Three separate sections cover health issues of men, women, and children. Most sections devoted to an organ system begin with a chapter describing the organ's normal structure and function. Reading about how the heart works or looking at illustrations of the heart, for example, may make a specific heart disorder more understandable. Many sections also include a chapter describing medical tests used to diagnose the diseases discussed in that section. Reading about coronary artery disease may prompt a referral to the chapter that describes tests, such as cardiac catheterization, used to diagnose heart disease.
Some chapters describe a single disease, such as osteoporosis.
Other chapters encompass related diseases or disorders, such as spinal cord disorders. In either case, a discussion generally starts with a definition of the disease or disorder, printed in italics. The information that follows is often organized under headings, such as causes, symptoms, diagnosis, prevention, treatment, and prognosis. Bold-faced type within the text indicates topics of major importance. Some chapters cover a symptom or a problem caused by a disease.