Dorland’s Pocket Medical Dictionary, 30th Edition

By Dorland

ISBN: 9780323554930

Pub Date: 18 Jun 2018

Reviewed by: Steven K Hamick, AAS, BIS (William Beaumont Hospitals)

Description

The format of this pocket-sized version of Dorland’s Illustrated Medical Dictionary, 32nd edition (Elsevier, 2011), has been redesigned to enhance its portability while keeping it comprehensive and easy to read. The previous edition was published in 2012.

Purpose

Since 1898, the purpose of this medical dictionary has been to provide an authoritative, compact, concise, and complete dictionary reference to meet the needs of practitioners and students, as well as other healthcare providers. The chief lexicographer notes that the challenge grows with each edition as the scope and language of medicine expand, but the goal to provide an authoritative reference remains the same. The website material adds a few features to enhance the dictionary.

Audience

As with its predecessors, this compact dictionary is intended for healthcare practitioners and students. It meets the needs of its intended audience, and the lexicographers are experts in the field.

Features

This edition has more illustrations than the previous one. New entries have been added and others revised to accommodate new developments in the medical lexicon. Most combining word element entries have been eliminated from the main body of the dictionary and the Combining Forms in Medical Terminology has been expanded so entries are not duplicated. The 32-page anatomic insert includes 19 plates and 37 Netter anatomical drawings.

Assessment

This is a well done update. Healthcare students and practitioners in all disciplines will find the dictionary and website an invaluable and portable reference.

Doody’s Review Service Weighted Numerical Score: 95 – 4 Stars!