Head and Neck Anatomy for Dental Medicine

ERIC W. BAKER, MA, MPhil, Editor 
372 pages, 825 illustrations. $64.95. 2010. 
Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc., 333 Seventh Ave., New York, NY 10001. 
(800) 782-3488; www.thieme.com

This exceptional textbook, devoted to the structures of the head and neck, is based on Thieme's Atlas of Anatomy series. The five main sections are colortabbed for ease of reference: Head (orange tab) contains five chapters on the cranial bones, muscles of the skull and face, arteries and veins, nerves of the head and neck, and neurovascular topography; Regions of the Head (green) includes chapters on the eye, nose and nasal cavity, temporal bone and ear, and oral cavity and perioral regions; Neck (gold) covers bones, ligaments, and muscles, as well as the larynx and the neurovascular topography of the neck; Neuroanatomy (purple) illustrates the nervous system, brain, and spinal cord; and Sectional Anatomy (red) depicts coronal, transverse, and sagittal views of the head and neck in both drawings and magnetic resonance images. The substantial final chapter, "Sectional Anatomy of the Head & Neck", will be especially useful for clinicians who need to be familiar with imaging, but may not have had formal training in radiology.

Clinically relevant descriptions of the embryonic origin of anatomical structures are presented in a clear and concise format. Because this information is usually found in a separate textbook, it is helpful to find it incorporated into an anatomy text. What really make this book so appealing, however, are the 900- plus illustrations by Markus Voll and Karl Wesker, which are clear and well labeled, following the model developed by the celebrated medical illustrator, Dr. Frank Netter. Each topic is uniquely presented in a visually stunning two-page spread that promotes a deeper understanding of the material. The tables are well constructed and informative, many so succinct that they would make useful references throughout one's career.

Although one hardly needs an additional incentive to purchase this beautiful atlas, an access code permits the reader to register online for WinkingSkull.com Plus--an interactive study aid that offers more than 560 fullcolor illustrations and radiographs, including a "labels-on/labels-off" section and timed selftests with instant results.