anatomy book for neither a doctor nor a child
November 11, 2024 9:35 AM Subscribe
I have been doing a facial massage course, and the instructor will often show diagrams of muscles and bones and joints, where the muscles attach to the bone, etc - anatomy information! I really find it interesting and want a book about the whole body to read and reference.
looking up "anatomy book" gets me a lot of children's encyclopedia type books about the body (which I'm open to) and lots of anatomy textbooks (which I'm also open to) and very little description on what I'm actually going to find inside these books, so I'm hoping someone here can help!
I'd like fantastic illustrations of the different "layers" of the body and some basic information, honestly a smart kids book would probably be fine, but I do want to see all the muscles and how they connect to the skeleton, and I want to learn a little more than I would have in like grade 6 - think "early college level" or "smart 17 year old".
a functional health guide? a very detailed yoga manual? a massage therapist book? an acupuncture or osteopathy guide? any ideas or recommendations would be appreciated! I'm not too fussed up about it being hard sciencey or a little more holistic, both are interesting to me.
looking up "anatomy book" gets me a lot of children's encyclopedia type books about the body (which I'm open to) and lots of anatomy textbooks (which I'm also open to) and very little description on what I'm actually going to find inside these books, so I'm hoping someone here can help!
I'd like fantastic illustrations of the different "layers" of the body and some basic information, honestly a smart kids book would probably be fine, but I do want to see all the muscles and how they connect to the skeleton, and I want to learn a little more than I would have in like grade 6 - think "early college level" or "smart 17 year old".
a functional health guide? a very detailed yoga manual? a massage therapist book? an acupuncture or osteopathy guide? any ideas or recommendations would be appreciated! I'm not too fussed up about it being hard sciencey or a little more holistic, both are interesting to me.
Gray’s Anatomy is the standard
posted by at at 10:05 AM on November 11 [3 favorites]
posted by at at 10:05 AM on November 11 [3 favorites]
How about the Human Body Coloring Book?
I was just about to suggest that. Course material for many pre-meds.
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 10:06 AM on November 11 [3 favorites]
I was just about to suggest that. Course material for many pre-meds.
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 10:06 AM on November 11 [3 favorites]
my spouse recommends "artistic anatomy" by paul richer - her art college anatomy text.
posted by lalochezia at 10:07 AM on November 11 [1 favorite]
posted by lalochezia at 10:07 AM on November 11 [1 favorite]
Honestly, the coloring book is really fascinating and got me through my 200-level Human Biology class. (This is only notable because at the CC I was attending, this was a pre-nursing weed-out class. It was hard.)
posted by ApathyGirl at 10:25 AM on November 11 [3 favorites]
posted by ApathyGirl at 10:25 AM on November 11 [3 favorites]
It sounds like you want lots of images, in which case I suggest an anatomy atlas. My recommendation, in part because the artwork is great, is something from publishing company Thieme.
Atlas of Anatomy (ISBN 978-1684202034) is their general atlas and my go-to recommendation for someone looking for a single atlas that covers the whole body. They publish a series other atlases that each detail specific body systems, often starting with a general overview of the whole body and then a focusing on one system. So given your interest in the musculoskeletal system, perhaps Atlas of Anatomy: General Anatomy and Musculoskeletal System (ISBN 978-1626237186) may be of interest.
In addition to illustrations of the anatomical structures, each of these atlases features smaller images that are basically schematic representations of each muscle's attachment points. These help to demonstrate how/why muscles cause the movements they do.
posted by cyclopticgaze at 10:37 AM on November 11
Atlas of Anatomy (ISBN 978-1684202034) is their general atlas and my go-to recommendation for someone looking for a single atlas that covers the whole body. They publish a series other atlases that each detail specific body systems, often starting with a general overview of the whole body and then a focusing on one system. So given your interest in the musculoskeletal system, perhaps Atlas of Anatomy: General Anatomy and Musculoskeletal System (ISBN 978-1626237186) may be of interest.
In addition to illustrations of the anatomical structures, each of these atlases features smaller images that are basically schematic representations of each muscle's attachment points. These help to demonstrate how/why muscles cause the movements they do.
posted by cyclopticgaze at 10:37 AM on November 11
The anatomy texts illustrated by the artist Frank Netter are classics and used by many medical schools. There are a bunch of variations (coloring book, books by region, etc) but they all use the same illustrations. Just search "Netter anatomy" and see what looks appealing.
If you're open to online resources, GetBodySmart is a free anatomy study guide website that I think is targeted toward the education level you're looking for. Their partner Kenhub is a freemium website with a lot more additional videos and animations.
The "useful resources" list at Reddit's r/anatomy sub may also be helpful.
posted by The Elusive Architeuthis at 10:49 AM on November 11 [1 favorite]
If you're open to online resources, GetBodySmart is a free anatomy study guide website that I think is targeted toward the education level you're looking for. Their partner Kenhub is a freemium website with a lot more additional videos and animations.
The "useful resources" list at Reddit's r/anatomy sub may also be helpful.
posted by The Elusive Architeuthis at 10:49 AM on November 11 [1 favorite]
As a layman, I really like the book Anatomy of Movement.
posted by samthemander at 1:55 PM on November 11
posted by samthemander at 1:55 PM on November 11
When I went through my massage program we used Trail Guide to the body. Beautifully detailed explanatory art, that goes over the whole body & how to locate and palpate every muscle and bone!
https://booksofdiscovery.com/product/trail-guide-to-the-body/
They have physical flash cards, and an app as well.
Lots of used copies available, you don't need the latest one!
posted by Redmond Cooper at 1:56 PM on November 11
https://booksofdiscovery.com/product/trail-guide-to-the-body/
They have physical flash cards, and an app as well.
Lots of used copies available, you don't need the latest one!
posted by Redmond Cooper at 1:56 PM on November 11
Yoga Anatomy by Leslie Kaminoff and Amy Matthews might be pretty perfect.
posted by hollyholly at 6:10 PM on November 11
posted by hollyholly at 6:10 PM on November 11
My partner is a massage therapist and Rolfer who teaches anatomy. She suggests Clemente Anatomy: a regional atlas of the human body for its extensive and unique views of every part of the body or a Sobotta anatomy book. Would not go wrong with Netter's Atlas of Human Anatomy.
Trail Guide to the Body is OK and so is the coloring book but might not hit the level of detail or wonder you want. The better coloring book is Musculoskeletal Anatomy Coloring Book by Muscolino 9780323477314.
posted by blnkfrnk at 10:20 PM on November 11 [1 favorite]
Trail Guide to the Body is OK and so is the coloring book but might not hit the level of detail or wonder you want. The better coloring book is Musculoskeletal Anatomy Coloring Book by Muscolino 9780323477314.
posted by blnkfrnk at 10:20 PM on November 11 [1 favorite]
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posted by olopua at 9:41 AM on November 11 [12 favorites]