Basic Histology: Text and Atlas, 11th Edition Doody's Expert Review Review Questionnaire ISBN: 9780071440912 ISBN-10: 0071440917 Copyright: 2005 Edition: 11th Editors: Junqueira, Luiz Carlos, Carneiro, Jose, Doody's Expert Review    Score: 82 Doody's Star Rating™ and Doody's Expert Review provide by Doody Enterprises, Inc. Reviewer: Ronald Jensh,  B.A., M.A., Ph.D.  (Thomas Jefferson University) Description This is the 11th edition of a well written and illustrated histologic textbook presented in a topic order that is typical of all standard histologic texts, with appropriate and well executed illustrative material. The previous edition was published just two years ago. Purpose The purpose is to provide students with an understanding of basic histologic structure and function. It also provides students with an appreciation of the interaction of cells within and among the various tissues and organ systems. Such an understanding will lead to a better comprehension of the processes that occur in pathology and pathophysiology. These certainly are worthy objectives and the book does meet these goals. Audience The book is written for students in postgraduate schools of medical specialties (human and veterinarian, nursing, allied health). It is also appropriate for upper division (3rd and 4th year) biology students in colleges and universities. It would also be of use to professionals in these areas as a reference source. The authors are credible authorities; the senior author has been writing this textbook for many years. Features The text/atlas covers all the basic tissues of the body and each of the organ systems. In addition, there are two chapters on the cell ("The Cytoplasm" and "The Cell Nucleus") and one chapter on histologic methodology. The chapters are in appropriate order, starting with the basic tissues of the body and proceeding to each of the organ systems. It is interesting to note, however, that although the immune system chapter is one that was more extensively revised, the authors still call that chapter "Lymphoid Organs." The book also includes clinical correlative examples which serve to reinforce the importance of the material being discussed. There are no particularly unique features to this basic text/atlas. With that said, it should be pointed out that the photographs are very good and the drawings are very well executed. Assessment This is a very well written and illustrated text/atlas of histology. It compares very favorably with other histologic text/atlases. The authors have always produced very high quality editions. The one reservation I have concerns the difference between this edition and the previous one, which was published only two years ago. Although the authors have replaced a few of the photographs with resin-embedded specimens, that is a minor issue. Also, although they state that genome material has been added, the nerve chapter rewritten, and the immune and cell chapters revised, the majority of the text/atlas remains unchanged from the previous edition. I am always biased toward the latest text available. However, in the interest of students' concerns about educational costs, I must state that I feel that it is questionable whether the changes that have been made justify the cost of purchasing the 11th edition to replace a previously purchased 10th edition. Review Questionnaire Range Question Score 1-10 Are the author's objectives met? 10 1-10 Rate the worthiness of those objectives. 10 1-5 Is this written at an appropriate level? 5 1-5 Is there significant duplication? (1=significant, 5=insignificant) 4 1-5 Are there significant omissions? (1=significant, 5=insignificant) 4 1-5 Rate the authority of the authors. 4 1-5 Are there sufficient illustrations? 5 1-5 Rate the pedagogic value of the illustrations. 4 1-5 Rate the print quality of the illustrations. 4 1-5 Are there sufficient references? 5 1-5 Rate the currency of the references. 3 1-5 Rate the pertinence of the references. 3 1-5 Rate the helpfulness of the index. 3 1-5 If important in this specialty, rate the physical appearance of the book 4 1-10 Is this a worthwhile contribution to the field? 8 1-10 If this is a 2nd or later edition, is this new edition needed? 6 ©2010 Doody Enterprises, Inc.