Netter’s Clinical Anatomy (Netter Basic Science) 4th Edition

Book Preface

Human anatomy is the foundation upon which the education of our medical, dental, and allied health science students is built. However, today’s biomedical science curriculum must cover an ever-increasing body of scientiic knowledge, often in fewer hours, as competing disciplines and new technologies emerge. Many of these same technologies, especially those in the imaging science ields, have made understanding the anatomy even more important and have moved our discipline irmly into the realm of clinical medicine. It is fair to say that competent clinicians and allied health professionals can no longer simply view their anatomical training in isolation from the clinical implications related to that anatomy.

In this context, I am proud to introduce the fourth edition of Netter’s Clinical Anatomy. Generations of students have used Dr. Frank H. Netter’s elegant anatomical illustrations to learn anatomy, and this book combines his beautiful anatomical and embryological renderings with numerous clinical illustrations to help students bridge the gap between normal anatomy and its clinical application across each region of the human body. his fourth edition provides succinct text, key bulleted points, and ample summary tables, which ofer students a concise textbook description of normal human anatomy, as well as a quick reference and review guide for clinical practitioners. Additionally, 215 Clinical Focus boxes representing some of the more commonly encountered clinical conditions seen in medical practice are integrated within the textbook. hese clinical correlations are drawn from a wide variety of medical ields including emergency medicine, radiology, orthopedics, and surgery, but also include relevant clinical anatomy related to the ields of cardiology, endocrinology, infectious diseases, neurology, oncology, reproductive biology, and urology. By design, the text and clinical correlations are not exhaustive but are meant to help students focus on the essential elements of anatomy and begin to appreciate some of the clinical manifestations related to that anatomy. Other features of this edition include:
• An introductory chapter designed to orient students to the body’s organ systems • A set of end-of-chapter clinically oriented multiple choice review questions to help reinforce student learning of key concepts • Basic embryology of each system that provides a contextual framework for human postnatal anatomy and several common congenital defects • Online access with additional Clinical Focus boxes

My intent in writing this updated fourth edition of Netter’s Clinical Anatomy was to provide a concise and focused introduction to clinical anatomy as a viable alternative to the more comprehensive anatomy textbooks, which few students read and often ind diicult to navigate when looking for essential anatomical details. Moreover, this textbook serves as an excellent essential review text for students beginning their clinical clerkships or elective programs, and as a reference text that clinicians will ind useful for review and patient education. he text is by no means comprehensive but does provide the essential anatomy needed by the generalist physician-in-training that is commonly encountered in the irst year of medical school. I have intentionally focused on the anatomy that a irst-year student might be expected to grasp and carry forward into his or her clerkship training, especially in this day and age when anatomy courses are often streamlined and dissection exercises abbreviated. hose students, who by choice, choose to enter specialties where advanced anatomical training is required (e.g., surgical specialties, radiology, physical therapy, etc.) may encounter a need for additional anatomical expertise that will be provided by their graduate medical or allied health education. By meeting the needs of the beginning student and providing ample detail for subsequent review or handy reference, my hope is that Netter’s Clinical Anatomy will be the anatomy textbook of choice that will actually be read and used by students throughout their undergraduate medical or allied health careers. I hope that you, the health science studentin- training or the physician-in-practice, will ind Netter’s Clinical Anatomy the valuable link you’ve searched for to enhance your understanding of clinical anatomy as only Frank Netter can present it.

JOHN T. HANSEN, PHD