Polin and Fox Fetal and Neonatal Physiology, 2-Volume Set, 7th Edition

Editors

Richard Polin, MD (Editor); Steven H. Abman, MD (Editor); David H. Rowitch, MD, PhD (Editor); William Benitz, MD (Editor); Wendy Chung, MD, PhD (Editor)

ISBN: 9780443128233

Published: September 29, 2026

Format: Hardcover (2-Volume Set)

Language: English

Publisher: Elsevier

Description

Now in its seventh edition, this two-volume reference remains the standard account of fetal and neonatal physiology for clinicians and researchers who care for sick and premature infants. It organizes nearly 170 chapters across 25 sections, moving systematically from genetics and embryology through organ-system development to the pathophysiology of neonatal disease, with each chapter grounding mechanism in bedside relevance.

This edition adds new chapters on the genetic control of development, multi-omics approaches to neonatal disease, sleep physiology, neuroinflammation, the effects of climate change on perinatal outcomes, intrauterine inflammation, and blood gas transport, reflecting how quickly the evidence base in neonatal-perinatal medicine has moved since the last edition. Dr. Wendy Chung joins as a new co-editor, bringing a genomics perspective that runs through the revised chapters.

It is designed for board review, clinical rounds, and research, with new clinical correlation chapters and clinical application boxes that connect developmental physiology directly to NICU decision-making.

Key Features

• 169 chapters across 25 sections, with nearly 1,000 full-color diagrams and contributions from more than 350 specialists
• New chapters on genetic control of development, multi-omics, neuroinflammation, sleep physiology, climate change, and intrauterine inflammation
• New clinical correlation chapters and clinical application boxes linking physiology to practice in neonatal and perinatal cardiovascular, respiratory, and metabolic care
• Dedicated section on fetal and neonatal cardiovascular physiology, supporting fetal cardiology and NICU cardiac assessment
• Comprehensive coverage of thermoregulation, fluid and electrolyte balance, and developmental immunobiology for day-to-day NICU management

Coverage

Genetics and Embryology; Placenta and Intrauterine Environment; Developmental Pharmacology; Intrauterine and Postnatal Growth; Perinatal Iron, Mineral, and Vitamin Metabolism; Lipid, Carbohydrate, and Protein Metabolism; Thermoregulation; Skin; Fetal and Neonatal Cardiovascular Physiology; The Lung and Surfactant; Gastrointestinal Tract; Liver and Bilirubin Metabolism; The Kidney; Fluid and Electrolyte Metabolism; Developmental Hematopoiesis and Hemostasis; Developmental Immunobiology; Neurology; Special Sensory Systems; Endocrine Function; Ovary and Testis; Pathophysiology of Neonatal Diseases.

About the Authors

Richard Polin, MD, is Professor of Pediatrics at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons and a leading authority on neonatal-perinatal medicine. Steven H. Abman, MD, directs the Pediatric Heart Lung Center at Children's Hospital Colorado and the University of Colorado School of Medicine. David H. Rowitch, MD, PhD, is Head of Paediatrics at the University of Cambridge and a specialist in neonatology and developmental neuroscience. William Benitz, MD, is Professor Emeritus of Pediatrics at Stanford University School of Medicine, with a focus on neonatal cardiopulmonary physiology. Wendy Chung, MD, PhD, Chair of Pediatrics at Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, joins this edition as a new co-editor contributing genomic medicine expertise.

Table of Contents

1. Genetics and Embryology — 2. Placenta and Intrauterine Environment — 3. Developmental Pharmacology — 4. Intrauterine and Postnatal Growth — 5. Perinatal Iron, Mineral, and Vitamin Metabolism — 6. Lipid Metabolism — 7. Carbohydrate Metabolism — 8. Protein Metabolism — 9. Thermoregulation — 10. Skin — 11. Fetal and Neonatal Cardiovascular Physiology — 12. The Lung — 13. Surfactant — 14. Gastrointestinal Tract — 15. Liver and Bilirubin Metabolism — 16. The Kidney — 17. Fluid and Electrolyte Metabolism — 18. Developmental Hematopoiesis — 19. Hemostasis — 20. Developmental Immunobiology — 21. Neurology — 22. Special Sensory Systems — 23. Endocrine Function — 24. Ovary and Testis — 25. Pathophysiology of Neonatal Diseases.

Why buy this book?

Fetal and Neonatal Physiology remains the reference that neonatology and maternal-fetal medicine programs build their teaching and research libraries around, and the seventh edition's genomics and multi-omics additions keep it current with how the field is actually evolving. For an institution maintaining a single authoritative two-volume set on newborn physiology, this is it.

Keywords

fetal physiology, neonatal physiology, neonatology, perinatal medicine, NICU, developmental pharmacology, fetal cardiovascular physiology, neonatal lung development, developmental immunobiology, Polin Fox

Target Audience

Neonatologists, perinatologists, maternal-fetal medicine specialists, pediatric residents and fellows, NICU nursing staff, academic medical libraries

Genre

Neonatology, Obstetrics, Physiology, Pediatrics

Q&A

What does Fetal and Neonatal Physiology, 7th Edition cover?
It covers the full range of fetal and newborn developmental physiology across 25 sections and 169 chapters, from genetics and placental biology to organ-system maturation and the pathophysiology of neonatal disease.

Who is the Polin and Fox Fetal and Neonatal Physiology reference written for?
It is written for neonatologists, perinatologists, maternal-fetal medicine specialists, and trainees who need to connect developmental physiology to NICU decision-making.

What is new in the 7th edition?
New chapters on genetic control of development, multi-omics, neuroinflammation, sleep physiology, climate change, and intrauterine inflammation, plus new clinical correlation chapters and a new co-editor, Dr. Wendy Chung.

Does this edition include fetal cardiovascular physiology?
Yes — a dedicated section covers fetal and neonatal cardiovascular physiology in depth, relevant to fetal cardiology and NICU cardiac care.

Is this a current edition suitable for an academic library?
Yes — this is the 7th edition, published September 2026, and is the current standard reference in the field.

Where can I buy Fetal and Neonatal Physiology, 7th Edition?
It is available now at CLNZ Books, Bookseller for Professionals Worldwide.

📘 Learn more about shipping, delivery times, and returns, see our FAQ here

📦 New to ordering with us? See our How to Order guide for payment, shipping, and institutional order options.