Introduction Mammals such as humans are exposed to their greatest temperature-related shock at birth. Coming from a protected and thermoneutral environment, the newborn infant is suddenly exposed to “cool” surroundings, where survival depends on self-generation of sufficient heat to keep…
Acknowledgments The authors thank pp-science-editing.com for editing and linguistic revision of the manuscript. Preparation of this chapter was carried out in part with grants from the Universidad CEU—San Pablo, and the Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (SAF2015-70747-R) of Spain. CIBEROBN…
Introduction In his classic studies in the 1930s, Henrik Dam identified vitamin K as an essential fat-soluble antihemorrhagic factor. Later studies pinpointed the bleeding disorder caused by a dietary deficiency of vitamin K to a lack of four coagulation proteins,…
Introduction Vitamin E, a micronutrient with antioxidant functions, has important actions in both intrauterine and postnatal life. Even in pregnant women with adequate vitamin stores, it seems that there is a transplacental barrier that limits its transfer to the fetus.…
Introduction Vitamin A (retinol) is an essential nutrient for all vertebrates. It was discovered in 1913 as an ether-soluble fraction present in certain fats and tissues, such as butter and egg yolk, that young rats required for growth and survival.…
Introduction In a remarkably short time, the general perception of zinc has progressed from that of a rather obscure essential trace mineral of doubtful significance for human health to that of a micronutrient of exceptional biologic and public health importance.…
Introduction Calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium are essential minerals that function in their physiologically active ionic forms in a wide range of cellular processes, and as key components of the bone mineral matrix. In utero, calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium are readily…
Acknowledgments Preparation of this chapter was supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health (NICHD) and the Scottish Government (Rural and Environmental Scientific and Analytical services, RESAS). Introduction Iron is the fourth most abundant element and constitutes approximately 0.0075%…
Functional Anatomy of the Breast The human female breast is composed of a tubuloalveolar parenchyma embedded in a connective and adipose tissue stroma. The glandular component of the mature breast is composed of radially organized lobes, each connected to the…
Introduction Lactation is the defining characteristic of “mammal” and has enabled the wide distribution of more than the 4000 species. The evolution of a large brain that consumes approximately 23% of resting energy has given humankind a significant competitive intellectual…