Physiology by Numbers: An Encouragement to Quantitative Thinking - Hardcover

Burton, Richard F.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0521772001 ISBN 13: 9780521772006

Publisher: Cambridge University Press, 2000

Synopsis

Thinking quantitatively about physiology is difficult for many students. However, it is fundamentally important for students to gain a proper understanding of many of the concepts involved. In this enlarged second edition of his popular textbook, Richard Burton gives the reader an opportunity to develop a feel for values such as ion concentrations, lung and fluid volumes, and blood pressures through the use of calculations requiring little more than simple arithmetic. The book provides guidance on how to avoid errors and the usefulness of approximation and "back-of-envelope sums." The topics discussed here include energy metabolism, nerve and muscle, blood and the cardiovascular system, respiration, renal function, body fluids, and acid-base balance. This book is essential reading for physiology students (and teachers) everywhere, both those who are shy or adept with numbers.

About this title

Book Description

Physiology is a subject full of values: ion concentrations, cardiac output, blood pressures, lung volumes etc. In order to understand physiological concepts properly the student (and teacher) needs to think quantitatively. This book encourages the reader to do just that--through the presentation of calculations which require only simple arithmetic to resolve and a lively, accessible writing style and presentation. Error avoidance and the usefulness of 'back-of-envelope' calculation are emphasised. This book will be welcomed by number-shy (and not-so-shy) biologists everywhere.

About the Author

Richard Francis Burton was an explorer, translator, writer, soldier, spy, fencer, and diplomat. He is most famous for his translations of One Thousand and One Nights and the Kama Sutra and for having been the first European to visit the Great Lakes of Africa. He traveled to Mecca in disguise and spoke nearly thirty languages. He died in 1890.

Edition details

• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Publication date: 2000
• ISBN 10: 0521772001
• ISBN 13: 9780521772006
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Edition number: 2
• Number of pages: 254