Werner Kahle and Michael Frotscher’s pocket-sized Color Atlas of Human Anatomy: Nerve System and Sensory Organs has evolved with the neuroscience field. First published in Germany in 1976, it filled a void and created a niche for itself in the ocean of medical study aids saturated with wordy textbooks, clumsy atlases, and oversimplified handbooks. Since then, its content has undergone 10 revisions in German and six in English to reflect a rapidly expanding knowledge base. The newest edition also contains 181 pages of color plates by Gerhard Spitzer.
The atlas features a wide variety of illustrations, including anatomically accurate drawings, color-coded schematics, histological slides, sketches of patients, experimental setups, and computed tomography slices. The corresponding explanatory text efficiently references these illustrations to create a smooth narrative. Users based in both clinics and research labs will find this atlas a useful reference. Particularly helpful for medical students and practicing physicians is the clinical tips feature, which has been greatly expanded in this edition. For instance, there are tips on how to check for joint and muscle defects associated with peripheral nerve injuries, where to place a lumber puncture, and how to determine if cerebellar function has been altered by alcohol-induced intoxication.
Also new in this edition is a section on neurotransmitter release mechanisms, an update on neuroimaging techniques, and many references to development and evolution. Difficult concepts such as the difference between T1 and T2 modes in magnetic resonance imaging are explained in a clear, concise manner. The reader’s curiosity is tickled by discussions of the varying telecephalon structures among hedgehogs, tupaias, lemurs, and humans, as well as the resemblance between the homunculus and the somatotopic organization in the cerebellum of a cat. Just enough molecular details have been included to introduce intra-axonal transport, vesicle release, and transmitter signaling. However, this is ultimately an “Atlas of Human Anatomy,” and as such the truly cell-biologically inclined will have to look elsewhere.
Versatility likely contributes to this book’s longevity as a study aid. It presents information in different modalities to target an audience with diverse learning styles. The smooth text appeals to those who learn by reading and writing. Visual learners are drawn to the illustrations. For kinesthetic learners, the accompanied access to WinkingSkull is the perfect tool with options to toggle labels and spin brain images 360 degrees.
In conclusion, Color Atlas of Human Anatomy: Nerve System and Sensory Organs helps build a solid foundation in the normal physiology, anatomy, and function of the nervous system while being mindful of the evolutionary and clinical implications. This book is expected to continue to thrive as a handy companion for learners of neuroscience for years to come.