Understanding Pathophysiology

by Sue E. Huether, Kathryn L. McCance

Understanding Pathophysiology provides students with the basic concepts of pathophysiology and explains the processes of specific diseases in an easy-to-read, consistent format. The most current information on the mechanisms, manifestations, and treatments of disease are clearly and concisely presented. Accessible writing, numerous illustrations in full-color, and complete and separate treatment of pediatric pathophysiology are the hallmarks of this popular and respected text. The new third edition features extensively revised and updated content and an enhanced art program.

The book is divided into two parts. Part One presents the general principles of pathophysiology, including cell injury and repair; genetics; fluids and electrolytes, acids and bases; immunity, inflammation, and infection; stress; and cancer. Part Two is organized by body system, and for each system it covers normal anatomy and physiology, alterations of function in adults, and alterations of function in children.

• Complete but concise coverage provides a thorough discussion of general pathophysiology and specific disease processes.
• Outstanding full-color art program illustrates normal anatomy and physiology, disease processes, and clinical manifestations of disease.
• Pediatric content is presented in 9 separate chapters to provide thorough coverage of how disease processes specifically affect children.
• Health Alert boxes present brief discussions of new research, diagnostic studies, preventative care, treatments, or other developments related to health or specific diseases.
• Quick Check questions appear at the end of major sections of text and are designed to promote critical thinking. Suggested answers to the questions are found on the CD companion included with the text.
• Risk Factor boxes illustrate how certain risk factors are associated with specific diseases.
• Did You Understand? chapter summaries provide students with a comprehensive review of the major concepts presented in each chapter.
• Aging content is identified with a special icon within the adult chapters.
• Algorithms are used throughout the text to illustrate normal and compensatory physiology and pathophysiology.
• Key terms are boldface in text and listed with page numbers at the end of each chapter for easy reference and chapter review.

• Approximately 250 new full-color drawings have been added.
• An Introduction to Pathophysiology included in the front matter defines pathophysiology — and related terms such as etiology and epidemiology — and explains why it is important.
• Extensive updates, based on the most current research, have been made throughout the book.
• To reflect the latest developments, the Biology of Cancer chapter has been completely rewritten.
• Several chapters, including Fluids and Electrolytes, Acids and Bases and Alterations of the Reproductive Systems have been extensively edited.

Genres: Nursing, Science, Textbooks, Nonfiction, Medical, Medicine, Health

1194 pages, Paperback

Published November 14, 2007

Reviews

[Elizabeth Netzel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very educational, but not a lot of spice. Wouldn’t recommend.

[Lily Schott · Rating 1 out of 5]

Overly complicated. Made simple Patho concepts much more difficult than necessary.

[Janet · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not a good text-book if you want to understand Pathophysiology

[MissAnnThrope · Rating 1 out of 5]

A complete waste of money. It should not be a required text as it did not help me at all in my pathophysiology class. The explanations for the diseases were short but unclear. It did not help me gain a better understanding of the pathologies I learned.

[Julie Cunningham]

Meaty. This is like digesting a huge turkey without any gravy.

[mpfrom · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not my most favorite of textbooks. Very confusing at times....but I got through it.

[Claire · Rating 2 out of 5]

This textbook took a complex subject and made it more confusing. I found myself referencing my much-better anatomy and physiology book when I needed clarification.

[Christina Nisoli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Goodness gracious it took me longer to find this book on goodreads than to actually complete the class in which it was required to get. Overall in terms of textbooks, I really do enjoy how it’s written. Before I hated my life because of how busy school was, I would actually sift through chapters that I wasn’t required to be read because it is super informational. If you have this book you basically don’t need webmd anymore because you can just look it up here.

My school unfortunately made me pay extra since I had to rent it for my first semester and then buy it for the second. At the time i was definitely frustrated, but now I’m thankful that I do own the book so when things are less hectic I can go back to reading it.

I will say that it is a bit intimidating to read at first (especially since I had zero knowledge of any sort of medical jargon when I first started the class.) If you're like me, you'll probably end up spending and additional 20 minutes per page looking up words and what they mean. Lots of pictures and diagrams which is quite nice (but sometimes a little gross).

Worst case scenario you won’t ever use this after your class and you can just show off the fact that you have a 20 pound textbook.

Cice this is for you and you only

[Valerie Bryand · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall a fairly decent textbook, but I would have enjoyed more pictures of disease processes so i can better recognize them in the clinical setting. For the most part I liked the order of the chapters as they went through the various body systems; but I think the renal chapters could have been explored a little earlier in the textbook than they actually were, perhaps between the endocrine and cardiovascular chapters. Having a better grasp on the renal system would have greatly enhanced my understanding of the cardiovascular and respiratory chapters, especially concerning the different types of heart failure and how they are treated, particularly CHF.

The book goes through each body system with a review chapter of basic anatomy and physiology of the system, followed by a chapter on alterations of function (the "patho" part), and then a chapter of alterations of function as pertaining to children. At the end of every chapter there is a HUGE reference list provided for further study of any particularly interesting or confusing topics.

I read EVERY word of this book in 3 months and have walked away with a greatly enhanced understanding of the human body. The textbook does a good job of explaining things in a way that most people can understand. However, i **DO NOT** recommend this book for the person who doesn't already have a good grasp on NORMAL physiology (and anatomy). It assumes the reader already has a good foundation of A&P, without this foundation it goes without saying that it would be impossible to understand the "alterations" of normal A&P. The chapters on normal A&P at the beginning of each system are meant as a review/refresher only as these chapters are short.

I will keep this book throughout my early nursing career as a reference! :) This class ruled by life for 3 months, but did truly enjoy it and I am glad i gave it my all. I feel much more confident as a result.

[Vicki · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is the worst textbook I had to read. Horrible explanation, too much unnecessary stuff that makes even more confused that you were before this class. HORRIBLE!!!!!!!!! I will sell this book as soon as I am done with the class and buy some other book. Seriously, this is the only biology textbook that I absolutely hate to read. Understanding PathophysiologyUnderstanding PathophysiologySue E. Huether

[Claire Berslow · Rating 3 out of 5]

I mean, i guess it describe several diseases/disorders, so that's cool. Pretty cool images. Evolve resources for this one are HORRIBLE, so don't bother.
Gave me more questions than answers, so if that bothers you, then don't read it

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW! I got this book when I went to an EKG class in December.LOVE this stuff!!!

[Colette Womack · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm so glad to be finished with this class. The subject matter was fascinating but, I'm still happy to have it behind me.

[Marnie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not my favorite class. And this book was more in depth than I needed.

[Raeann Doran]

For the record, this is not being read for fun! :)

[Audrey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Six weeks into school and the first finals are finished.

[Megan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read for nursing school medsurg class. A good patho book but it goes wayyyy into detail which makes it a bit hard to read and not as helpful for nursing school.

[Amie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Woohoo finally done!

[Emma McCarthy · Rating 2 out of 5]

read for bio669

[Joanna Paris · Rating 1 out of 5]

Made me cry

[Jackie Dun · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will forever keep this text book as a reference.

[Ella · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well written and interesting textbook.