Chapter 75 – Immune System
Abstract An antigen is a substance that stimulates the immune system, resulting in an immune response. Antigens are either proteins or polysaccharides. The immune system produces antibodies that specifically bind…
Chapter 85 – Physiology of Ageing
Abstract Ageing involves processes not only of physical but also of psychological and social change. Increasing numbers of elderly people are undergoing elective and emergency surgery, with post-operative complications being…
Chapter 89 – Temperature Regulation
Abstract Core body temperature is one of the most tightly controlled physiological parameters. Normal core body temperature ranges from 36.5 to 37.5°C. Peripheral body temperature, involving the skin and subcutaneous…
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 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 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 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…
