Human Embryology and Developmental Biology, 7th Edition

By: Bruce M. Carlson

ISBN: 9780323881685

Publication Date: November 20, 2023

Reviewer: Brian MacPherson, PhD (University of Kentucky College of Medicine)

Description

What sets this book apart from other more medical school-related books is its focus on detail and molecular and cellular biology of the fetal development process. The previous edition was published in 2018.

Purpose

The book is an in-depth look into the intricate processes of human fetal development. It is one of the most detailed texts for individuals wanting to truly understand the morphological and molecular aspects of the development process. Both the book and the accompanying web site enhance and meet these objectives.

Audience

While this book is often used by medical and other allied health students needing embryological development curriculum, it is also the perfect book for undergraduate and graduate biology students taking an embryology course and delving into the molecular and cellular details of the process. The author is a long-time worker in the field of fetal development and has a world-wide reputation.

Features

The advent of single cell genomics and other approaches is producing immense amounts of data on the intricacies of the human developmental process. The book does not get lost in the weeds but keeps the focus on the larger context of the developments and acknowledges interesting offshoots. The book contains two parts: early development and the fetal-maternal relationship, followed by the development of the body systems. It is a text-rich book with the font approaching the necessity for reading glasses for this reviewer. Like all Elsevier textbooks, the advantages of the online materials are the searchability, the portability and the downloadable features in this environment. One of the benefits of the online material is the hyperlinking of the index to the text for ease of navigation.

Assessment

The seventh edition brings another 5-year review of current information carefully inserted into the text so as not to lose anyone in detail. It enhances the material and topics covered in the book and entices students into considering the possibilities of new data yet to be uncovered to further complement the book. The author continues to plug new detail into the intricately organized textbook in a way that complements and augments what was present in the last edition.

©Doody’s Review Service, 2025, Brian MacPherson, PhD (University of Kentucky College of Medicine), Doody’s Score: 100 – 5 Stars!

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