The Central Nervous System: Structure and Function - Hardcover

Brodal, Per

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0195165608 ISBN 13: 9780195165609

Publisher: OUP USA, 2003

Synopsis

This well-established textbook provides knowledge and understanding of neuroscience as a basis for clinical thinking. The strong emphasis on linking basic sciences with their clinical application has implications for the choices of which topics to treat in depth and which to treat more summarily - making this different from most other neuroscience textbooks. For example, topics of great practical importance like the cranial nerves, the autonomic nervous system, and pain are treated in depth. The book provides clear descriptions of brain structures and relates them to their functional properties by incorporating data ranging from molecular biology to clinical neurology and psychiatry. The focus is on fostering understanding of how the brain works rather than on the memorisation of many details. Critical thinking is encouraged by providing information about the scientific basis for many "facts", and pointing out where the evidence is insufficient to reach final conclusions. The many two-colour illustrations - based on the author's long experience in teaching medical students - make it easy to grasp complex structural and functional relationships. The third edition goes further than the previous ones in integrating material from all fields of the neurosciences. Two new chapters have been included on the vestibular system and control of eye movements, and all other chapters have been thoroughly revised. Although new material has been added, the total length of the text is virtually unchanged due to careful re-writing and elimination of less important material. There are many completely new figures and numerous others have been redrawn to enhance clarity.

About this title

Review

. . . the dynamic and concise presentation of both the structure and the function of the central nervous system at different levels (molecular, cellular and systems), with special emphasis on how the different components are connected and interact, manages to captivate the reader. Beside key information on the fundamental background, there are numerous clinical examples that will help the medical student to bridge the gap between basic and clinical neuroscience . . . I recommend this book to all medical students, and also to more advanced clinicians who wish to refresh their knowledge in basic neurosciences or as a useful tool for teaching their younger colleagues. (Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry, 75)

Per Brodal . . . has completely revised in its third edition the successor to his famous father's book, The Central Nervous System: Structure and Function. In doing so he has advanced and developed the family achievement with great distinction. He presents neuroscience at its most pleasant and painless, dropping pearls, and sowing seeds . . . the ultimate neurosciences undergraduate text . . . From the undergraduate perspective this book is attractive, authoritative, well-illustrated, broadly based, comprehensive, and reasonably priced. Above all, it is an education. (Journal of Neurology, Vol 251)

. . .presents neuroscience at its most pleasant and painless, dropping pearls and sowing seeds . . . the ultimate neuroscience undergraduate text. A consistent and rounded feel derives from its single authorship. It is succinctly and clearly written, logically laid out, up to date (this edition replaces the 1998 edition), and beautifully illustrated . . . I thoroughly enjoyed this book and learnt embarrassingly large amounts . . . From the undergraduate perspective this book is attractive, authoritative, well-illustrated, broadly based, comprehensive, and reasonably priced. Above all, it is an education. (Journal of Neurology, 251)

The third edition of Per Brodal's book is beautifully produced and continues the traditions of excellence set up by [previous editions] . . . The book is clearly and concisely written and manages not to lose the reader in anatomical detail, while explaining physiological mechanisms. The diagrams are well thought out and text boxes are used to highlight physiological, pharmacological or anatomical details, when required, without perturbing the flow of the main text . . . This makes the book refreshingly easy to read and I would recommend it as an informative text for medical students with interests in the CNS. (Physiology News, Number 56)

About the Author

About the author: Per Brodal, M.D., Ph.D., is Professor of Anatomy at the University of Oslo, Norway. He has been working on experimental neuroanatomy for the past 20 years.

Edition details

• Publisher: OUP USA
• Publication date: 2003
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0195165608
• ISBN 13: 9780195165609
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 3
• Number of pages: 532