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Peer Review

Respiratory Physiology: A Clinical Approach

Reviewed:

Nov 10, 2026 by Health Sciences
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Ratings

Overall Rating: 5.0 stars
Content Quality: 5.0 stars
Effectiveness: 5.0 stars
Ease of Use: 5.0 stars
Overview:

The free, interactive web edition (2025) of the textbook Respiratory Physiology: A Clinical Approach, have most figures redrawn for the web and some new. 

Type of Material:

  • Open (Access) Textbook
Recommended Uses:

  • May be used in an online or in-person classroom, as reading homework, or as self-paced work.
Technical Requirements:

  • Modern web browser on a phone or desktop
  • Internet access
Identify Major Learning Goals:

  • The overall learning goal is to examine the essentials of respiratory physiology. The authors aim to present physiology in a clinically meaningful way, emphasizing the interconnectedness of the respiratory system (controller, ventilatory pump, gas exchanger) and highlighting principles common across organ systems.
  • Each chapter begins with learning objectives.
Target Student Population:

  • College Upper Division, Graduate School, Professional
  • This textbook is designed for medical students, residents, nurses, allied health professionals, and anyone seeking to understand how the respiratory system functions, especially in clinical settings.
Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:

The book is clinically oriented, and prerequisite knowledge or skills include

  • anatomy and physiology
  • basic computer navigation skills

Content Quality

Rating:
Strengths:

  • The content is complete and accurate.
  • Multimodal learning formats support complex concepts. The approach of describing, explaining, using visual images, and using case studies is appropriate.
  • The content uses a scaffolded learning approach to move from simple to more complex physiology concepts.

 

Concerns:

  • Consider incorporating evidence, citations, and references.

Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool

Rating:
Strengths:

  • Learning objectives are found at the start of each chapter.
  • Each chapter supports concepts with key summary points, conceptual learning, and application to promote deeper understanding.
  • Quick checks, reviews, and thought questions give learners opportunities to assess their understanding.
  • Simulations, animations, figures/Images and a clinical focus keep the learning grounded in the clinical realm.
  • Putting-it-all-together activities allow learners to synthesize the information.
  • This open-access book provides equitable access to all learners and instructors.

 

 

Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty

Rating:
Strengths:

  • Complex figures/images include detailed text descriptions.
  • Alt text is included.
  • Sequential headings are set up for screen readers.
  • Text is selectable.
  • The chapter navigation flow is consistent and logical, with multidirectional arrows, a table of contents, a glossary, and a directory of animated illustrations.
  • All animations and dropdowns in the textbook work properly.
Other Issues and Comments:

  • Respiratory Physiology: A Clinical Approach is a remarkable OER text. Thank you for your work on this project. It will help many clinicians and the patients they care for.
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