Book excerpt: This easy yet comprehensive reference guide covers the mechanisms of respiratory diseases, explaining the main respiratory conditions for clinicians and postgraduate trainees. It discusses their aetiology as well as the basic concepts required to effectively evaluate and treat them. Applied Respiratory Pathophysiology is the first book to bring together detailed, clinically-relevant explanation of respiratory physiological processes and pathophysiological processes in one text. It is essential reading for anyone diagnosing and treating specific clinical conditions of the lungs.