Facts on File Encyclopedia of Health and Medicine

the section “The Gastrointestinal System.” The
researcher can also consult the index at the back
of the volume to locate the entry, then turn to the
appropriate page in the volume.
Terms that appear in SMALL CAPSwithin the text
of an entry are themselves entries elsewhere in
The Facts On File Encyclopedia of Health and Medicine.
Encyclopedia users can look up the entries for
those terms as well, for further information of
potential interest. Such SMALL CAPScross references
typically provide related content that expands
upon the primary topic, sometimes leading the
user in new research directions he or she might
otherwise not have explored.
For example, the entry hypertensionis in the
section “The Cardiovascular System.” The entry
presents a comprehensive discussion of the health
condition hypertension (high blood pressure),
covering symptoms, diagnosis, treatment options,
risk factors, and prevention efforts. Among the
numerous SMALL CAPScross references within the
hypertension entry are the entries for

• retinopathy, an entry in the section “The
  Eyes” in Volume 1, which discusses damage to
  the eye that may result from untreated or
  poorly managed hypertension


• blood pressure, an entry in the Volume 2 sec-
  tion “The Cardiovascular System,” which dis-
  cusses the body’s mechanisms for maintaining
  appropriate pressure within the circulatory sys-
  tem


• strokeand heart attack, entries in Volume 2’s
  “The Cardiovascular System” about significant
  health conditions that may result from hyper-
  tension


• kidney,an entry in the section “The Urinary
  System” in Volume 3, which discusses the kid-
  ney’s role in regulating the body’s electrolyte
  balances and fluid volume to control blood
  pressure


• atherosclerosis, diabetes, hyperlipidemia,
  and obesity, entries in the sections “The Car-
  diovascular System” in Volume 2, “The
  Endocrine System” in Volume 3, and “Lifestyle
  Variables: Smoking and Obesity” in Volume 4,
  and all of which are health conditions that con-
  tribute to hypertension

Following the path of an encyclopedic entry’s

internal cross references, as shown above, can

illuminate connections between body systems;

define and apply medical terminology; reveal a

broad matrix of related health conditions, issues,

and concerns; and more. TheSMALL CAPScross ref-

erences indicated within the text of encyclopedic

entries lead encyclopedia users on wide-ranging

research pathways that branch and blossom.

At the end of the entry for hypertensiona list

of cross references gathered in alphabetical order

links together groups of related entries in other

sections and volumes, such as smoking cessa-

tionin Volume 4’s “Lifestyle Variables: Smoking

and Obesity,” to provide specific, highly relevant

research strings. These see alsocross references also

appear in SMALL CAPS, identifying them at a glance.

Encyclopedia users are encouraged to look here

for leads on honing research with precision to a

direct pathway of connected entries.

So, extensive cross-references in The Facts On

File Encyclopedia of Health and Medicine link related

topics within and across sections and volumes, in

both broad and narrow research pathways. This

approach encourages researchers to investigate

beyond the conventional level and focus of infor-

mation, providing logical direction to relevant

subjects. Each cross-referenced entry correspond-

ingly has its own set of cross references, ever

widening the web of knowledge.

Using the Facts On File Encyclopedia

of Health and Medicine

Each section of the encyclopedia begins with an

overview that introduces the section and its key

concepts, connecting information to present a

comprehensive view of the relevant system of the

human body or health and medical subject area.

For most body systems, this overview begins with

a list and drawings of the system’s structures and

incorporates discussion of historic, current, and

future contexts.

Entries present a spectrum of information from

lifestyle factors and complementary methods to

the most current technologic advances and

approaches, as appropriate. Text that is set apart or

bold within an entry gives an important health

warning, or targets salient points of interest to add

layers of meaning and context. Lists and tables

x How to Use