Positive Health Online

This is a book which I wish was available in my days of studying muscle anatomy.

The main reason is that it is not merely a 'muscle book' which shows the origin, insertion and action of muscles. It is a very comprehensive book and provides a simultaneous and an in-depth study of the muscular system as well as the skeletal system. This makes it very easy to refer backwards and forwards to each of the systems and does away with the need for a book on skeletal anatomy, one for physiology and another for muscle anatomy. Another plus is the colour illustrations which facilitate easy comprehension of the dimensional relationships between the muscles and the skeleton.

The books starts with anatomical orientation i.e. a listing and description of terms such as flexion, extension, lateral, medial and supine. A very brief introduction to connective tissue follows, and this leads on to a chapter on bone tissue, basic physiological aspects of bone development and growth, and an excellent classification of all bones. The next two chapters cover the axial and appendicular skeleton. As in the rest of the book, the author uses delightful colour illustrations to show the bones that make up each region of the body as well as the landmarks of individual bones.

The attention to detail and the excellent planning of the book are further demonstrated by a comprehensive chapter on joints, including their classification, special features and descriptions of all the joints of the body. Joints and their function are often omitted in muscle anatomy books even though they are such a vital component of the muscle action. In this publication, however, the author has underlined their significance brilliantly.

Chapter 7 provides a thorough examination of muscle anatomy and physiology. It includes an overview of skeletal muscle structure, the muscle attachments, red and white muscle fibres, and the blood and nerve supply. Muscle reflexes are a major aspect of applied muscle action and in this section the basic mechanisms are very well described and illustrated. A look at the various shapes and types of muscle tissue leads to the mechanical function of the muscles when working as a group, for example in elbow flexion which requires the coordinated operation of the biceps and brachialis (prime movers), the deltoid (fixator) and triceps (antagonist). This mechanism is further explained in the application of muscle work in posture, movement and core stability. Further information on the main muscles which are involved in different movements of the body is given in the Appendix.

Chapters 8 to 14 are devoted to the muscles of the body, region by region. Each chapter is further subdivided in areas or planes of the region. Muscles of the scalp and face for example are broken down into groups showing those of the scalp, the ear, the eyelids, the nose, the mouth and those muscles of mastication. The depiction of each muscle gives its Latin name, the origin and insertion (colour coded on the illustrations), its action, nerve and arterial supply and the basic functional movement. All the illustrations are in colour and show the clear-cut details of the location and direction of fibres of each muscle as well as its bony attachments. These chapters make up the major part of the book and this is well justified as the author has included most, if not all, of the muscles for each region and allowed sufficient space to provide the reader with meticulous descriptions and brilliant illustrations.

This book is a well researched, well planned, beautifully illustrated and makes the study of the musculo-skeletal system a delight rather than a tedious assignment. I see this as a must-have for students and practitioners alike.

Further Information

Lotus Publishing is offering Positive Health readers a £2 discount off the list price of £26.99 and free p & p.

Orders to be sent to: Combined Book Services, Units I/K, Paddock Wood Distribution Centre, Paddock Wood, Tonbridge, Kent, TN12 6UU. Tel: 01892 837171; Fax.: 01892 837272; orders@combook.co.uk. Major credit cards accepted. FREE p & p.

This book can be ordered from the Positive Health bookstore. Please click the Bookshop image at the top of the column to your right, then click on Bodywork.