Reviewer: Lesley Knight Gilmer, PhD (University of Louisville)
Description: This is one of the premier anatomy atlases for instructors and students. The third edition was published in 2016. This fourth edition has revised autonomic innervation diagrams to make connections distinct from pre- and post-ganglionic sympathetic and parasympathetic fibers. It has also improved table organization and flow and has created easier-to-see labels. Additional sectional and radiographic images have been added to each chapter with several key landmarks labeled and cardinal directions that enable users to understand what they are looking at and where they are looking in each image. More than 120 illustrations images have been added to coincide with the subtle format and layout changes to the two-page spread the Thieme atlas is known for. The main areas that have been improved are the abdomen and pelvis blocks of material, and especially areas students tend to struggle visualizing in the lab — the peritoneum, mesenteries, and inguinal region, for example. Lastly, the book organizes head and neck material the way it is typically seen in the dissection lab. Further clarification work has been done to regions that are difficult to dissect and visualize, such as the pterygopalatine, infratemporal fossa, and cavernous sinus. Additional introductory material has been added to the brain and nervous system chapter. This edition will be the authority for many years to come — the quality of images for difficult regions, clinical correlates, CT and MR images, and neuroanatomy overview will continue to make teaching and learning anatomy a wonderful experience instead of a daunting task.
Purpose: The atlas has responded to requests and comments from users from around the globe to update and make clarifications. Its endeavors have been worthwhile and, when compared to previous editions, one can easily and quickly see how this edition has made great strides to produce user-friendly, easy-to-understand, brilliant images and core clinical correlations that make this atlas the preeminent tool for anatomists and students alike. The additional sectional, radiographic, and illustrated images continue to make some of the challenging-to-teach-and-learn areas easier to grasp. These changes, when looked at in their entirety, are not a small endeavor. This edition is a large leap forward in terms of images, MR and CT imaging, clinical correlate additions clarifying many regions, and expanded neuroanatomy overview. I will be replacing my copies and highly recommending others to look into this new and improved edition. The book has met its objectives. This has been my go-to atlas since graduate school and every time I try another atlas, I return to this one. This particular edition is stellar. The amount of work that has made a great book even better has not gone unnoticed.
Audience: This atlas is written for any student in the health sciences. Teachers use this book as much as students do. I have relied on it and feel lucky to have been able to use, teach, and recommend this atlas to colleagues and students during my 12 years teaching anatomy to all types of healthcare professionals. This book absolutely meets the needs of health sciences students and faculty. The authors are absolute authorities in the field. They are recognized and respected and have contributed immensely to the anatomical sciences and taught and supported all levels of healthcare professionals.
Features: The first chapter starts off with the exploration of the regional anatomy with some surface landmarks. Each subsequent chapter is a methodical approach of bones/ligaments/joints, followed by muscles, neurovascular elements, and ending with sectional and radiographic anatomy. This holds true for the back and the extremities. The only difference for neck, thorax, abdomen, pelvis, and perineum is that the authors have added spaces that indicate the organs found in those spaces. The head anatomy indicates bones, muscles, cranial nerves, neurovascular elements, and the subregions of the head and their relevant components. Noticeable improvements to the abdomen have been accomplished by authors — particularly on the inguinal region, mesentery diagrams and images, explanations of peritoneal spaces, several clinical correlates with fantastic imaging whether it be via scope, drawing, or MR or CT imaging. Similar improvements have been appreciated in the pelvis — including easy-to-review pictures related to the pelvic diaphragm and perineum with involved peritoneal spaces. The urinary system has improved images. The neurovascular pathways in the pelvis, along with lymphatic drainage and simpler-to-follow autonomic diagrams, have been clarified as well. The book has some of the best CT and MRI images of regional anatomy I have ever seen in any atlas. The addition of brain stem sections for cranial nerve nuclei is also a major improvement to introduce concepts in neuroanatomy that will lay a foundation to consider upper and lower motor neurons and primary, secondary, and tertiary sensory neuron connections so students can think about the entire tracts with required synapse sites. The infratemporal fossa and pterygopalatine regions have additional imagery to guide understanding of these complex regions. Lastly, the overview of the nervous system cannot be underappreciated. These subtle but meaningful changes serve as great overview material — preventing individuals from grabbing a neuroanatomy book for some of these basics that overlap between gross and neuroanatomy. The book has premium imaging, both drawn as well as clear and focused CT and MR imaging. There is an ideal balance of labeling that does not overwhelm and invites users to learn/explore without intimidation. The color-coordinated edges of each page help find sections very easily. The book could match the colors of the online sections to that of the hard copy for easy cross-reference and familiarity with both products. Both the online and hard copies seem to offer the same resources, which is useful in learning and teaching. There are no shortcomings of this atlas. The team of authors and editors have obviously been busy collecting feedback from anatomists all over the globe. The modifications, insights, additions, and improvements made to this edition are small but make the resource better and bring it to the next level. The new edition is justified and exceeds expectations.
Assessment: This book has been my go-to reference for learning and teaching for my entire career. I have used Grants, Gray's, and Netter's in that order of frequency, but, just like a person who uses a Mac or PC — it is difficult to switch to another book once you are used to a particular one. This atlas is clear, concise, well organized, and inviting. The atlas' easy-to-access, great images have been the most valuable asset to my career when instructing students, as well as to the success of the healthcare students I have had the pleasure of teaching. Many of my students buy this book above all others; I get great feedback from colleagues; and I am excited to continue using the latest edition of this Thieme atlas. It is an absolute must-read that will be able to stand the test of time. The fourth edition's improvements were all the small items anatomists are known for recognizing — organization, details, and clarity. This edition will be enjoyed and appreciated by countless educators and students alike.
