Clinical Neuroanatomy (Clinical Neuroanatomy for Medical Students (Snell))

Snell's Neuroanatomy is quite comprehensive - it covers a wide range of topics from the neurobiology of neurons to neurodevelopment. At the same time, it is quite understandable. The language used is clear and concise with appropriate diagrams and tables. There is an emphasis on clinical correlations in this book as evidenced by the clinical notes in each chapter, which highlight the clinical significance of the information that has been presented in the chapter. Anatomy with little significance have either been omitted or given only brief descriptions in the book.

Clinical correlation is important, for all too often, students don't realise the practical purpose of what they are learning. Visual aids in the book include images of neuroanatomy in practice as well; quite a number of CT and MRI scans are included. There are also lots of illustrations, pathological sections and photographs. At the end of each chapter, USMLE type questions are provided. On the extremely rare occasion when the thirst for learning neuroanatomy is not satisfied, references to authoritative books and papers are given (yikes!). The whole format and overall presentation of book are similar in style to Professor Snell's more well-known clinical anatomy book.

This book will not give an instantaneous understanding of neuroanatomy but with enough effort and thought, the book does deliver. It shortens and guides one through the potentially confusing and long journey of learning neuroanatomy. All in all, this book covers enough neuroanatomy in sufficient detail to be a good reference text for students and at the same time is quite accessible (considering the subject it deals with) and would function quite well as a primary textbook also.