The Handy Anatomy Answer Book

Two established science writers and researchers distill and present the latest and most important information on anatomy and physiology in an easy-to-use, question-and-answer approach.

We all have one. The human body. But do we really know all of its parts and how they work? The Handy Anatomy Answer Book is the key to unlocking this door to a wondrous world. Learn how the body heals wounds. Untangle the mysteries of eyesight. Discover how cells organize themselves into organs and other tissues. From the violent battleground that is the immune system to the hundreds of miles of muscle fibers, nerves, veins, and arteries that fill our bodies, the human is a miracle waiting to be explored.

The Handy Anatomy Answer Book covers all the major body systems: integumentary (skin, hair, etc.), skeletal, muscular, nervous, sensory, endocrine, cardiovascular, lymphatic, respiratory, digestive, urinary, and reproductive, and, for good measure, adds chapters on growth and development and how science can help and augment the body. It follows the fascinating maze of organ systems and shows how much the body does routinely just to let you move, breathe, eat, and fight off disease. Fascinating trivia, along with serious facts, combine to answer over 1,200 questions about the human body, including …

• _Who were Hippocrates and Galen?
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• _What is Gray’s Anatomy?
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• _Do all animals need oxygen?
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• _What are the largest, smallest, and longest cells in the human body?
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• _What is the average lifespan of various cells in the human body?
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• _Does exercise increase the number of muscle cells?
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• _What is phantom limb pain?
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• _Should ear wax be removed?
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• _What does it mean to have 20/20 vision?
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• _Do identical twins have the same fingerprints?
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• _Do the hair and nails continue to grow after death?
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• _How strong is bone?
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• _Which is the only bone that does not touch another bone?
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• _What does it mean when someone is “double-jointed”?
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• _How many muscles does it take to produce a smile versus a frown?
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• _What are tendons?
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• _What is Botox?
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• _What is the effect of aging on the muscular system?
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• _What are the functions of the nervous system?
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• _What are the causes of epilepsy?
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• _How large is the brain?
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• _What is a concussion?
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• _What are the seven warning signs of Alzheimer’s disease?
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• _What is a reflex?
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• _How much sleep does an individual need?
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• _How are hormones classified?
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• _What is the difference between Type I and Type II diabetes?
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• _Do males have estrogen and females have testosterone in their respective systems?
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• _Why is blood sticky?
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• _How does exercise affect the heart?
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• _Why does blood in the veins look blue?
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• _What is an autoimmune disease?
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• _What are “swollen glands”?
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• _Why is it difficult to treat viral infections with medications?
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• _What was the earliest known vaccination?
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• _What’s the difference between an intolerance and an allergy?
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• _What is the Adam’s apple?
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• _Why is it more difficult to breathe at high altitudes?
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• _How much force does a human bite generate?
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• _Does the stomach have a memory?
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• _What is “gluten intolerance”?
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• _What are the causes of obesity?
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• _What percent of a person’s intake of water comes from drinking water?
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• _Is urine always yellow in color?
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• _What are the phases of the reproductive cycle?
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• _How do the terms zygote, embryo, and fetus differ?
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• _How does fetal blood differ form adult blood?
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• _How are PET scans used to detect and treat cancer?
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• _When was the first successful pacemaker invented?
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• _What is an artificial joint?
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• Can humans use organs from other animals for transplants?

  A glossary and index are included, along with nearly 120 color illustrations, detailed medical charts and photographs help supplement the text. This handy reference helps make the language of anatomy—as well as physiology and pathology—more understandable and less intimidating. The Handy Anatomy Answer Book is an engaging look at the topic, the historic development of the science, the personalities behind the research, and the latest controversies and scientific advancements.