Manter and Gatz's Essentials of Clinical Neuroanatomy and Neurophysiology, 8th ed.

The eighth edition of Manter and Gatz's Essentials of Clinical Neuroanatomy and Neurophysiology maintains the objective stated in the first edition of the textbook written by Manter, which provides the reader with a comprehensive summary of the vast knowledge of both the peripheral and central human nervous systems. This is an excellent text for physical therapy students who are beginning their physical therapy education and for those who are seeking a review of the nervous system. The attractive tricolored book is easy to read and well illustrated, with simple, but complete, drawings.

The text is divided into seven sections. Section 1 provides an introduction, an overview of the nervous system, and the basic information needed to develop an understanding of the function and morphology of the nervous system. The chapters on the physiology of the neuron and the synapse are additions to this section. Included in section 2 is a thorough, easy-to-understand review of the somatic and autonomic nervous systems. Section 3 contains specific details for location and structure of the pathways within the central nervous system, followed by a chapter that addresses nervous system lesions. Section 4 highlights the anatomy of the brain stem, cerebellum, and cranial nerves. The structures of higher brain levels and synaptic neurotransmitters are explained clearly and concisely in section 5. New to the 8th edition are sections 6 and 7, describing the cerebral circulation and formation, circulation, composition, and pressure of the cerebrospinal fluid and providing clinical evaluations of patients with neurologic disorders.

High-quality distinct illustrations are distributed liberally throughout the book's 30 chapters. Some of the original illustrations have been redrawn, and new ones have been added. This text has a well-designed format and is well organized. At the end of the textbook are an extensive index and a brief suggested reading list.

Manter and Gatz's Essentials of Clinical Neuroanatomy and Neurophysiology would benefit experienced physical therapists, as well as students who are confronting the enormous body of knowledge about the nervous system for the first time.