Vander's Human Physiology: The Mechanisms of Body Function [Hardcover]

Eric P. Widmaier (Author), Hershel Raff (Author), Kevin T. Strang (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0073122866 | ISBN-13: 978-0073122861 | Publication Date: January 25, 2005 | Edition: 10

The tenth edition of this classic text has been entrusted into the capable hands for the 2nd time to a dynamic author team. Eric Widmaier, Hershel Raff, and Kevin Strang have taken on the challenge of maintaining the strengths and reputation that have long been the hallmark of Human Physiology: The Mechanisms of Body Function. The fundamental purpose of this textbook has remained undeniably the same: to present the principles and facts of human physiology in a format that is suitable for undergraduates regardless of academic background or field of study. Human Physiology, tenth edition, carries on the tradition of clarity and accuracy, while refining and updating the content to meet the needs of today’s instructors and students. The tenth edition features a streamlined, clinically oriented focus to the study of human body systems.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Eric P. Widmaier received his Ph.D. in 1984 in Endocrinology from the University of California at San Francisco. His postdoctoral training was in endocrinology and physiology at the Worcester Foundation for Experimental Biology, and The Salk Institute in La Jolla, CA. He is currently Professor of Biology at Boston University.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 864 pages
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill Science/Engineering/Math; 10 edition (January 25, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0073122866
• ISBN-13: 978-0073122861
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.4 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #28,685 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent course, Excellent book, May 15, 2006

By 

K. S. Mader (West Linn, OR USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Vander's Human Physiology: The Mechanisms of Body Function (Hardcover)

I took Systems Physiology from Widmaier (the author of this book) and the course was phenomenal. The book served as an excellent reference and an exciting read. The only real downside to the book is there is so much interesting information that it is easy to get sidetracked when you are trying to study.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must have book, March 27, 2008

By 

MedIT - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Vander's Human Physiology: The Mechanisms of Body Function (Hardcover)

Between college and medical school I've had spent a lot of time with physiology books and this is a good one. If I want to pull one book of the shelf to look at some system or pathway this is the book I grab first. While the it is written in an accessible and engaging way the flow charts are its greatest strength. Vander's diagramming is the best out there. Often times a single figure will cover what other books need pages and pages to cover.

This book is great because it isn't trying to be all things to all readers. It is not an exhaustive reference text; instead, it is the sort that can be read cover to cover. I would describe Vander's as a great starting point for those who will go on in Physiology (MD/PhD) or look at physiology for those who are interested but do not aspire to mastery (the English major interested in science).
It sits somewhere between the crushing detail of books like Boron & Boulpaep and the "why it matters" approach of Costanzo.
For those who are looking to get their lifetime mastery of physiology from a single class experience Tortora & Derrickson might be a better bet.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars WAY BETTER THAN THE NEWEST EDITION, August 17, 2010

By 

V. Long (BIG ISLAND, HAWAII) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Vander's Human Physiology: The Mechanisms of Body Function (Hardcover)

I Read both this older edition, and Newest edition which is much more expensive and this older one here is way easier to understand. I understood it better in this older edition compared to the newer one. Everything is explained much better and in an easier way for students like me who hate studying. My mind wanders a lot when reading complicated subjects like this.

I couldnt tell you if there was a big difference it the two editions...but I can suggest that before spending $130 on the new edition, buy this older one and read it twice 2 months before your class begins so that when you do finally get the new edition, you would have 85% better chance than all your fellow classmates in understanding this subject. I was one of three people who passed this class with an A, and the other two students who got an A? Well, one was my lab partner who was failing until she got with me after my orginal lab partner dropped the class after 3 weeks, and the other student was a lady who was taking this course for the second time around because she got a D the last time she took it. She had a headstart.

I did this same thing with Anatomy class and passed with an A, ranking number 1 in class. I remember two students who had low C's in the Anatomy class asked me during finals week, what I was doing, and when I told them I read the text once before starting the class, and read it again when class started, they were actually suprised that we had to read the text! I was like "wow....really?" They said that they didnt read it, because the teacher never ordered us to, so they just went off the notes and lectures. I'd say 80% of the exams were from the books, and the rest from lectures. I studied both.