Book review

McMinn's Color Atlas of Head and Neck Anatomy is the foremost specialist atlas of the anatomy of the head and neck. Since its first publication in 1981, the thoroughness and detail with which the anatomy of the head and neck region is covered in this high quality resource have ensured that it is required reading for dental students in the UK and worldwide. This new 4th edition retains the content and format of the 3rd edition, supplemented by additional pages on developmental and clinical topics.

The core of the atlas comprises six chapters, of which the first five (‘Skull and skull bone articulations’, ‘Cervical vertebrae and neck’, Face, orbit and eye’, ‘Nose, oral region, ear and eye’ and ‘Cranial cavity and brain’) are built around images of superb dissections. These are extensively labelled and accompanied by concise but informative text. The sixth chapter, ‘Radiographs’, utilizes the same format to illustrate the osseous and vascular anatomy of the region. There are additionally two appendices: the first, which deals with dental anaesthesia, presents the anatomical rationale underlying anaesthetic procedures; the second groups related anatomical information in useful ‘reference lists’ (for example, structures passing through the foramina of the skull).