Surface Anatomy. The Anatomical Basis of Clinical Examination, 2nd edn. By John S. P. Lumley. (Pp....
1
J. Anat. (1997) 190, p. 317 Printed in Great Britain 317 Book Reviews New Concepts of a Blood–Brain Barrier. Edited by J G, D J. B and M B. S. (Pp. xi›331; some figures; $89.50 hardback ; ISBN 0 306 45204 9) New York, London : Plenum Press. 1995. A symposium was held in London in July 1994 to commemorate the retirement of Professor Michael Bradbury as Professor of Physiology at King’s College London. Mike Bradbury had had a substantial influence on blood–brain barrier studies, not just on the London scene, but also nationally and internationally. I caught up with his work in the early 1970s, having spent a number of years investigating the demyelinating diseases. It was clear that a proper understanding of the contributing role of blood–brain barrier changes was going to be essential. Mike Bradbury’s work was at once stimulating and illuminating. It was also a reference source, notably his 1979 book The Concept of a Blood–Brain Barrier, the title of which was adapted for the Festschrift held in his honour. The proceedings of the symposium have now been published as a book containing the 31 papers presented. Since blood–brain barrier studies represent such an extensive and dynamic research field in neuroscience it is not surprising that a new book appears every few years to assess the current state of knowledge. The last major work was The Blood–Brain Barrier : Cellular and Molecular Biology, edited by W. M. Pardridge (1993). Comparisons may be invidious but that is what this business is about. The Pardridge book was a significant landmark, being the first collection of review chapters on molecular aspects of the blood–brain barrier. Both its publication and purchase were therefore well justified. With the present book the situation is not so clear. The chapters are almost entirely presentations of the authors’ own work, some of them are only a few pages long and several assume the conventional research paper format of ‘ Introduction ’, ‘ Materials and Methods ’, etc. In no sense are the chapters reviews of our current state of knowledge of the blood–brain barrier topics. More likely they represent research findings which have been or will be published in more detail elsewhere in science journals. At a cost of £70 it is difficult to see the book selling readily. In the past libraries often bought scientific symposia published in book form. In the present financial climate, hard-pressed university libraries are likely to be very discriminating about book buying and less inclined to purchase symposia books. My own view is that this symposium and its central figure would have been better served by the proceedings appearing as a journal supplement. Having said that, many of the papers included make fascinating reading. The chapters cover a very wide range of blood–brain barrier topics and are written by authorities in the field from several countries throughout the world. Such a gathering of scientists in one place, plus many others attending, is no doubt a measure of the esteem in which Mike Bradbury and his work are held. . Surface Anatomy. The Anatomical Basis of Clinical Examination, 2nd edn. By J S. P. L. (Pp. vii›110; 210 colour figures ; £13.50 paperback ; ISBN 0 443 05302 2.) Edinburgh : Churchill Livingstone. 1996. Surface anatomy is one of the most important aspects of anatomical teaching to preclinical students since it will form the basis of much of their appreciation of physical signs when they proceed to their clinical studies. Moreover, as the title of this book implies, the subject is of continuing interest even in postgraduate years. Most medical schools now appreciate this and have practical classes dedicated to this subject (perhaps better called ‘ living anatomy ’) often supplemented by in-house videos. The second edition of Professor Lumley’s book will be welcomed by teachers and students alike. It is brief, and beautifully illustrated with really excellent colour photo- graphs, many of which have numbered overlays of under- lying structures. The text is supplemented by copious notes of the clinical significance of the anatomical features. Of course, there is always room for expansion. With increasing interest in laparoscopic surgery, and reports of massive abdominal wall haematomas therefrom, a note on the position of the inferior epigastric vessels would be useful. Similarly, keen house officers inserting chest tubes in a hurry can damage the internal thoracic vessels unless reminded of their position. Is there a prize for spotting pathology in the healthy young subjects of the photographs ? The brave volunteer for the illustration for the surface anatomy of the perineum has what looks to me like a resolving perianal haematoma. This book, in its second edition, will reinforce its position as a valuable addition to our existing atlases of surgical anatomy.
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Transcript of Surface Anatomy. The Anatomical Basis of Clinical Examination, 2nd edn. By John S. P. Lumley. (Pp....
J. Anat. (1997) 190, p. 317 Printed in Great Britain 317
Book Reviews
New Concepts of a Blood–Brain Barrier. Edited by
J G, D J. B and
M B. S. (Pp. xi331; some figures ;
$89.50 hardback; ISBN 0 306 45204 9) New
York, London: Plenum Press. 1995.
A symposium was held in London in July 1994 tocommemorate the retirement of Professor Michael Bradburyas Professor of Physiology at King’s College London. MikeBradbury had had a substantial influence on blood–brainbarrier studies, not just on the London scene, but alsonationally and internationally. I caught up with his work inthe early 1970s, having spent a number of years investigatingthe demyelinating diseases. It was clear that a properunderstanding of the contributing role of blood–brainbarrier changes was going to be essential. Mike Bradbury’swork was at once stimulating and illuminating. It was alsoa reference source, notably his 1979 book The Concept ofa Blood–Brain Barrier, the title of which was adapted for theFestschrift held in his honour. The proceedings of thesymposium have now been published as a book containingthe 31 papers presented.
Since blood–brain barrier studies represent such anextensive and dynamic research field in neuroscience it is notsurprising that a new book appears every few years to assessthe current state of knowledge. The last major work was TheBlood–Brain Barrier: Cellular and Molecular Biology, editedby W. M. Pardridge (1993). Comparisons may be invidiousbut that is what this business is about. The Pardridge bookwas a significant landmark, being the first collection ofreview chapters on molecular aspects of the blood–brainbarrier. Both its publication and purchase were thereforewell justified. With the present book the situation is not soclear. The chapters are almost entirely presentations of theauthors’ own work, some of them are only a few pages longand several assume the conventional research paper formatof ‘Introduction ’, ‘Materials and Methods ’, etc. In no senseare the chapters reviews of our current state of knowledge ofthe blood–brain barrier topics. More likely they representresearch findings which have been or will be published inmore detail elsewhere in science journals. At a cost of £70 itis difficult to see the book selling readily. In the past librariesoften bought scientific symposia published in book form. Inthe present financial climate, hard-pressed universitylibraries are likely to be very discriminating about bookbuying and less inclined to purchase symposia books. Myown view is that this symposium and its central figure would
have been better served by the proceedings appearing as ajournal supplement. Having said that, many of the papersincluded make fascinating reading. The chapters cover avery wide range of blood–brain barrier topics and arewritten by authorities in the field from several countriesthroughout the world. Such a gathering of scientists in oneplace, plus many others attending, is no doubt a measure ofthe esteem in which Mike Bradbury and his work are held.
.
Surface Anatomy. The Anatomical Basis of Clinical
Examination, 2nd edn. By J S. P. L.
(Pp. vii110; 210 colour figures ; £13.50
paperback; ISBN 0 443 05302 2.) Edinburgh:
Churchill Livingstone. 1996.
Surface anatomy is one of the most important aspects ofanatomical teaching to preclinical students since it willform the basis of much of their appreciation of physicalsigns when they proceed to their clinical studies. Moreover,as the title of this book implies, the subject is of continuinginterest even in postgraduate years. Most medical schoolsnow appreciate this and have practical classes dedicated tothis subject (perhaps better called ‘ living anatomy’) oftensupplemented by in-house videos.
The second edition of Professor Lumley’s book will bewelcomed by teachers and students alike. It is brief, andbeautifully illustrated with really excellent colour photo-graphs, many of which have numbered overlays of under-lying structures. The text is supplemented by copious notesof the clinical significance of the anatomical features. Ofcourse, there is always room for expansion. With increasinginterest in laparoscopic surgery, and reports of massiveabdominal wall haematomas therefrom, a note on theposition of the inferior epigastric vessels would be useful.Similarly, keen house officers inserting chest tubes in a hurrycan damage the internal thoracic vessels unless reminded oftheir position.
Is there a prize for spotting pathology in the healthyyoung subjects of the photographs? The brave volunteer forthe illustration for the surface anatomy of the perineum haswhat looks to me like a resolving perianal haematoma. Thisbook, in its second edition, will reinforce its position as avaluable addition to our existing atlases of surgical anatomy.
