Human Structure

By Matt Cartmill, James Shafland, William L. Hylander

Book Overview

Human Structure is an innovative introduction to human gross anatomy with a twofold approach to view the basics of anatomy from a broad scientific perspective and to explain the facts of form and function in terms and concepts that minimize the usual confusion and anxiety of beginning anatomy studies. Functional, comparative, and developmental anatomy are ingeniously woven into a single explanatory perspective, presenting human anatomy as an intelligible whole rather than as a heap of disconnected facts to be memorized. As a result, Human Structure is suitable not only for first-year medical students but also for undergraduates in premedical or biological science courses, for students in paramedical or college-level nursing programs, and indeed for anyone seeking a refresher course in human anatomy.

The book begins with the generalized segmental organization characteristic of vertebrates and then examines the most obviously segmented parts of the human body: the bones, muscles, vessels, and nerves of the trunk between the neck and the pelvis. The book progresses through regions where the simple organizational plan has undergone more and more radical modifications and ends with the ancient and extreme specializations found in the head. At each step, the authors widen our intellectual understanding of how these modifications have been imposed, onto-genetically or phylogenetically, upon simpler precursors.

The prose is personal and literate, peppered with inventive elucidations of concepts and accompanied by a wealth of illustrations designed for conceptual clarity and ease of visualization. The level of presentation has been finely tuned, over several years of class testing, to enhance its pedagogical effectiveness in human anatomy courses.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0674418050
• ISBN13: 9780674418059
• Release Date: February 1987
• Publisher: Harvard University Press
• Length: 464 Pages
• Weight: 3.30 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 8.8" x 9.6"

Customer Reviews

Anatomy explained

Most anatomy books are dry. I'm a radiology resident, and have looked through several trying to find one that would be easily digestible. This is the one. The text is full of interesting explanations of structure and function from the standpoint of evolutionary biology. Why do the testicles descend from the abdomen during development? The authors go back to the mesonephros of primitive ocean vertebrates and explain it in a few simple sentences. Pictures are more descriptive than accurate; it's no atlas. But if you like learning by understanding instead of by rote, I think this book will do you proud.