Table of contents Contributors xiv Preface xxix Get more from this Handbook xxx List of abbreviations xxxi Chapter 1 – Structure and function of the respiratory system Genetics 1 Gernot Zissel Molecular biology of the lung 7 Melanie Königshoff and Oliver Eickelberg Anatomy of the respiratory system 13 Pallav L. Shah Respiratory physiology 18 Susan A. Ward Cytology of the lung 29 Venerino Poletti, Giovanni Poletti, Marco Chilosi and Bruno Murer Immunology and defence mechanisms 39 Bruno Balbi, Davide Vallese, Alessandro Pitruzzella, Chiara Vicari and Antonino Di Stefano Chapter 2 – Signs and symptoms Cough and sputum 45 Alyn H. Morice Dyspnoea 51 Pierantonio Laveneziana and Giorgio Scano