Histology [antikvár]

FOREWORD The beauty in the study and teaching of histology resides partly in the diverse and often regular structure of the preparations and in the attractive coloi's created by the staining of the specimens. Students are at a definite disadvantage who are unaware of the subtlety of the structure and the splendor of the colors and may be in danger of finding the study of histology boring. The difficulty in studying and teaching histology is partly due to the fact that a microscope has to be used to inspect these fascinating forms and also because the image viewed needs to be correctly interpreted. The former can be solved with a thorough understanding of the equipment used but the latter requires continuous leai'ning and the accumulation of expertise, the result of which will be the three-dimensional reconstruction of cells, tissues or organs from the virtually two-dimensional specimens that still possess a certain thickness or rather „depth". Our intention is to emphasize the great adventure of histology with the color illustrations so beautifully reproduced in this Atlas. Great importance has been given to the demonstration of cells forming various types of tissues and of the organs built by the combination of various tissue types. The understanding of histology starts with the study of cells. The shape of the cell, when it is not clearly visible, will be betrayed by the nucleus. As its title suggests, the Atlas contains colored microscopic pictures with the legends restricted to a minimum. This, in turn, ensures that students will have to study textbooks describing the fine structure of the organs and tissues in considerable detail. It is recommended that, in the course of histology laboratory sessions (an essential requirement in medical and dental curricula), students should make regular reference to the Atlas. This will then facilitate professional consultation between students and instructors. The thorough editorial contribution (pictures and text) of Ms. Judit Szerencsés is greatly appreciated. The vast majority of the illustrations were created using the histological specimen collection of the Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Semmelweis University, Budapest. Figures 6-8 on page 117 and Figure 34 on page 189 were generously provided by Dr. László Marosfői. I ¦!l.i: