Last’s anatomy: regional and applied, 12th edn

Abstract

Last’s Anatomy was first published in 1954 and quickly became the mainstay for candidates studying for the primary FRCS examination. Today, it remains a mainstay for MRCS examination candidates. The author uses his vast experience of teaching anatomy to surgical trainees to ensure that the content is relevant to the clinical situation. The text is crisply written, packing a lot of information into as small an amount of text as possible, making the book both comprehensive and concise. In the 12th edition, the text has been reviewed and the anatomy of surgical procedures updated, especially in the light of the increase of laparoscopic surgery and minimal access procedures. New illustrations have been added depicting anatomy of clinical and endoscopic relevance, together with photographs of prosections. The only issue I have with this book relates to the illustrations. Some of the clinical illustrations are far from clear (eg Fig 2.18, Fig 5.59). There is also a lack of consistency in labelling of the computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Some are not labelled (eg Fig 4.11, Fig 5.44), some have structures numbered directly on the image with the numbers referenced in the legends (eg Fig 5.39), while others are labelled clearly and appropriately with lead lines indicating the structures (eg Fig 4.17). There is also a problem with some of the x-rays. Fig 3.22 is of poor quality and unlabelled whereas Fig 3.39 is clear and labelled appropriately. However, the majority of illustrations in the book are clear and well labelled. It would have been appropriate to see some CT or MRI of the head, neck and spine in Chapter 6. The author states in the preface that the book will be of value to medical students, surgical trainees and practising surgeons. It will certainly continue to be extremely popular with surgical trainees studying for the MRCS and I would thoroughly recommend it to them. With curricular reforms, I am not certain that it will necessarily be a book of first choice for medical students although there is much in it for the motivated undergraduate who thirsts for knowledge.