II

V

Foreword

The success of Dr. Feneis’s “Bildwörterbuch” has been phenomenal. I remember seeing the first edition of it most vividly and wondering why no one else had thought of producing such a useful book. And now it is in its eighth German edition, and has also been translated into many languages. I have several such versions of it on the shelf above my desk, and I refer to it frequently. It is, of course, much more than a dictionary of the official “Nomina Anatomica,” for it is also a most valuable working pocket book for anyone in the field of anatomy and medicine. It is its illustrations which make it so useful and, indeed, unique; I know of no other similar dictionary in any language in which the terms are not only defined but also shown in clear, simple pictures. Among the large number of books on anatomy appearing year after year, few have the originality and perennial usefulness to become of permanent value. This volume is undoubtedly of this elite quality. It will serve students, academics, and clinicians throughout their working years.

Roger Warwick

Professor Emeritus

University of London

(Guy’s Hospital Medical School)

VI

Preface to the Fourth Edition

Professor Feneis designed the anatomic picture dictionary as a reference book that provides illustrated short descriptions of anatomic terms in accordance with the valid international nomenclature. The brief and clearly written text segments were set opposite concise figures of equal educational value—a graphic task that Professor Spitzer managed to solve brilliantly.

Since its initial publication in 1967, the Feneis work has been published in seven editions and has been translated into numerous languages. The acceptance of the pocket book format by our readers is proof of its successful didactic concept. Hence, it is only logical that the eighth edition should remain dedicated to this effective concept.

The text and figures were revised and adapted to reflect the current state of knowledge. Our colleagues and students also contributed significantly with their numerous suggestions. We would like to thank all of you for your efforts, especially Dr. C. Walther, who with great commitment provided a continuous supply of expert suggestions.

Proposals to add color to the illustrations of the present edition were rejected after extensive debate, because the masterful pen-and-ink drawings by Professor Spitzer already capture the essential elements of the structures. Furthermore, his drawings are plastic and easy to remember. The extensive addition of color would increase neither the informative value of the book nor the aesthetic appeal of the figures.

Instead, we selectively added color to the text when it served to make the individual chapters and terms easier to find, also when quickly leafing through the book. The combined use of color and different typefaces makes it easier to maintain an overview of the different terms. Highlighting in color the alphabetic characters of the figures facilitates the identification of text and graphic elements that belong together.

We would like to thank Georg Thieme Verlag and its employees for their patience, understanding, and collaboration in the production of this edition.