Skip to main content
Elsevier

Nunn and Lumb's Applied Respiratory Physiology

  • 10th Edition - July 8, 2026
  • Latest edition
  • Authors: Andrew B. Lumb, Caroline R. Thomas
  • Language: English

Bridging the gap between basic science and clinical practice, Nunn and Lumb's Applied Respiratory Physiology, 10th Edition, provides a concise, single-volume guide to all aspects o… Read more

Purchase options

Info / Buy

Description

Bridging the gap between basic science and clinical practice, Nunn and Lumb's Applied Respiratory Physiology, 10th Edition, provides a concise, single-volume guide to all aspects of respiratory physiology in health and disease, translating core respiratory physiology into practical applications and clinically relevant material. For more than 50 years, this text has been invaluable to those in training or preparing for examinations in anaesthesia, intensive care, respiratory medicine, or thoracic surgery, as well as an essential quick reference for physiologists and the range of practitioners requiring ready access to current knowledge in this field. In this revised edition, all content has been thoroughly reviewed and updated, incorporating numerous new topics, updated summaries for each chapter, and a robust collection of online features for both students and practitioners.

Key features

  • Provides a unique, one-stop guide to all aspects of respiratory physiology in health, disease, and in the many physiologically challenging situations and environments into which humans take themselves
  • Explains complex concepts clearly and offers easy-to-understand explanations of basic science, assisted by the extensive use of diagrams
  • Features a new chapter covering all aspects of lung immunology, including non-immune pulmonary defences against inhaled pathogens, and both innate and adaptive immunity
  • Contains new topics throughout: including genetic treatments for sickle cell disease, physiological effects of e-cigarettes, recent breakthroughs in the drug treatment of cystic fibrosis, pathophysiology of SARS-CoV-2 infection, principles and delivery of high flow nasal therapy, clinical effects of hyperoxia in acute medical conditions, updates on peri-operative respiratory management, and more
  • Includes content that is difficult to find in general physiology texts, such as respiratory function in pregnancy, neonates, and children; the impact of the obesity epidemic on respiratory physiology; the evolving understanding of the harms caused by hyperoxia; basic science and the clinical problems of respiratory critical care; peri-operative lung management and pulmonary complications; and ventilation and pulmonary care advances accelerated by the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic
  • Covers additional related topics such as solutions to the challenges of respiratory gas exchange across the animal kingdom, space and diving physiology, and more
  • Provides robust online features, including two bonus chapters; presentations by Dr. Lumb on key topics from the book, and more than 100 self-assessment questions linked to each chapter with answers and explanations
  • An eBook version is included with purchase. The eBook allows you to access all of the text, figures, and references, with the ability to search, make notes and highlights, and have content read aloud

Readership

Postgraduate doctors specializing in anaesthesia, intensive care medicine, thoracic surgery and respiratory medicine. This includes both trained doctors (UK consultants, US attendings etc.) and those in training/exam candidates. - University staff involved in physiology teaching and research - Allied health professionals e.g. respiratory physiotherapists, clinical physiologists in lung function

Table of contents

Part I: Basic Principles

1. Functional Anatomy of the Respiratory Tract

2. Elastic Forces and Lung Volumes

3. Respiratory System Resistance

4. Control of Breathing

5. Pulmonary Ventilation

6. The Pulmonary Circulation

7. Distribution of Pulmonary Ventilation and Perfusion

8. Diffusion of Respiratory Gases

9. Carbon Dioxide

10. Oxygen

11. Lung Immunology

Part II: Applied Physiology

12. Pregnancy, Neonates, and Children

13. Exercise

14. Sleep

15. Obesity

16. High Altitude and Flying

17. High Pressure and Diving

18. Respiration in Closed Environments and Space

19. Drowning

20. Smoking and Air Pollution

21. Anaesthesia

22. Changes in the Carbon Dioxide Partial Pressure

23. Hypoxia

24. Anaemia

25. Oxygen Toxicity and Hyperoxia

26. Comparative Respiratory Physiology

Part III: Physiology of Pulmonary Disease

27. Ventilatory Failure

28. Airways Disease

29. Pulmonary Vascular Disease

30. Diseases of the Lung Parenchyma and Pleura

31. Acute Lung Injury

32. Respiratory Support and Artificial Ventilation

33. Pulmonary Surgery

34. The Atmosphere

35. The History of Respiratory Physiology

Online Content

34. The Atmosphere

35. The History of Respiratory Physiology
Test Your Knowledge Questions
Assessments

Index

Product details

  • Edition: 10
  • Latest edition
  • Published: July 30, 2026
  • Language: English

About the authors

AL

Andrew B. Lumb

Affiliations and expertise
Consultant Anaesthetist, St James' University Hospital; Honorary Clinical Associate Professor in Anaesthesia, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK

CT

Caroline R. Thomas

Affiliations and expertise
Consultant Anaesthetist, St James's Hospital, Leeds and Honorary Senior Clinical Lecturer, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK