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Clinically Oriented Anatomy

Article  in  Journal of Anatomy · March 2006

DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-7580.2006.00537.x · Source: PubMed Central

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G.H. Sperber
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 J. Anat. (2006) 208, p393
Book review
Blackwell Publishing Ltd
Clinically Oriented Anatomy, 5th edn. By Keith L.
Moore and Arthur F. Dalley II. Pp. xxxiii + 1209. 1073
Illustrations. Indexed. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams
& Wilkins, 2005. Softbound. US$72.95, £35. ISBN 0-
7817-3639-0.
Proclaiming itself as ‘the world’s best-selling anatomy
text’, this 5th edition within 25 years, of a comprehen-
sive instruction manual, maintains its reputation in the
fiercely competitive field of anatomy publications.
Its translation into six languages (except UK English)
appears to justify this claim. In so static a subject with
an unchanging content, this new edition nonetheless
has expanded from its previous 4th edition by an addi-
tional 45 pages and by the inclusion for the first time
of two CD-ROM disks, bringing it into the computer
age.
The extensive pedagogical experience of the two
main authors, aided and abetted by a host of interna-
tional contributors and advisors, is evident in the highly
organized layout of the contents. There are nine main
sections; an initial overview, followed by a topographical
approach to the thorax, abdomen, pelvis/perineum,
back, upper and lower limbs, head and neck, terminat-
ing with the cranial nerves. Each section is colour coded
along a thumb index, allowing access to each region
independently. A short ‘History of Anatomy’ section
provides the student with a brief background and
rationale for studying anatomy. The essence of the text
focuses on the clinical applications rather than the
minutiae of esoteric facts that characterize classical
anatomy texts. The use of full-colour surface anatomy
photographs and various modalities of diagnostic
images (X-rays, CAT scans, MRIs, echograms, endo-
scopes, etc.), together with explicit traditional dia-
grams, integrates immediately the relevance of
anatomy to a clinical purpose. The vivid use of colour
throughout the text enhances the tutelage of the writ-
ing. Blue background boxes interspersed with the
descriptive text emphasize the clinical aspects of the
structures. A final ‘Bottom Line’ provides a succinct
© 2006 The Author
Journal compilation © 2006 Anatomical Society of Great Britain and Ireland
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summary, reinforcing the clinical applications perti-
nent to the part.
There are two CD-ROMs enclosed in the cover. The
disks are compatible with either the Mac or PC com-
puter platforms. One is a self-study programme orien-
tated to the text, with interactive multiple choice
questions and case studies related to each chapter, with
answers supplied. The other disk, not directly related to
the book’s contents, is a DVD-ROM entitled ‘Primal 3D
Anatomy’, which is Windows 98/Me/2000/XP compatible
and offers a ‘45-day free trial’ to ‘Interactive Functional
Anatomy’ using 3D models of MRI images generating
layered rotatable anatomical illustrations. After the
trial period expires, a hefty activation fee is required. I
was unable to review this DVD-ROM as the disk provided
with the review book was corrupt. However, a web-
based online access to this program is available at http:/
/www.primalpictures.com that allows a free 24-h trial,
after which a subscription fee is required. Additionally,
there is available an Instructor’s Resource DVD, with JPEG
format images exportable for PowerPoint presentation,
and a question bank of approximately 500 review questions
and answers. The publishers cannily require one to con-
tact the company’s ‘Customer Care’ service to obtain an
institutional single-site licence to obtain this ‘crib’ item.
The electronic study tools accompanying this text
provide an undoubtedly enhanced form of teaching
that makes this a valuable resource for both under-
graduate and graduate levels of anatomy courses. The
lists of references and suggested readings at the ends
of the sections are as much up to date as is possible
with textbook publishing. This book extends the field
of anatomy into every health profession dealing with
the human body, and, as such, is highly recommended
for clinical practitioners as much as for students.
G. H. Sperber
Professor Emeritus
Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry
University of Alberta
E: gsperber@ualberta.ca