Medical Physiology Textbook Suggestions

[mm6274263]

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Hello all,

I usually log on here for advice on med school related matters and often find many viable solutions by just lurking around a bit.

My issue now is that the Physio book assigned as the class text for M1s is terrible. And by terrible I mean the worst editing I have seen in years, only to be exceeded in the lack of quality by the writing style. The book I'm talking about is Berne and Levy's Physiology, 5th edition.

This is, of course, my opinion... and that of several M3s at my school. I've read most of this book and the only concession I can think of is that some of the cardio sections are OK.

So here's the deal: I don't think the incoming Class of 2010 should be subjected to this drivel. Since I haven't really bought any other bona fide textbooks for physio, though I do have a Costanzo review book which I use in lieu of the above book, I need suggestions to bring to a committee about possible alternatives.

And no, I don't hold any student positions so please spare me the "overachiever" label. I simply feel strongly about this and want to muster up some initiative to carry this through.

Again, I'm looking for textbook suggestions, not review books. If you really like your physiology textbook then post the Title, Author and Edition here and maybe why you like it so much. I'd be really appreciative 😍 , and just think, you'll be helping change something at another med school for the better. 🙂

So help me out.

 

[USCTex]

Hello all,

I usually log on here for advice on med school related matters and often find many viable solutions by just lurking around a bit.

My issue now is that the Physio book assigned as the class text for M1s is terrible. And by terrible I mean the worst editing I have seen in years, only to be exceeded in the lack of quality by the writing style. The book I'm talking about is Berne and Levy's Physiology, 5th edition.

This is, of course, my opinion... and that of several M3s at my school. I've read most of this book and the only concession I can think of is that some of the cardio sections are OK.

So here's the deal: I don't think the incoming Class of 2010 should be subjected to this drivel. Since I haven't really bought any other bona fide textbooks for physio, though I do have a Costanzo review book which I use in lieu of the above book, I need suggestions to bring to a committee about possible alternatives.

And no, I don't hold any student positions so please spare me the "overachiever" label. I simply feel strongly about this and want to muster up some initiative to carry this through.

Again, I'm looking for textbook suggestions, not review books. If you really like your physiology textbook then post the Title, Author and Edition here and maybe why you like it so much. I'd be really appreciative 😍 , and just think, you'll be helping change something at another med school for the better. 🙂

So help me out.

I'm assuming you're speaking of Berne,Levy... That books sucks. I built an effigy to the editor.

Luckily Physiology is now over at my school.

As you can imagine there's not a huge number of Med Physiology books out there that are used by any number of people. Of the ones that are I've heard good things about

Textbook of Medical Physiology
by Guyton & Hall
Publisher: Saunders/Elsevier

Good luck on your crusade. I imagine changing a textbook requires significant work on the part of the Physiology Department in changing the syllabus for the class but if you are using Berne, Levy then I appluad your effort.

 

[mm6274263]

We have a saying about the book: "Berne and Levy? Just burn and leave it."

And thanks for the quick suggestion!

 

[slick177]

Medical Physiology, Rhoades and Tanner, 2nd ed
ISBN 0-7817-1936-4

This seems to be a farely good text book, and new i think it costs around $60
This book also contains review questions with explanations at the end of each chapter

 

[rockit]

BRS phys is the golden child of physiology. If you don't want that get Costanzo's full length text.

 

[mm6274263]

I have Costanzo's full text physio text, published by Saunders and Someguy.

The lady really knows how to teach the subject through the written word but I'm fairly certain the dept won't use a review as required reading.

I agree with you on both accounts though.

 

[rockit]

Why do you need the required text?

 

[stargirl50]

I also used Costanzo's Physiology textbook (not BRS, the full length text) and thought it was excellent. Although it might not be thorough enough to use as your only source, it was perfect to read through for main ideas and then get the details you need to know from the syllabus. The course director at my school recommended it at the beginning of the year for us, so I don't think officially recommending it (at least as an option) is totally out of the question.

 

[Time]

We have a saying about the book: "Berne and Levy? Just burn and leave it."

And thanks for the quick suggestion!

👍

 

[Sureshot83]

I'll just second what others have said about Costanzo. (The full-length version, which is still pretty small.) It's got pretty much everything you need to know, and doesn't make things unnecessarily complex. Sometimes I'm reading it and I feel like it's written at about the same level as my high school science books! This is a good thing, trust me.

I know many people in my class relied almost solely on Costanzo for first block (cellular phys, muscle, ANS, CV) and either got Honors or High Pass on the exam.

 

[thatuvicguy]

Our recommended physiology text at UBC (Vancouver, Canada) is Boron . It's quite good although there is ALOT of detail contained within its pages...

Cheers,
thatuvicguy

 

[azzarah]

Our recommended physiology text at UBC (Vancouver, Canada) is Boron . It's quite good although there is ALOT of detail contained within its pages...

Cheers,
thatuvicguy

We have different physiology mini-text recommendations for various parts of phys course which I think is great.

West for pulmonary, Vander for renal, etc.

 

[allendo]

Hello all,

I usually log on here for advice on med school related matters and often find many viable solutions by just lurking around a bit.

My issue now is that the Physio book assigned as the class text for M1s is terrible. And by terrible I mean the worst editing I have seen in years, only to be exceeded in the lack of quality by the writing style. The book I'm talking about is Berne and Levy's Physiology, 5th edition.

This is, of course, my opinion... and that of several M3s at my school. I've read most of this book and the only concession I can think of is that some of the cardio sections are OK.

So here's the deal: I don't think the incoming Class of 2010 should be subjected to this drivel. Since I haven't really bought any other bona fide textbooks for physio, though I do have a Costanzo review book which I use in lieu of the above book, I need suggestions to bring to a committee about possible alternatives.

And no, I don't hold any student positions so please spare me the "overachiever" label. I simply feel strongly about this and want to muster up some initiative to carry this through.

Again, I'm looking for textbook suggestions, not review books. If you really like your physiology textbook then post the Title, Author and Edition here and maybe why you like it so much. I'd be really appreciative 😍 , and just think, you'll be helping change something at another med school for the better. 🙂

So help me out.

What school are you at? My school chose this book this year and it sucks a$$!

 

[Chizwheel]

Dr. Costanzo teaches at my school. If you think her book is good, you should hear her lectures. She is an absolutely amazing teacher. Her text or BRS phys are the closest you can get to it. She said she is releasing a new edition of her textbook soon (if its not already out). Check it out.

 

[drguy22]

I'll just second what others have said about Costanzo. (The full-length version, which is still pretty small.) It's got pretty much everything you need to know, and doesn't make things unnecessarily complex. Sometimes I'm reading it and I feel like it's written at about the same level as my high school science books! This is a good thing, trust me.

I know many people in my class relied almost solely on Costanzo for first block (cellular phys, muscle, ANS, CV) and either got Honors or High Pass on the exam.

costanzo is great!!! i have the full text+ BRS...worth it! so far i have high passed 2 exams and honored 1.

 

[chris03333]

Textbook of Medical Physiology by Walter Boron and Emilie Boulpaep is a great physiology text.

I also have Guyton but do not really like it (he says the same things over and over just changes his wordings).

 

[tulips]

I agree with the person who recommended Guyton and Hall's Textbook of Medical Physiology. Really comprehensive, yet easy to understand. Can't beat it.

 

[mm6274263]

What school are you at? My school chose this book this year and it sucks a$$!

I'm at UIC.

Tell your curriculum people to change it before they screw more newbie med students into wasting 100 $$ on this piece of crap.

 

[mm6274263]

Dr. Costanzo teaches at my school. If you think her book is good, you should hear her lectures. She is an absolutely amazing teacher. Her text or BRS phys are the closest you can get to it. She said she is releasing a new edition of her textbook soon (if its not already out). Check it out.

So how is VCU?

I was *this* close to choosing it, didn't get to meet Dr. Costanzo, really wanted to though...

 

[mm6274263]

Alright, recap. Here are the suggestions so far:

Guyton and Hall - 3
Boron - 2
Rhoades and Tanner - 1
Costanzo - a lot

I will present Costanzo but the Physio dept has a thing against review texts and Costanzo's book hasn't evolved past that, IMO.

If anyone wants to put in any other thoughts or contenders, then please do.

I'm going to email people with possibilitiesby 03/15/06.

 

[Paws]

Ganong, Review of Medical Physiology. Lange Series. Lots of pictures for people like me who get dull when there are too many pages of words and not enough diagrams, etc. Good pictures, too.

I have big and little Costanzo (she is awesome!!!) as well as Guyton. For some reason phys is way hard for me and so I dip into all the books a little. Guyton is terrific for renal, I thought.

 

[manta]

costanzo's stars textbook *is* the textbook for my school's phys course. and yes, i'm also a big fan. my husband school uses guyton, and it seems like the breadth of material is about the same, but costanzo just streamlines it to nice concise packets of information. i guess more problems would be nice - but i have the 1998 ed, so maybe it's different now...(?)

 

[marooner]

which is better: NMS physiology of BRS physiology?

o well to be simpler wchich is better series? NMS or BRS? i'm alwyas plagued by this question whenever i choose an outline format book!

 

[t33sg1rl]

I'm using Rhoades and Tanner as a primary text. In general it's readable, and it does have review questions, BUT in my opinion it is not the book to recommend. I have two major issues: one, the lack of color (figures are red and black only) and two, light treatment of most areas. If you want to buy ONE textbook that will cover all of your physiology needs, this isn't it-we use this for almost every module, but for every module except Cardio we've had to use supplemental books-which in my opinion, completely kills the point of having one comprehensive book.

summary: One vote against Rhoades and Tanner, except as a last resort.

 

[humuhumu]

Here at UVM we recommend Silverthorn to first-year med students who have no background in physiology. It's a very readable upper-level undergrad textbook with many clinical examples. Students love it.

In the spirit of full disclosure, I should add that I'm currently selling a used copy on Amazon.