Preface to third edition.
Units and symbols.

List of abbreviations.

Structure and function.

1 Structure of the respiratory system: lungs, airways and dead space.

2 The thoracic cage and respiratory muscles.

3 Pressures and volumes during normal breathing.

4 Gas laws.

5 Diffusion.

6 Lung mechanics: elastic forces.

7 Lung mechanics: airway resistance.

8 Carriage of oxygen.

9 Carriage of carbon dioxide.

10 Control of acid base balance.

11 Control of breathing I: chemical mechanisms.

12 Control of breathing II: neural mechanisms.

13 Pulmonary circulation and anatomical right-to-left shunts.

14 Ventilation perfusion mismatching.

15 Exercise, altitude and diving.

16 Development of the respiratory system and birth.

17 Complications of development and congenital disease.

18 Lung defence mechanisms and immunology.

History, examination and investigation.

19 History and examination.

20 Pulmonary function tests.

21 Chest imaging and bronchoscopy.

Diseases and treatment.

22 Public Health and Smoking.

23 Respiratory failure.

24 Asthma: pathophysiology.

25 Asthma: treatment.

26 Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

27 Pulmonary hypertension.

28 Venous thromboembolism and pulmonary embolism.

29 Pulmonary vasculitis.

30 Diffuse parenchymal (interstitial) lung diseases.

31 Sarcoidosis.

32 Pleural diseases.

33 Occupational and environmental-related lung disease.

34 Cystic fibrosis and bronchiectasis.

35 Pneumothorax.

36 Community acquired pneumonia.

37 Hospital acquired (nosocomial) pneumonia.

38 Pulmonary tuberculosis.

39 The Immunocompromised host.

40 Lung cancer.

41 Acute respiratory distress syndrome.

42 Mechanical ventilation.

43 Oxygenation and oxygen therapy.

44 Sleep apnoea.

Case studies and self-assessment.

Case studies: questions.

Case studies: answers.

Self-assessment questions.

Index