Neurobiology of Cerebrospinal Fluid.

Abstract

This is the second in what will ultimately be a three volume treatise on applied aspects of the structure and function of blood vessels, and, as it appears from the present volume, lymphatic vessels.Although it suffers from some of the defects of the first volume, notably a somewhat haphazard placing of the different chapters, it is generally a much better piece of work.Following the pattern established in the first volume, the first chapter deals with historical aspects, in this instance, medieval and renaissance interpretations of the cardiovascular system.The rest of the first half of the book is taken up by chapters on the blood supply of the heart and lungs and of the brain.These are written to a much higher standard than many of the chapters on tissue and visceral blood supply in the preceding volume.The fact that they are followed by an authoritative account of lymphatics by F. C. Courtice, two short, but illuminating chapters on ageing and arterial structure and endothelial structure and ultrastructure by W. J. Cliff, and a reasoned and restrained discussion of the relationship between intimal cushions and atheroma by W. E. Stehbens also greatly enhances the value of the book.Indeed, if the standard set in this volume is maintained in the third, the series will go a long way towards achieving its aim of providing a comprehensive account of the structure and function of the circulation.A. D. HOYES