The Aging Body

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-ix

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2. Introduction

   • Susan Krauss Whitbourne

   Pages 1-9

3. Appearance and Movement

   • Susan Krauss Whitbourne

   Pages 11-33

4. Cardiovascular System

   • Susan Krauss Whitbourne

   Pages 35-50

5. Respiratory System

   • Susan Krauss Whitbourne

   Pages 51-63

6. Digestive and Excretory Systems

   • Susan Krauss Whitbourne

   Pages 65-86

7. Control Mechanisms: Endocrine System and Autonomic Nervous System

   • Susan Krauss Whitbourne

   Pages 87-106

8. Reproductive System

   • Susan Krauss Whitbourne

   Pages 107-124

9. Central Nervous System

   • Susan Krauss Whitbourne

   Pages 125-149

10. Visual System

    • Susan Krauss Whitbourne

    Pages 151-174

11. Auditory System

    • Susan Krauss Whitbourne

    Pages 175-190

12. Somesthetic and Vestibular Systems

    • Susan Krauss Whitbourne

    Pages 191-207

13. Gustatory and Olfactory Systems

    • Susan Krauss Whitbourne

    Pages 209-221

14. Epilogue

    • Susan Krauss Whitbourne

    Pages 223-235

15. Back Matter

    Pages 237-305

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The objective of this book is to provide information that will be useful to people in a variety of disciplines who wish to learn more about normal aging processes in the human body. Although gerontologists in the biological sciences are making great strides in research on human aging and documenting this work in mono­ graphs, texts, and review chapters, this information is generally not easily acces­ sible nor is it comprehensible to nonprofessionals in these fields. This book is intended to provide a summary of this work, along with its implications for psy­ chological functioning of the aging individual. The majority of the book is devoted to describing the results of research on the physiological changes in the human body with aging and to seeking explana­ tions for these age effects. This description has been approached in such a way as to make it readable for the nonspecialist, but also to focus on research issues that will be useful reading for those who are currently working in these parti­ cular areas. In addition, throughout the book, I have tried to develop some themes regarding physiological and psychological adaptation during adulthood.

• adaptation
• aging
• biological
• central nervous system
• fields
• information
• nervous system
• reproductive system
• respiratory system
• system

• Department of Psychology, University of Massachusetts at Amherst, Amherst, USA

  Susan Krauss Whitbourne

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