The goal of this book is to encourage you to use the basic facts about the human body to discover the possible causes of these variations. It is also my intent to share the thrill of investigating human disease by inviting you to solve actual case studies related to the content of a chap- ter. I have had the pleasure of teaching anatomy and physiology to allied health professionals and pre-medical students since 1985. I also apply my knowledge of the human body to educate the public about the effects of lifestyle and pollution on human health. All of this experience has produced a perception of student learning that is incorporated into this book. This book becomes a permanent addition to your library that can be used for reviewing information that may have been forgotten and for educating others about the marvels of the human body. About the Author Dr. Brian Robert Shmaefsky had a diverse career background that included three years as an industrial biochemist and a university professor before coming to Kingwood College in 1992 to establish the colleges 2-year biotechnology program. His current duties at Kingwood College include biology teaching and coordinating the service-learning program. He taught one-semester and two-semester A&P courses for allied health and kinesiology majors since 1986. Dr. Shmaefsky has authored many articles on science teaching five books on human diseases a biotechnology book and technical articles for industrial and science journals. Dr. Shmaefsky carried out his undergraduate and graduate studies in biology. He then pursued doctoral studies in environmental physiology at the University of Illinois and science education at Southern Illinois University. He also carried out studies in journalism and accumulated numerous continuing education credits in pharmacology. Dr. Shmaefsky is a fervent proponent of using case studies creative thinking and problem-based learning in the classroom. He is currently working on grant-funded projects aimed at improving science teaching. In addition he is applying these principles to industrial hygiene and safety training for employees in science and technology occupations.