Atlas of Human Anatomy in Cross Section

Preface

Ronald A. Bergman, Ph.D., Adel K. Afifi, M.D., Jean J. Jew, M.D., and Paul C. Reimann, B.S.
Peer Review Status: Externally Peer Reviewed

Although several books have been produced recently on sectional anatomy, none appear to be intended as detailed, comprehensive anatomies. Many of these texts appear to be designed to demonstrate and teach the correlations between sectional anatomy and MR and CT images at an introductory level. Because of the tremendous technological advances that have been made in imaging, radiologists have become partners with anatomists in making important contributions to an understanding of sectional anatomy and in playing leading roles in investigations of gross and applied anatomy.

We were impressed with the magnitude and depth of the work by Eycleshymer and Schoemaker, A Cross-Section Anatomy, published by D. Appleton Company in 1911, and now out of print. As a consequence, our goal was to produce an "in-depth" reference book to fill the gap left by Eycleshymer and Schoemaker, thereby extending the important contribution made by these authors.

We are indebted to all our predecessors both recent and ancient. Their observations aided us in our interpretation of anatomical details. We are under no illusion, however, that this effort is faultless and error free. We are responsible for all errors of fact and ask that these or other suggestions be brought to our attention for correction in any subsequent editions.

The present work attempts to provide a high-quality color atlas of sectional anatomy in the axial plane. Photographic images offer the best means of correlation with radiologic images, and drawings have not been used except as "key figures." The authors would have liked the illustrations to be life size so that even the smallest anatomic detail could be resolved in the published photographs, but the prohibitive cost would have limited the book's accessibility--which would have defeated a major purpose in putting together this work.

It is our hope that this book will serve the needs of our colleagues in radiology as well as in anatomy. Those interested in MR and CT will find, we believe, an anatomic reference text that is sufficiently visually precise and detailed to aid in difficult interpretations.

Our publisher has been very patient with our delays in meeting deadlines; we thank our editors and sponsor for their indulgence.

Ronald A. Bergman
Adel K. Afifi
Jean Y. Jew
Paul C. Reimann

Iowa City, Iowa
November 1990

---Santayana

To the memory of Albert C. Eycleshymer, Daniel M. Schoemaker, and Peter Potter. Their work in sectional anatomy set the standard of excellence.

To our students past and present and to our anatomist colleagues worldwide.

URL: http://www.anatomyatlases.org/