Anatomy and Physiology of Animals/Preface

Preface by Ruth Lawson

This WikiBook "The Anatomy and Physiology of Animals' is designed to meet the needs of students studying for New Zealand certificate level qualifications in Veterinary Nursing, Animal Care and Rural Animal Technology under the New Zealand Qualifications Unit Standard 5180. It may also be useful for anyone studying for preliminary qualifications in veterinary nursing or biology. It is intended for use by students with little previous biological knowledge.

The WikiBook has been divided into 16 chapters covering fundamental concepts like organic chemistry, body organisation and the cell and then the systems of the body. Within each chapter are lists of Websites that provide additional information including animations. There is a comprehensive Glossary which can be accessed through links in each chapter. To help the student understand and learn the information within each chapter there are links to Worksheets in WikiEducator and a "Test Yourself" exercise.

The present text has evolved over many years. Terry Marler BVSC first conceived it as 8 separate modules for students at the Otago Polytechnic in what was then known as Animal Technology. Since then he and I have given it several major and minor overhauls. The present incarnation for this WikiBook has been rewritten and the diagrams redrawn by myself with advice and proofreading by Terry.