Gilroy AM. Anatomy: An Essential Textbook. Thieme; 2013; 504 pgs.; 450 illustrations; $44.99
Radiologists are traditionally known to their colleagues for their strong knowledge of anatomy. Even though this textbook is primarily intended for medical students, it can still be of value as a reference for all physicians, and particularly radiologists, for reviewing functional human anatomy. In this handsomely produced softcover textbook by Thieme publishing, Dr. Ann Gilroy, the author, and the medical illustrators, Mark Voll and Carl Wesker, provide a comprehensive textbook of human anatomy, very reminiscent of the Frank Netter publications. The images are very clear and colorful, and the legends very legible and informative.
As stated in the preface, in writing this text the author was challenged to match today’s integrated teaching methods in medical school, and has included some principles of physiology, histology, embryology, and pathology with the anatomical images. Radiographic images are essentially non-existent. The book contains over 450 illustrations and 95 tables in addition to over 165 clinical correlations, which are incorporated into the text. Even though it is a comprehensive anatomical textbook for the whole body, the Head and Neck section is the largest, containing 120 pages.
The first chapter of the book is an introduction explaining anatomical terminology, concepts, and organ systems. The rest of the textbook is organized into seven regions: back, thorax, abdomen, pelvis and perineum, upper limb, the lower limb, and head a neck. Each of these regions contains chapters, beginning with an overview and completed with USMLE style questions, followed by answers and explanations.
The number of USMLE type questions total approximately 400—one-half from the book and one-half from an online source via an access code provided with purchase of the book. In addition to the questions, there are about 500 anatomical illustrations with “labels on/off” on the online site. This online access includes a “PLUS” subscription on the www.winkingskull.com website and gives access to limited content from several Thieme publications, including over 807 illustrations from the Atlas of Anatomy, 56 questions from Obstetrics and Gynecology Essentials of Critical Care, 12 questions from Fundamentals of Medical Physiology, 113 questions from the Pocket Atlas of Pharmacology, 93 questions from Physiology: An Illustrated Review, 113 questions from Pharmacology: An Illustrated Review, and 379 questions from Anatomy: An Essential Textbook.
The table of contents is one page long and very basic. The index is well organized, with italicized page numbers representing clinical applications. Illustrative and tabular materials are indicated by the letters “f” and “t,” respectively, immediately following the page number.
Compared with other traditional anatomy textbooks like Frank Netter’s Atlas of Human Anatomy, this book would benefit greatly from radiographic image correlation, which is glaringly absent except for an oblique plain radiograph of the lumbar spine and a posteroanterior chest radiograph. There are a few more radiographic images accessible through the online source.
Overall, this is an innovatively presented anatomy textbook I would recommend primarily for first-year medical students but which could also serve as a good review of anatomy for all medical professionals, radiologists included.
