Preface:

It is important to emphasize that knowledge of an anatomic structure is essential to the understanding of the function of that structure. It therefore makes little sense to present students with physiologic details without first establishing a solid foundation in anatomy. Because most college-level anatomy courses spend only a limited amount of time on the cardiopulmonary system, respiratory care educators generally need to cover this subject themselves. With regard to a textbook, however, educators usually find the cardiopulmonary section of college-level anatomy and physiology texts too introductory in nature. On the other hand, textbooks concentrating solely on the respiratory system are too complex or esoteric. As a solution to this problem, the fifth edition of this book is designed to provide students of cardiopulmonary anatomy and physiology with accurate and complete information essential for respiratory care.

It is assumed that the student has no previous knowledge of respiratory anatomy or physiology. Great efforts have been made to present a comprehensive overview of the subject matter in an organized, interesting, and readable manner. The organization of this book is based on my experiences as an educator of respiratory anatomy and physiology since 1973 and the many things I have learned from my students. In response to these personal experiences and helpful suggestions, the following pedagogic approach is used in this book.