Gray's anatomy : the anatomical basis of clinical practice.

The currently popular TV series Grey's Anatomy attracts at least a casual look-see from some of the multitude of people exposed to the classic text Gray's Anatomy. Although human anatomy hasn't changed a great deal since the first edition (published in 1858), the bells and whistles associated with the presentation of this information change constantly. An indication of this is the PIN code that accompanies the 39th edition, allowing access to . This Web site provides electronic images of many of the illustrations in the text, as well as updates of text material, all at the click of a computer mouse. If this access is insufficient for the electronically inclined, the book contains two CDs, one with interactive anatomical models and the other providing an electronic image collection. The volume itself is still a prodigious tome, measuring 30 x 23.5 x 7.25 cm, containing 1,557 pages of text, and an additional 68 pages of subject index. A brief but fascinating historical introduction places the progressive editions of the work in context. Not only does it contain a photo of Henry Gray, the originator of the first edition, it also notes that he died at age 34 from smallpox. The printed text continues to be liberally and superbly illustrated. The old standby line drawings are still present, but nearly all have been "colorized" to some degree. Photo macrographs, light micrographs, and electron micrographs abound. The advancement of computerized axial tomography (CAT) scanning and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has allowed production of noninvasive images of cross-sections of the torso and other body parts that bring three-dimensional anatomy to life through two-dimensional images. In short, this latest edition of Gray's Anatomy is well worth its list price, and should become a part of any biomedical library collection. ^BSumming Up: Highly recommended. All levels. L. A. Meserve Bowling Green State University