Monographs 



43. 



H.BLECHSCHM1DT. 1973. DIE PRANATALEN ORGANSYSTEME DES MENSCHEN, 



untersucht unter funktionellen Gesichtspunkten 



Hippokrates, Stuttgart. XII, 184 pp., 212 figs., subject index. DM 160. - 



This is essentially an atlas of human prenatal development with emphasis on organo- 

 genesis. The early stages receive relatively little attention. The general point of view is 

 provided by the author's well-known ideas on "kinetic anatomy", which lead him to the 

 statement that each organ's first beginnings are already the expression of its functional 

 differentiation. The work is for the far greater part based on original investigations and 

 material. 



The plates are arranged strictly according to O'Rahilly's recent staging of human 

 development (see review nr. 22 in this issue). The majority (81 plates) refer to the second 

 month of intra-uterine life (4—29 mm. CR length). Selective features of the fetus and 

 neonate take up 12 plates. The brief, partly interpretative text (41 pp.), which embodies 

 the legends to the plates, is printed separate from the latter, which is economical but 

 rather inconvenient. 



The photographic and graphical plates are of superb technical and artistic quality. In 

 many, colour is used to great advantage, mainly to show what the author calls "Grenz- 

 gewebe" (lining tissues). The brief glossary mainly explains terms from "kinetic ana- 

 tomy". 



An English translation of the book is in preparation. Two sequels will appear, one 

 dealing with "functional differentiation" and one with practical implications in teaching. 



44. 



R.M.EAKIN. 1973. THE THIRD EYE 



Univ. of Calif. Press, Berkeley, etc. XII, 157 pp., 78 figs., combined author and subject 



index. $ 7.50 



The author of this monograph has worked with lizards for more than fifteen years and 

 is the originator (together with Stebbins) of the most widely accepted theory of the 

 function of the reptilian parietal eye. The book makes delightful reading due to a style 

 which is both light and lucid. The approach is largely historical. Professional terminology 

 is avoided as far as possible. The author and his associates have recently conducted much 

 research specifically to obtain new information for this book. 



There are chapters on the evolution (19 pp.), structure (53 pp.), development (21 pp.), 

 and function (32 pp.) of the parietal eye in reptiles and such other forms as have been 

 studied (particularly tree frogs and lampreys). The chapter on development is restricted 

 mainly to reptiles and has sections on the formation of the pineal complex, the 

 differentiation of receptors, the induction of the pineal anlage (discussed mainly on the 

 basis of experiments on amphibians), the development of the lens, and the origin of the 

 parietal nerve. 



The book is beautifully produced and superbly illustrated. Many of the figures, 

 particularly the electron micrographs, have not been published before. The book is 

 concluded by a 15-page bibliography. 



45. 



V.FITZE-GSCHWIND. 1973. ZUR ENTWICKLUNG DER CHORIOALLANTOIS- 



MEMBRAN DES HUHNCHENS 



Springer, Berlin, etc. Advan. Anat. Embryol. Cell Biol. Vol.47, pt. 1. 52 pp., 19 figs., 



7 tabs., subject index. 



Light and electron microscopical study of the development of the CAM from 5 till 21 

 days of incubation; morphometric data on surface expansion, thickness, volume, and 

 thickness of air-blood barrier; extensive literature discussion; numerous excellent electron 

 micrographs 



186 



