Annual Review of Physiology, vol. 51.

Annual Review of Physiology, vol 51 Edited by Hoffman JH. Palo Alto, CA 94303-0897, Annual Reviews Inc, 1989, cloth, 904 pp, illus, $36 This annual review provides the reader with about 50 concise literature reviews of both basic and applied physiological research. The reviews are grouped by subject area (eg, cardiovascular physiology, renal physiology, and so on), and each subject area has its own section editor and introduction. This arrangement helps give each group of reviews coherence. Each volume has a prefatory chapter that presents the autobiographical musings of a world-renowned physiologist. Usually the Annual Review of Physiology provides physical therapists with a number of relevant review articles, particularly in the areas of cardiovascular physiology, respiratory physiology, muscular physiology, and neurophysiology. This most recent volume (volume 51) is an exception to this general rule. The reviews reflect the trend in physiological research toward an understanding of the molecular basis of bodily function. Only three of the reviews would interest physical therapists, and then only physical therapists with specialized interests. For the physical therapist involved in cardiac rehabilitation, there is an interesting review on the endocardium and its role in the function of the heart. Physical therapists interested in pulmonary rehabilitation would want to read the review on arterial chemoreceptors as sensors of oxygen partial pressures in arterial blood. The article on the transport of oxygen in muscle may be of greatest interest to general practice physical therapists. The prefatory chapter is an interesting but superficial combination of autobiography; history of research in Na, K ATPase; and current knowledge in that area. Also included is an index of the preceding four volumes of this annual review and a list of relevant reviews published in this year's other Annual Review publications. A few therapists with specific interests in cardiovascular physiology and respiratory physiology may want to have their library order this volume. it definitely is not a book that would be of interest to most physical therapists. David A Lake, PhD