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To the Student
Have you ever wondered why you have curly, wavy, or straight
hair? Or why you may have to wear corrective lenses for your eyes?
Or why diseases strike some people but not others?
Do you ever wonder if certain dietary and health habits might
reduce your risk of having diabetes and coronary heart disease
in later life? Did you know that it’s important to maximize your
bone density during early and teenage years to prevent developing
osteoporosis? How can your lifestyle choices at 16 affect your body
at 60? These are all considerations related to your anatomical and
physiological makeup and they are topics discussed in this book.
People have been curious about the human body for centuries.
It’s quite natural, since it’s the body we live in. The more we know
and understand about our bodies, the more we can choose to make
intelligent choices about our own health and longevity. Knowledge
about these topics can also help us to help our family and friends
understand their health issues.
This book is your road map to understanding all of the
fascinating intricacies of the human body. In addition to providing
the basics of how your body works, the text highlights some of the
latest research on topics of interest. Since many of you are probably
curious about career opportunities in human health and healthcare,
this text also features descriptions of job opportunities encompassing
the ladder of jobs in healthcare.
This textbook will answer questions you have had and raise
questions you have never thought about. As you discover the
answers on these pages, we believe you will agree with us that the
human body is the most interesting topic in all of science. We wish
you happy reading!
Susan J. Hall
Michelle A. Provost-Craig
William C. Rose