Book Reviews
Anatomy and Physiology for Midwives
Jane Coad and Melvyn Dunstall
ISBN: 0-443101-30-2 2005 456 pages Churchill Livingstone
Jane Warland
Midwife Calvary Hospital, Adelaide SA
Although this book is a textbook which is written with the aim of supporting students and practising midwives wanting a more detailed scientific knowledge that can be applied within the practice setting...' (Preface). In reality, I can't imagine many practising midwives wanting to read up on formation of the extraembryonic mesoderm or brush up on their understanding of the metabolic pathways in brown adipose tissue!
Nevertheless, this book will contribute to practice using a balanced mixture of text and diagrams. The diagrams are generally clear and informative. Many have been reproduced, with permission, from other sources. The book is divided into 16 chapters: covering, normal anatomy and physiology from conception through to birth and transition to neonatal life as well as breast feeding. While pathophysiology is lightly covered (if at all) the book is written at a depth appropriate to current midwifery education. It has many aspects which make it easy to read, follow and use. For example, it has clear learning objectives at the beginning of each chapter. Summary key Points are also given at the end of each chapter, as well as case studies and "application to practice" boxes. References and further reading are provided at the end of each chapter to allow the reader to research the topics covered more fully. There is a very useful glossary, list of abbreviations used and an index.
In summary, this book is a good brief guide which could be used as a supplementary reference to the traditionally used anatomy and physiology midwifery books. A straightforward, basic anatomy and physiology textbook that will be of particular use to student midwives.
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