 and corresponding text balances the coverage of B and T cell activation by antigens and helper T cells.
• Wherever possible, we have improved the clarity of chapters by reorganizing concepts so they flow more readily and so illustrations support the concepts developed in the text.