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This volume is a much revised and updated edition of the text these authors first published seven years ago. The book is subtitled A Pathophysiological Approach, and in fact, its uniqueness and value lie in the authors' adherence to this approach. The first half of the book is a review, in some detail, of normal pulmonary physiology. The diagrams and tables in this section are excellent. The chapters vary somewhat in quality. The chapter on lung mechanics is very complete and is a good reference source for the physiology student. The chapters on lung defenses and respiratory control are considerably more sketchy but adequate for the beginning medical student.
The real forte of this book is the second section on pathophysiology. The chapters on lung function testing are among the finest I have read on the subject. The explanations are excellent and the practical approach allows for a reasoned evaluation