Abstract
Functional Anatomy and Physiology of Domestic Animals is the third edition of the paperback book previously titled Physiology of Domestic Animals. Addition of the term functional anatomy to the title was intended to better reflect the notions of anatomy (both microscopic and gross) that are presented in the book.
The book is divided into 16 chapters plus 2 appendixes (one on the interconversion of units of measurement and the second on normal blood values for various domestic species) and a detailed index. The first chapter is new and is aimed at covering general notions on the structure and function of the cell, including DNA replication, RNA and protein synthesis, basic embryology, tissues, directional terms and planes, and body cavities. Each chapter provides a nice and concise overview of the principal notions relating to each body system. The author provides a short list of suggested readings consisting essentially of more exhaustive textbooks such as Dukes' Physiology of Domestic Animals. Each chapter ends with a self-evaluation section that includes several multiple-choice questions. The third edition also provides an expanded coverage of avian topics (kidney, respiration, digestion, and reproduction) and body water.
The book is clearly written and provides concise and easy-to-find information. It includes more than 350 illustrations (mostly simple drawings with few electron micrographs) that help to explain the various concepts. As stated by the author, Functional Anatomy and Physiology of Domestic Animals is intended for undergraduate students, preveterinary students, veterinary technician/technology students, and students in animal science. As an introductory resource, it reaches perfectly its goal to provide undergraduate students with a simple overview of the physiology of the different systems. More comprehensive textbooks, however, are needed for more in-depth coverage of animal physiology. Pathologists and pathology trainees will find this book too superficial, although it can be helpful when looking for a quick answer to a very basic physiology question. But they can certainly recommend it to undergraduate students looking for a good and basic physiology textbook.