Books for Prep | |
 - Anatomy and Histology: The Basis of MedicineInstrumental to any review textbook is the ability to comprehensively review fundamental concepts while at the same time maintaining brevity and exactitude. Equally important, is a clinical review textbook that presents in lucid detail subject matter from histology and cell biology (microanatomy), Gross Anatomy, Neuroanatomy and Embryology in the first year medical school curriculum in a way that encompasses the material learned during the second year which is more clinically inclined. Anatomy: Review for USMLE, Step 1 Third Edition by Drs. Johnson, Slaby and Bohn of the faculty of the George Washington University School of Medicine is such a book. Dr. Johnson's review of anatomy for students has been put together in a modular organization, whereby the student can choose the order he/she wishes to follow and still receive the material in a solid and graspable fashion. The premise that solidifies mastery of the various topics is in applying the anatomy to solve clinical problems. This technique of "applied anatomy" gives students a keen perspective of the various aspects involved in caring for patients from a variety of age groups and with vast conditions. Furthermore, the complement of tables, diagrams, and schematics with questions analyzing them allows students a sense of active involvement. In addition, the book is full of state of the art clinical images, including MRI, CT scans, and hi-quality radiographs. This review guide brings the knowledge of three true experts that have dedicated their career to teaching and pedagogy together with a clinical focus for medical students. Having the privilege of being a 2nd year medical student at the G.W.U. School of Medicine and taking the Histology course taught by Dr. Johnson, Gross Anatomy with Dr. Slaby, and Neuroanatomy with Dr. Bohn was the convincing force in purchasing this text for me. The key secret to mastering this material is to build a strong basic understanding, or framework, on which you can build on in the future as a physician. Dr. Johnson's success in the classroom and in this amazing review text is the way in which he weaves the facts together, presents them in a concise fashion, and places them in the perfect clinical context. Various human ailments and diseases, congenital or acquired, from retinoblastoma to hereditary spherocytosis are presented in line with anatomical subject matter. For example, the histology and cell biology portion of this anatomy review begins with a clinical scenario of repeated respiratory tract infections and thick mucous secretions in a young patient. From there, a series of questions drawing upon various levels of understanding are presented. No worries if you miss any question, because each series of question items is followed by an in-depth organized mini-tutorial with answers! The explanations are organized to provide as much detail as you the student needs. Generally, each clinical scenario is deciphered as to epidemiology, molecular genetics, in-depth anatomical review of essential elements, and a conclusive paragraph with more fascinating details if time permits. It is this presentation of the material in a sound clinical and molecular genetic fashion that really sets this review text apart from the others out there! The evolution of the human, from embryo to fetus to neonate is so illustratively dissected. Topics ranging from ectopic pregnancies to pharyngeal arch malformations, and the most common congenital anomalies (trisomy 13, 18, 21) are discussed with brevity and clarity to get the main trigger points across. Importantly, any review text must not only explain and get across the common principles of a concept, but also highlight the subtleties that may be overlooked by students studying for lengthy examinations such as the USMLE. This is exactly what Dr. Johnson's anatomy review does throughout the chapters. For instance, pointing out to students that while an ectopic pregnancy is defined as "anywhere outside the uterine cavity," placenta previa is not an ectopic pregnancy due to the fact that both placenta and fetus are "within the uterus." The topic of neural tube defects is re-introduced to students with a well-known example of encephalocele shown with ultrasonography. Next, based on that example appropriate diagnostic texts are highlighted. With this specific example, the module also presents variants of NTDs with their clinical severity. The ability to connect significance medically based on structure/functional relationships is clearly without question exemplary in this book. The author's really drill the body's inter-connectedness by addressing how everything works together. It is spectacular that while brevity is maintained the material is solid and effectual for developing a strong background as a future physician. How is this accomplished? Seemingly by the author's ability to understand what is really important to physicians in a broad sense and then working backwards to give the necessary insight to explain what things mean to physician's patients in terms of management, treatment and prognosis. What's the difference between a tumor above or below the pectinate line? As the author's show, because of the different derivations of the tissue above and below the pectinate line (endoderm vs. ectoderm) the same cancer can present differently with an exclusive prognosis of its own. So given the cancer's origin, it could be clinically silent, painless, and more detrimental based strictly on location. You need to read this interesting case to find out exactly what I'm talking about. The module on Gross Anatomy does a really terrific job of making anatomy simple to understand with the use of figures and diagrams including labels that put structures/organs into perspective with necessary and sufficient review. Recall of anatomical structures is repeatedly questioned. Certain questions draw from the figures and test your understanding of regional and surface anatomy. Importantly, as throughout the review book, the significance of the body's connections, in this case lymphatic drainage, is accentuated with relevance to disease location/nature. One of the strongest aspects of the anatomy section is the illumination of the workings of the brachial plexus, divided into upper and lower brachial plexus injuries. The authors present ten sites of injury within the plexus supported with excellent diagrams that explain clinically important injuries. Moreover, the muscles of the upper/lower extremities, many in number, are presented in an easy to learn fashion. Diagrams of the brachial plexus and sources of innervation with the muscles involved are presented systematically, sprinkled with clinical scenarios to flavor things up. This section proved to be very insightful and suites those interested in a through review of this important anatomical landmark. The Neuroanatomy chapter was a splendid delight because it was able to bring together everything that I'd learned in neuroanatomy. The inclusion of sagittal and coronal MRIs (labeled) of the human brain, with accompanying drawings of the intact brain really helped this section flow with ease and enjoyment. What I found very satisfying educationally was the depiction of spinal cord lesions such as the famous Brown-Séquard syndrome, with emphasis of major neurological findings of this and many more abnormalities. The neuroanatomy section will give medical students a very sturdy base to prepare for the boards. In closing, I would have to say this anatomy review book is a really worthy addition to any physician's library. It is one I would recommend to any colleague of mine. It really has to do with the writer's who have an extensive background in the sciences and the practice of medicine. Given that the future of medicine is personalized: placing the entire genome of a patient on a tiny microchip, I would definitely recommend this text to current medical students preparing for USMLE Step 1 and to physicians already in the field to enhance their understanding of medicine as it is becoming. By, M.J. Hajjar-Nejad, MSII The George Washington University School of Medicine page 1 of 1
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