This graduate text and reference deals with vertebrate, and particularly human, endocrinology, taking a balanced biochemical and physiological approach that emphasizes the mechanisms of hormone action. It represents a complete reworking of Martin's Textbook of Endocrine Physiology (1976), detailing the tremendous advances in basic endocrinology and the profound changes in thinking about the nature and function of hormones that have taken place in the last eight years.* Completely up-to-date, covering all major points of controversy, and three times the size of its predecessor* 200 new illustrations, inlcuding electron micrographs and line drawings* Provides useful pedagogic aids such as short self-contained sections which treat secondary or controversial aspects of the main topic discussion* Covers both clinical aspects and related topics, such as the effect of hormones on sexual identity, and the possible link between growth factors and cancerBalanced, comprehensive, and up-to-the-minuted, this book is both an excellent text for graduate-level courses and a valuable reference for researchers in physiology and for clinical endocrinologists.