Biomedical Sciences: Encyclopedias, Dictionaries & Atlases

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Background sources (encyclopedias, dictionaries, handbooks, etc.) provide well established summary and factual information. Useful for:

basic concepts and established viewpoints
historical context and relationships to other topics
specialized terms and definitions
data, facts, formulas

Atlases

Human Anatomy by Frank H. Netter
Call Number: Lemonis level 5 QM25 .N46 2014
Publication Date: 2014
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Grant's Atlas of Anatomy by 16th ed.
Call Number: Lemonis level 5 QM25 .G7 2025
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The new edition of this classic atlas features updated artwork, more vital tissue colors, new conceptual diagrams, re-colored illustrations, and a more consistent art style. Clinical integration has been enhanced and organization updated.
McMinn and Abraham's Clinical Atlas of Human Anatomy
Call Number: Lemonis level 5 QM25 .M23 2013
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Color Atlas of Physiology by 6th ed.
Call Number: QP34.5 .S5313 2009
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Netter's Essential Histology
Call Number: QM551 .O94 2008
Provides a visual overview of normal histology combining classic Netter illustrations and new drawings in the Netter style. Includes original light and electron micrographs and succinct explanatory text. View MARQCAT Record for the table of contents.
The Brain Atlas: A Visual Guide to the Human Central Nervous System by 3rd ed.
Call Number: QM455 .B633 2008
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Organization flows logically from surface anatomy to cross-sections, to regional histology, ending with diagrams of the major neuronal systems. Presents magnetic resonance images side-by-side with corresponding brain slices and uses a direct labeling system, including an alphabetical list of terms for each image.

Encyclopedias

The Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine
Call Number: Reference RC41 .G35 2006 (5 vols.)
Provides accurate, up-to-date medical information aimed at the layperson. Covers diseases, disorders, and conditions; tests and procedures; therapies, alternative treatments and drugs.
Encyclopedia of Human Development, 3 vol.
Call Number: Reference HM626 .E53 2006
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Encyclopedia of Human Nutrition, 4 vol.
Call Number: Reference QP141 .E526 2005
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The Oxford Companion to the Body
Call Number: Reference QM7 .O96 2001
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Provides concise and readable accounts of the structure and function of all the major systems of the body and the causes of disorders that affect them.

Anatomy.tv

Anatomy.tv from Primal Pictures This link opens in a new window
Provides images and video of human anatomy models and scans.
Accessibility notice: the content of this database is visually-based and requires navigation with a mouse: it is not fully accessible to students with visual impairment and/or who require assistive technology. If students are required to use this database in a course, the faculty member is required to insert a statement in the syllabus indicating that students with disabilities will need assistance to fully utilize the database.
Includes Regional, Systemic, and Sports & Therapy modules. Specialty titles include Dentistry, Head & Neck: Basic Neuroanatomy, and Speech Language Pathology. Features interactive 3D human anatomy models (The 3D Real-time Body), MRI scans, quizzes, movies, interactive animations and more. Content may be exported for use in lectures, student presentations or patient handouts.

Dictionaries

Merriam Webster Medical Dictionary by from MedlinePlus
Stedman's Medical Dictionary for the Health Professions and Nursing by 6th ed., 2008
Call Number: Reference R121 .S8 2008
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Includes over 54,000 entries, 1,000 color images and photographs and an anatomical atlas in a glossy insert. CD-ROM includes the features of the print edition in fully searchable format, over 48,000 audio pronunciations, approximately 50 anatomical animations, plus Stedman's Plus Medical/Pharmaceutical Spellchecker.
Concise Medical Dictionary by Jonathan Law; Elizabeth Martin (Editors)
Call Number: R 121 .C675 2020
Publication Date: 2020
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Dorland's Illustrated Medical Dictionary by Dorland
Call Number: Raynor Reference - R121 .D73 2012
Publication Date: 2011
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The 31st edition of this classic reference has more than 124,000 entries and over 1500 images.
Taber's Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary (Thumb-Indexed Version)
Call Number: R121 .T18
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Comprehensive definitions of medical terms. Includes Patient Care sections and dozens of appendices
The Cambridge Dictionary of Human Biology and Evolution
Call Number: Reference QP34.5 .M24 2005
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Contains over 13,000 terms covering a broad range of subjects within human biology, physical anthropology, anatomy, auxology, primatology, physiology, genetics, paleontology and zoology. 1,200 core terms are indicated for students.