This small volume draws attention to a fund of knowledge long neglected by clinicians. Its format of short chapters, liberally illustrated, lends itself to easy reading. Four of the 11 chapters were prepared by the editor; ten other authors worked on the rest of the volume. Although the authors review their own work, each chapter has other material and is referenced with sufficient breadth to be a useful guide to the literature.
As the title suggests, most of the chapters concern anatomy, embryology, connective tissue and lymphatics, cartilage, mucus-secreting elements, perinatal circulation, postnatal development of alveoli, pulmonary circulation, arterial bronchopulmonary anastomoses, and the weight of the lungs. The chapter on alveolar growth represents a superb blending of literature survey, personal observation, and hypothesis. One section deals with the mechanics of the young lung, and the chapters on the circulation include physiological data. The book should have maximum appeal for anatomists