Kara Rogers: 25 books

The endocrine system, comprised of a number of hormone-secreting glands, is vital to the functioning of the human body. In addition to its role in reproductive activity, the endocrine system regulates tissue growth, responses to injury and stress, and helps maintain necessary levels of chemicals throughout...

As the world’s population expands, so too does the risk of communicable disease and global pandemics. Consequently, healthcare has assumed a greater centrality in the public consciousness both in the United States and around the world. With various national and international organizations dedicated...

The satisfaction derived from savoring a steak or indulging in an ice cream sundae is only one aspect of a larger process that occurs in the human digestive system. From the moment food enters our mouths until long after we have finished a meal, the body engages in an extensive routine designed to...

The seeming simplicity of day-to-day movement can belie the complexity of the structures that facilitate motion. More than just a framework around which the body develops, the human skeleton has evolved over time to allow humans to walk and stand upright. Muscles likewise perform a range of functions,...

Necessary for everything from reflexes to reading to running, it’s no exaggeration to say that the brain and nervous system are responsible for nearly every endeavor of human activity. The sheer volume of information that the brain must process and respond to at every second of each day renders...

The development and evolution of all species can, in many ways, be traced to a few biochemical reactions that facilitate metabolic and/or photosynthetic changes in each life form. Indeed, advances in the field of biochemistry have intimately depended on the study of these processes and the way basic...

So automatic and mechanical is breathing for most of us that we often fail to consider the complexities of respiration. Engaging the lungs, airways, and more, the intake of oxygen and release of carbon dioxide are only the most apparent aspects of a much longer routine. Although vulnerable to various...

A single cell can be a self-sustaining organism or one of trillions in a larger life form. Though visible only with the help of a microscope, cells are highly structured entities that perform a myriad of functions in every living thing and store critical genetic information. This fascinating volume...

The building blocks of all life—human and otherwise—are basic chemical molecules common to all organisms that simultaneously unite all species and set them apart. Together, nucleic acids, amino acids, proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates determine our genetic makeup, power our movements, and generally...

The sometimes insidious effects of bacterial diseases and viral infections can obscure the incredible significance of the microscopic organisms that cause them. Bacteria and viruses are among the oldest agents on Earth and reveal much about the planet’s past and evolution. Moreover, their utility...

Although its ubiquity in the human body may make it seem unremarkable, simply put, blood makes life possible. It nourishes cells throughout the body and transports carbon dioxide to the lungs. Without it, the body would be unable to fight disease and infection or function at all. Readers are invited...