Synopsis

So much more than just a bestselling dictionary, Mosby’s Medical Dictionary, 9^th Edition is a one-stop reference to help you make sense of the complex world of health care. It features over 56,000 authoritative definitions, quick-reference appendixes, a color atlas of the human body, and more than 2,450 full-color illustrations - nearly three times more than any other dictionary available - making it an indispensible reference for health care consumers and professionals alike.

• UNIQUE! More than 2,450 color photographs and line drawings demonstrate and explain complex conditions and abstract concepts.
• Over 56,000 comprehensive, authoritative, high-quality definitions include expanded definitions for selected entries, particularly major diseases, disorders, and procedures.
• A Color Atlas of Human Anatomy contains 43 pages of clearly labeled drawings for easy A&P review and reference.
• Quick-reference appendixes offer quick access to useful reference information, such as commonly used abbreviations, language translation guides, American sign language, and more.
• A strict, common-sense alphabetical organization with no subentries makes it easy to find key terms and definitions.

• NEW! Over 300 new and updated illustrations visually clarify key definitions and reflect current health care practice and equipment.
• NEW! Approximately 11,000 new and revised definitions reflect the latest developments in health care.
• NEW! Editor Marie O’Toole, EdD, RN, FAAN lends her expertise to this new edition, reviewing and revising all definitions and assembling a team of leading consultants and contributors.

Reviewer: LouAnn Schraffenberger, MBA, RHIA, CCS, CCS-P(Univ of Illinois at Chicago School of Biomed & Health Info Mgmt)
Description: This is the seventh edition of Mosby's Medical Dictionary with full-color illustrations. The publisher states that more than 10,000 entries have been revised and updated, and over 5,000 new entries have been added to keep pace with advances in medicine. The previous edition was published in 2002.
Purpose: The purpose is to provide a comprehensive medical dictionary with over 2,400 color illustrations so the reader can easily find a clear, concise definition of a medical term. It is organized in a straightforward alphabetic listing. According to the publisher, the dictionary "was developed to provide a single source of authoritative, up-to-date information concerning health and health care terminology."
Audience: The audience is anyone who may use a medical dictionary to identify an unfamiliar medical or healthcare term. The audience may be students in allied health programs, clinical and nonclinical practitioners in healthcare settings, and anyone who may encounter medical terminology in their daily work.
Features: The dictionary's most distinctive feature is the full-color illustrations that appear on almost every page. The typeface is easy to read; the definitions are clear and concise; there is a detailed color atlas of human anatomy; there are numerous entries for drugs and laboratory tests. Definitions have been added for complementary and alternative medical therapies and herbs. Poison control centers are listed in the front cover pages. The four appendixes include medical symbols, the American Sign Language and Manual Communication alphabet, the timeline for Health Promotion 2009 and general resources with listing of major national healthcare organizations. Prior to inclusion in the dictionary, the material is reviewed by a board of more than 100 practitioners representing all areas of medicine and healthcare.
Assessment: This is a very nice, reliable medical dictionary that is reasonably priced. While there are over 2,000 pages, the book is not cumbersome or difficult to handle and store. The definitions are clear and concise with almost an encyclopedic style instead of simply a definition and pronunciation provided. The color illustrations are well placed and add emphasis to key terms. It not only includes medical terms but other phrases that are common in healthcare, such as healthcare proxy, North American Nursing Diagnosis Association, and abbreviations, such as RICE (rest, ice, compression, elevation referring to a treatment for strains and sprains). I recommend this edition as a comprehensive "more-than-a-dictionary" for any reference shelf.