Br. J. Surg. Vol. 62 (1975) 501-504

Reviews and notices of books

Functional Anatomy of the Digestive System R . M . H . McMinn, London, and M. H . Hobdell, London. 240 x 185 mm. Pp. 239+xi. Illustrated. 1974. Tunbridge Wells: Pitman Medical. f2 .90. MODERN preclinical education has two important features. First, it tries to break down the rigid barriers between the various disciplines which make up the student’s curriculum; this simplifies and rationalizes the enormous amount of material he must ingest during his undergraduate career. Secondly, it attempts to select and emphasize the topics which the student is going to need in the clinical part of his course and in his subsequent career. This volume achieves both these commend- able targets. It considers the digestive tube and its adnexa from anatomical, histological, developmental and physiological aspects, emphasizing wherever possible the practical appli- cations of basic sciences. In the section on the mouth, the teeth have becn considered in some detail for the benefit of dental students, Dr Hobdell being an experienced teacher of dental anatomy. The text includes descriptions of surface markings, normal radiography and the techniques of investi- gating the various components of the alimentary tract. The book is clearly written and produced, and is copiously illus- trated by line diagrams, together with histological and electron- microscopic photographs.

This is a book which can be recommended without hesitation to medical and dental students. The reviewer’s only regret is that it was not available to him 31 years ago. HAROLD ELLis

Atlas of Human Anatomy. Volumes 1, 2 and 3 Edited F. H . T. Figge and W. J. Hild. Ninth English edttion. Based on the seventeenth German edition edited by H . Ferner and J . Staubesand. 250x200 mm. Pp. 275+xui, 245+xvi and 3 5 7 t x x , with 365, 315 and 443 illustrations respectiuely. 1974. Miinchen: Urban & Schwarzenberg. D M 75, 75 and 85. THIS is the ninth edition in English of the Atlas of Human Anatomy, largely supervised by Professor F. H. T. Figge of Baltimore before he died and completed in the emergency by Professor W. J . Hild of Galveston. There is a companion seven- teenth edition in German.

The continued popularity of this book speaks for itself. The English edition is obviously more used in America than in the United Kingdom and this is a measure of the curtailment of work in American dissecting rooms and an indication of how most anatomical museums have been transformed into labora- tories devoted to ultrastructure and not to gross structure. There are sufficient plates of different levels of exposure in most regions to make the surgeon familiar with what to expect as the way opens up before his scalpel.

Without doubt the price will deter most British under- graduate students, but the book’s continued presence in college libraries and postgraduate centres will ensure its justified popularity.

Volume 1 is concerned with the locomotor system in general. There could probably have been more X-rays of bones and joints and ossification is rarely mentioned. The diagram of the muscle attachments in the hand (Fig. 326) is difficult to fo!low, but that of the foot (Fig. 354)-well, words fail.

Volume 2 is concerned with visceral anatomy. Variations in shape and position are illustrated with X-rays, and the surgeon will find the illustrations of the commoner arrangements of the extrahepatic biliary system useful. The X-rays are of a very good standard and are well reproduced. Some are unusual, as of the seminal vesicles and the ducti deferentia viewed against an air-filled urinary hladder! The three-dimensional low power histological photomicrographs of the wall of the different regions of the alimentary tract are very helpful.

Volume 3 is concerned with the nervous system, skin, etc. This volume contains an Errata insert-mostly of names which had not been changed from the Latin or the German into English. Brain plates are very standard. The diagrams of cortical localization by Brodmann and by Foerster have been retained and there are summaries of the main afferent and efferent pathways. The section on the autonomic nervous system is short and not very helpful. There is a jungle of sympathetic fibres. The cranial parasympathetic ganglia are shown along with the peripheral nerves. The pelvic para- sympathetic nerves could not be found anywhere.

I. T. AITKEN

Endoscopy of the Small Intestine with Retrograde Pancreato- cholangiography Edited L . Demling and M . Classen, Erlangen. 230 x 155 mm. Pp. 143+xi, with 114 illustrations. 1974. Stuttgart: Georg Thieme Verlag. DM.38. THE ideas formulated at the International Workshop on Enteroscopy in July 1972 at Erlangen are recorded in this book in abridged form.

The first part of the book deals with the duodenum and papilla of Vater. This opens with a helpful paper on the diag- nosis of duodenal ulcer with various fibrescopes and goes on to discuss questions in non-ulcer duodenopathy (‘duodenitis’). Some more unusual subjects are then discussed, such as islands of gastric mucosa in the duodenum and malignant tumours of the upper small intestine.

The second part of the book is concerned with the pancreas, with the technical problems of retrograde pancreatography and the difficulty in diagnosing tumours and chronic pancrea- titis. There are useful papers on evaluation of angiography and pancreatography in radiological diagnosis of pancreatic diseases, and an interesting article on duodenoscopic collec- tion of intraductal pure pancreatic juice and its application to cytodiagnosis. There is also a paper on the hazards of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography. The brief paper on endoscopy in the diagnosis of obstructive jaundice is particularly useful. Inspection of the small bowel from above and below is adequately dealt with.

Progress of endoscopy in the past 10 years has been truly remarkable and this book represents a useful summary of the present position. IAN MCCOLL

Abdominal Echography. Ultrasound in the Diagnosis of Ab- dominal Conditions E. Barnett andP. Morley, Glasgow. 216x 140 mm. Pp. 138l-x. Illustrated. 1974. London: The Butterworth Group. f4.50. THIS little paperback book encompasses the immense experi- ence of the authors in the art of sonar techniques. The illus- trations almost exceed the text in quantity and are master- pieces of clarity. The techniques of obtaining ultrasonograms and the basis for interpreting them are made clear in a way which leaves the reader with no lingering doubts. The diag- nostic uses available to the gynaecologist, obstetrician, internist, general surgeon and urologist are all concisely covered. Every new subject produces its own terminology and a useful glossary is provided to help and instruct the beginner.

Now that higher qualifications in diagnostic radiology demand knowledge of sonar methods, aspirants would be well advised to take the opportunity of assimilating the know- ledge here presented in such palatable form. Considering the very lprge number of illustrations the price of this book must be regbrded as reasonable. IAN DONALD

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