Recommended physiology text?

[leviathan]

What is the best textbook out there for physiology? Someone recommended Medical Physiology by Boron, and another person recommended I buy Guyton's textbook. I've tried skimming through both, and it's a hard call to make. Any suggestions between the two, or other authors?

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[Law2Doc]

What is the best textbook out there for physiology? Someone recommended Medical Physiology by Boron, and another person recommended I buy Guyton's textbook. I've tried skimming through both, and it's a hard call to make. Any suggestions between the two, or other authors?

I don't know that there is a "best" -- texts are generally going to be secondary resources in med school -- something you consult for outside help when your note-set leaves you lacking. You usually won't be reading assigned chapters like in undergrad. As such, what is best will depend on what jibes best with your course materials. If you are looking to read one in advance of school, you are wasting your time. If you are getting one to use with school, talk to upper classmen -- they are going to be the best resource as to what works best with your particular course.

 

[Ezekiel20]

I'd recommend Costanzo's physiology (the textbook, not the review edition).

I know US med programs have more intensive basic sciences, but Costanzo's is detailed enough but still very readable. In fact I've read this 300-odd page text from cover to cover many times (one of only 3 textbooks I've done this with).

 

[Keg]

Everyone in our class used Costanzo's Physiology in conjunction with class notes and turned out well.

 

[vtucci]

Guyton's is well written but I would avoid Berne and Levy.

 

[-Goose-]

costanzo.

 

[PeepshowJohnny]

If you HAVE to buy a book, Costanzo.

I didn't need it though. I got the class notes (which were quite good) and used BRS Physio (also written by Costanzo) for supplement. If there was some concept I just didn't understand, I'd borrow the book from the library for an afternoon. Your mileage may vary.

 

[GBFKicks]

Costanzo is hands down the best book for physio--it has just the right amount of information and it's easy to get through. I wouldn't even consider another book.

 

[ubcredfox]

OP: Since I just went through the year of physiology you're about to sink yourself into, I would not recommend buying Boron. I did, and it's sitting on my shelf, looking sleek, sexy, and unopened.

I used Costanzo, because our friends state-side seem to prefer it. It's not a bad read, but my favorite books to read for all the physiology stuff were as follows:

1. Heart = Lilly's book on Cardiac Pathophysiology or whatever

2. Lung = Pulmonary Physiology (Lange) and Pulmonary Pathophysiology (Lange) The latter is dense, and difficult to read, but if you really try at it, it's a valuable text. I didn't have the time to use it very well though.

3. Kidney = Vander's Renal Physiology (Lange) - this book is absolutely FANTASTIC. If you really want to nail kidney physiology to the wall, and don't want to rely on UBC's wonderfully watered down teaching, this is a great great resource. Highly recommended.

4. HDI = not exactly physiology, but buy Levinson's Lange book on Microbiology (can't recall exact title). It's fantastic, complete, lots of questions at the back etc. A very very good resource for a block that they don't really bother teaching at UBC. But then again, infection isn't an important part of medicine at all...right?

*If you read the above books, and know the material inside and out, you don't have to attend a single lecture, and you'll be miles ahead of classmates trying to slog their way through horribly disorganized and pathetic teaching materials*

5. PRIN - Internet. I never read a chapter out of any textbook. If some of the lecture notes don't make sense (and there are plenty that won't), then you do some reading. Costanzo might be of particular use here in regards to the muscle physiology that you'll be covering; especially the smooth muscle pharmacomechanical coupling which is explained wonderfully horribly.

If you want any more gory details, PM me. Anyone who likes Calvin and Hobbes enough to avatar it is a friend of mine 🙂

 

[soleluna]

I used Guyton and I liked it quite well. Vander for Renal physiology.

I didn't like Berne Levy at all.

 

[medstylee]

boron is way too dense for medical school physiology. it's also sitting on my shelf, largely untouched.

if i were you, i'd buy the lippincot review book by costanzo to start out with. who knows, you might not even need a big text in the end. if you do feel you need a text (once you've been to a few classes), i'd recommend guyton. it's really thorough and it's not as complex as boron. i'll also throw in my recommendation for vander's renal physiology review book. a lot of people in my class seemed to like west's respiratory physio, but i wasn't really a fan. anyway, that's my suggestion. good luck.

 

[deleted77919]

I liked Boron, it was great to use as a reference and it always had a great explanation of whatever I needed cleared up. Berne and Levy is awful.

 

[45408]

I read Guyton for the difficult concepts, and I liked it. For the most part, I just figured things out from the notesets we got. Reading all of Guyton would have taken an unnecessary amount of time, but it was well-written.

 

[Flopotomist]

I think the BEST physiology resource is wikipedia. You would think that I was kidding, but I am serious... wikipedia is fantastic!

As far as textbooks go, the big constanzo is pretty good, and I am one of the few that actually liked having the Berne and Levy. I only used it as reference though on the rare occasions when wikipedia failed me.

 

[shivasHeroLike]

big costanzo + wiki

 

[seriously]

brs & wiki...i never touched a text book in phys

oh first aid was also nice

 

[sanche60]

berne and levy sucks, buy costanzo

 

[peace zealot]

i used guyton as basic book and its like a story book to me i can understand any concept from it.but to memorize i use concise book.BRs is good