Use of this Textbook: The subject matter is broken down into small learning units, each of which is introduced by a vocabulary appropriate to that unit. The vocabulary introduces the main features of the subject to be discussed and provides the basic vocabulary for that unit. As each segment is read, note the vocabulary words (identified by bold print) in the text and how they contribute to the discussion. After completing the narrative segment, return to the vocabulary words, using them as prompts to recall the details of the material just read. The vocabulary serves as a summary of the topic and provides a means for rapid review. If a vocabulary word fails to prompt a response, it and the associated text can be found quickly from the bold type in the appropriate segment.
A segment entitled either Histogenesis or Organogenesis provides an introduction into the development of each tissue and/or organ and provides another means of reinforcement that contributes to an overall understanding of the tissue or organ being considered.
Summaries briefly outline the structural/functional relationships and serve to draw the information together and to provide an additional review of the topic.
During preparation of Essential Human Histology, three major considerations were kept in mind: (1) most curricula place considerable time constraints on the student; (2) function and structure are inextricably related; and (3) the learning process essentially is a matter of repetition and reinforcement. The narrative strives to present the vast amount of information available on this topic, in a concise and logical manner, without sacrificing the detail that is necessary for a basic understanding of human tissue and organ biology.