The Developing Human: Clinically Oriented Embryology, 7th ed.

The huge increase in knowledge of molecular biology that has recently occurred may lead to an understanding of the molecular events that guide human development. Until the past few years, all that was known was that there was a tightly controlled genetic “plan” that controlled the development of the human embryo. Now, researchers are starting to gain meaningful insights into this process. Given this new knowledge and the need to incorporate it into the general knowledge base, new editions of a couple of embryology texts that have been present for quite a few years have recently appeared. One of these books is the seventh edition of The Developing Human: Clinically Oriented Embryology by Keith L. Moore and T.V.N. Persaud. The other is the sixth edition of Before We Are Born: Essentials of Embryology and Birth Defects by Keith L. Moore and T.V.N. Persaud. Since both of these texts cover similar material and are by the same authors, they are quite similar in appearance, though they target different audiences. The Developing Human is a text written for standard medical school courses in developmental biology, whereas Before We Are Born was written more for shorter embryology courses that do not cover as much detail (eg, those in allied health programs). The Developing Human has more detail in the written parts of the chapters, a few more diagrams (although most are the same), and is much more heavily referenced when compared to Before We Are Born. Both of these texts begin with an introductory chapter that gives an overview of human development and terminology. The next few chapters are devoted to the embryonic stage of development, beginning with gamete formation and ending with organogenesis. The rest of each book has chapters that cover the development of an organ system (eg, there is a chapter devoted to the digestive system). The writing style of both of these books is easy to read (as embryology texts go), and difficult concepts are explained quite well. The figures in the texts are very good and include color-coded drawings, light micrographs, photographs of specimens, and advanced diagnostic images. Both texts are excellent in that they emphasize the clinical significance of studying human development. After the development of a structure is given, discussions of pertinent congenital anomalies usually follow. Each chapter ends with a series of clinically oriented problems or questions that are very valuable for students in studying the material. Both of these books have been around for nearly 2 decades, and they have done a good job of keeping up with the new knowledge pertinent to human development. They are also strong books because of their stress on clinical significance. If these books are not the required texts for their embryology courses, students will find them very valuable adjuncts. Health care practitioners of all types, including those in allied health fields, will find that having one of these in their libraries will be quite useful in their professional lives.