Handbook of Physiology

The aim of this Handbook is to survey the foundations and current status of key areas in modern cellular and molecular physiology. The topics covered range from the most fundamental biophysical and biochem-ical bases of cellular physiology to more concerted cellular biological pro-cesses. A more elusive goal of this volume is to provide a framework for future research linking these various processes with their integrative aspects in whole animal systems. The chapters begin with basic membrane processes that include membrane structure as it relates to function, the biophysics of membrane transport, and cell volume regulatory mechanisms. Then the organization and function of the plasma membrane and intracellular organelles involved in membrane trafficking and the biogenesis of cell polarity are reviewed in depth. Energy generation and transduction that subserve cellular function are covered in another series of chapters. The structure and function of the cytoskeleton and its relationship to events regulated by interaction with the extracellular matrix are examined in detail. Chapters on integrative aspects of cellular physiology including immunobiology, cell cell interactions, fertilizaton, and interactions of cells with the extracellular matrix round out the authoritative survey of contemporary cellular physiology in the Hand-book. Researchers, teachers, and graduate students will find it a uniquely useful resource.

This is an authoritative, in-depth review of key areas in contemporary cellular and molecular physiology, ranging from membrane transport to the extracellular matrix. It provides a framework for linking basic biochemical and biophysical process with the integrative aspects of cell function in whole animal systems.