By

• RL Bijlani  MD, SM, DSc (Honoris Causa) , FAMS, Former Professor and Head, Department of Physiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
• S Manjunatha MD, Professor, Department of Physiology, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, Karnataka, India

The most obvious change in the current edition is the addition of a new author. But besides this highly visible change are the numerous not-so-visible additions based on recent knowledge. An inventory of these additions includes: cerebral blood flow during exercise, the anti-fatigue action of catecholamines during exercise, the role of metabosensitive nerve endings in muscle fatigue, the nutritional role of neuroglia, multiple mechanisms for glucose absorption, pathophysiology of clubbing of fingers, a new explanation for the staircase phenomenon, study of REM sleep using the scleral search-coil technique, and the high degree of coordination involved in effective sweeping action of ciliary activity in the respiratory tract. Although the list of changes runs long, the basic text, and even more, the philosophy of the book remains unchanged. Therefore, the book should continue to appeal to the intelligent and inquisitive medical students and teachers alike, amongst whom the book has by now created a niche all its own.