Chapter 77 – Metabolism
Abstract Metabolism refers to the whole range of biochemical reactions that occur within living organisms. Metabolism broadly encompasses anabolism (the building up of larger molecules from smaller ones) and catabolism…
Chapter 83 – Foetal Physiology
Abstract Exchange of nutrients. The placenta is an unusual organ because it is derived from the tissues of two different organisms: endometrial cells (known as decidual cells in pregnancy) from…
Chapter 81 – Thyroid, Parathyroid and Adrenal
Abstract Triiodothyronine (T3), the strongly biologically active thyroid hormone. T3 comprises only 10% of the hormones released by the thyroid gland. In the circulation, T3 is very highly protein bound…
Chapter 87 – Altitude
Abstract High altitude has no consensus definition. It is most commonly defined as corresponding to >2500 m above sea level, where most individuals begin to show physiological adaptations. Long-term habitation…
Chapter 86 – Physiology of Obesity
Abstract The World Health Organization classifies obesity based in the patient’s body mass index (BMI); their weight (in kilograms) divided by the square of their height (in metres): Chapter 86…
Chapter 88 – Diving
Abstract You may wonder what a chapter entitled ‘diving’ is doing in a book for anaesthetists – only the few who work in coastal areas will ever be required to…
Chapter 84 – Paediatric Physiology
Abstract Children are not simply ‘small adults’. The anatomical and physiological differences between children and adults have a significant impact on their anaesthetic management. Chapter 84 Paediatric Physiology Children are…
Chapter 82 – Maternal Physiology during Pregnancy
Abstract It comes as no surprise that there are major endocrine changes during pregnancy. These endocrine changes are the driving force for many of the other physiological and anatomical changes…
Chapter 80 – Hypothalamus and Pituitary
Abstract A hormone is a substance released by a cell, gland or organ into the blood, allowing it to exert its signalling effects on tissues elsewhere in the body. Chapter…
Chapter 79 – Stress Response
Abstract The stress response is a complex neuroendocrine response to physiological stress. The most commonly encountered stressors are trauma, burns, surgery and critical illness; the magnitude of the neuroendocrine response…
