This book uses simple anatomical and physiological concepts to create a framework for the understanding of disease processes and the symptoms, signs, and lab findings that they produce. Each chapter begins with a brief discussion of "how an organ system works" (anatomy/biochemistry/physiology), which is then followed by what logically could cause malfunction ot the organ system (pathology/pathophysiology). Following the establishment of this framework, specific disease mechanisms are discussed in this context, and the symptoms, signs, diagnosis, and treatment of these diseases are elaborated upon. In a complementary approach, the accompanying CD-ROM, designed by Dr. Stephen Groldberg, allows the student to proceed in the opposite direction: one can select a symptom, sign, or lab finding and see all of the many diseases that could cause it, classified by pathophysiological mechanism.