AN academic anatomist once told me that his subject was very boring because there was nothing new to say about it. He was wrong, and Human Bones beautifully illustrates why. The combination of Aaron Diskin’s stunning photographs and McNeill Alexander’s lucid text inspires the description of the 213 bones that make up our skeleton, from those of the ankle to the vertebral zygapophysis. From his vast experience of human biology and biomechanics Alexander reveals current understanding (which is not as complete as you might think) of the biological, structural and evolutionary context for all the different bones of our bodies. He claims that his exploration of the human skeleton involves the works: “…anatomy, physiology, mechanics, archaeology, anthropology, palaeontology, orthopedics, dentistry and forensic science…” He is not boasting. It does.
Human Bones: A scientific and pictorial investigation