Illustrated Human Anatomy: The Authoritative Visual Guide to the Human Body

Vayttaden (research fellow, National Inst. of Allergy and Infectious Diseases) and Gustafson, a medical doctor and writer, explore and explain the human body. The book is organized into 12 systems (skeletal, cardiovascular, reproductive), each of which is further divided (for instance, under “respiratory system,” readers will find sections on lungs, breathing, gaseous exchange, disorders, and lung cancers). The writing is succinct and occasionally complex, supported by an abundance of 3D renderings, charts, cross-sections, low-magnification micrographs, illustrations, and photographs, the majority of which come from the medical illustration company SciePro. Boxed sidebars (on, for instance, the anatomy of a taste bud) and graphics (an image depicting an aneurysm) address niche topics and add clarity. Readers will be aided by the book’s thoughtful page layouts, font choices, and use of color; the glossary and index add to usefulness.