Reference Reviews

Lawrence Looks at Books

Anatomy and Physiology: an illustrated guide. 192p. New York: Marshall Cavendish, 2010. 978-0-7614-7881-2; 2009-2177. $69.95.

This guide to comparative biology consists of ten lavishly illustrated essays on the anatomy and physiology of living things. An initial chapter reviews the structure and functions of cells, genes and genetic inheritance. Separate chapters address major body systems, including the circulatory, digestive, endocrine, immune, muscular, nervous, reproductive, respiratory and skeletal systems. The text examines the separate parts and functions of each system. The focus is not simply upon human body systems, but on the variety of approaches different species have developed to achieve the same function. While the emphasis is upon animal species, related examples from plants are frequently employed. Thus, discussions of circulatory systems illustrate the similarities and differences of hearts and blood flow in fish, amphibians, reptiles and birds. The study of reproductive systems examines blood flukes, dandelions, water fleas, frogs, ferns, humans, dragonflies, kangaroos, sharks, chameleons, pines and apple trees. The chapter on skeletal systems explores support structures in vertebrates, invertebrates and vascular plants. The approach allows students to look beyond mammalian structures to other successful solutions to the basic processes of life. Most material in this volume was extracted from the multivolume Animal and Plant Anatomy (Marshall Cavendish, 2006). Libraries owning that set are not likely to need this volume. Others will find a well-illustrated, informative guide for interested high school students.