Includes Index

This book on human embryology has been written keeping in mind the requirements of undergraduate medical students.
The subject of embryology has traditionally been studied from imported textbooks of anatomy or of embryology. Experience
has shown that the treatment of the subject in most of these books is way above the head of the average medical student
in India. The difficulty has increased from year to year as there has been, and continues to be, progressive deterioration
in the standards of the teaching of English in our schools and colleges. The combination of unfamiliar sophistications of
language and of an involved technical subject, has very often left the student bewildered.
In this book, care has been taken to ensure that the text provides all the information necessary for an intelligent
understanding of the essential features of the development of various organs and tissues of the human body. At the same
time, several innovations have been used to make the subject easy to understand.
Firstly, the language has been kept simple. Care has been taken not to compress too many facts into an involved
sentence. New words are clearly explained.
Secondly, simultaneous references to the development of more than one structure have been avoided as far as
possible. While this has necessitated some repetition, it is hoped that this has removed one of the greatest factors leading
to confusion in the study of this subject.
Thirdly, almost every step in development has been shown in a simple, easy to understand, illustration. To avoid
confusion, only structures relevant to the discussion are shown. As far as possible, the drawings have been oriented as in
adult anatomy to facilitate comprehension.
Fourthly, the chapters have been arranged so that all structures referred to at a particular stage have already been
adequately introduced.
In an effort of this kind it is inevitable that some errors of omission, and of commission, are liable to creep in. To obviate
as many of these as possible a number of eminent anatomists were requested to read through the text. Their suggestions
have greatly added to the accuracy and usefulness of this book. Nevertheless, scope for further improvement remains,
and the author would welcome suggestions to this end both from teachers and from students.