Book Review

Atlas of Normal Human Skin

N Engl J Med 1993; 328:1050April 8, 1993

Article

Atlas of Normal Human Skin
By William Montagna, Albert M. Kligman, and Kay S. Carlisle. 384 pp. Boston, Springer-Verlag, 1992. $125. ISBN: 0-387-97769-4

This book is a gallery of normal human cutaneous microanatomy. It consists of 180 color or black-and-white photographic plates organized into chapters that correspond to the various components of the skin: epidermis, dermis, blood vessels, sensory organs, glands, hair follicles, and hypodermis.

The pictorial material is of varying quality, but for the most part it is beautiful. Each plate consists of one to six photographs showing skin samples processed by a variety of techniques, mostly aniline and silver staining, enzyme histochemical analysis, and transmission and scanning electron microscopy. Occasional gross-anatomical photographs and diagrams are included. There is a rich assortment of samples, but some topics are overrepresented (such as the sweat glands), whereas others could be expanded (the hair-follicle cycle) or should have been included (the nail).

There is little running text except for the legends to the figures. There is no bibliography, and thus allusions to techniques or structures, among other items, often beg for supporting references. Furthermore, some descriptions and statements may not stand up to scientific scrutiny.

This atlas demonstrates the truth of the saying that a picture is worth more than ten thousand words. It will no doubt be useful to a broad audience interested in cutaneous microanatomy and may even be enjoyed by the curious lay admirer of the complexity and beauty of human skin.

Miguel J. Stadecker, M.D., Ph.D.
New England Medical Center, Boston, MA 02111

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