This book provides a comprehensive account of clinical medicine incorporating the language and ideas of modern medical science. The book offers the reader an understanding of cellular and physiological processes. Each chapter is written by a specialist in that area and vetted both by team members and external advisors in order to ensure consistency of approach and the appropriate level of details for the market. The team of authors has been selected from medical schools throughout the UK. Lots of headings guide the reader through the text quickly and easily; specially commissioned line illustrations integrate with the text and use colour to emphasize key features and aid understanding; summary boxes highlight essential facts and aid revision. For this edition the chapter on dermatology is now in colour and there are five new contributors (Dr Lip-Bun Tan (Leeds), Dr Brian Cooper (Birmingham), Dr Gareth Williams (Liverpool), Dr Jeremy Gibbs (London), Dr Robin Graham-Brown (Leicester). There is also a greater use of visual devices to convey information in a succinct, memorable way - more illustrations, tables and tinted boxes, and increased use of colour. The book has a new format and duplication or non-essential information has been eliminated. An ELBS/LPBB edition is available.