I am delighted that the success of Fundamentals has enabled us to proceed to an early second edition. It will be apparent to the familiar reader that this edition has undergone rather more than a simple facelift. A great deal of feedback from both examiners and candidates has been used to modify and shape this current volume. New authors have been brought in to Section 1 to revise and modify the clinical chapters where necessary (incorporating several important and new areas of emerging knowledge), whilst resuscitation and trauma chapters have been updated by their original writers. Anatomy has been extended in scope to reflect subjects that are currently popular in the Primary FRCA.

In Section 2, there are new chapters on neurology and endocrinology, and an extra chapter on neonatal physiology has been incorporated to satisfy the demands of the examination syllabus.

Section 3 has been updated comprehensively with the removal of some drugs now lapsed and the incorporation of newer agents that have become available. By popular demand a new chapter on clinical trial design rounds off the pharmacology section.

It is, however, Section 4 that has undergone the most radical changes. I am very grateful to Ted Lin for the completely new physics and equipment chapters, which provide excellent core revision in these important areas. A greater number of diagrams (and many revised graphics) throughout the book and a completely new index complete the modifications over the first edition.