PREFACE

Every student will be affected by pregnancy, either their mother’s, because what happens
in the womb does not necessarily stay in the womb, or by someone else’s. As health care professionals, you will often encounter women of childbearing age who may be pregnant, or you may have children of your own, or maybe it is a
friend who is pregnant. In any case, pregnancy and childbirth are relevant to all of us, and unfortunately, these processes often culminate in negative outcomes. For example, 50% of all embryos are spontaneously aborted. Furthermore, prematurity and birth defects are the leading causes o f infant mortality and major contributors to disabilities. Fortunately, new strategies can improve pregnancy outcomes, and health care professionals have a major role to play in implementing these initiatives. However, a basic knowledge o f embryology is essential to the success of these strategies, and with this knowledge, every health care professional can play a role in
providing healthier babies. To accomplish its goal o f providing a basic
understanding of embryology and its clinical relevance, Langmans Medical Embryology retains its unique approach of combining an economy of text with excellent diagrams and clinical images. It stresses the clinical importance of the
subject by providing numerous clinical examples that result from abnormal embryological events. The following pedagogic features and updates in the 13th edition help facilitate student learning. Organization o f Material: Langmans Medical Embryology is organized into two parts. The first provides an overview of early development from gametogenesis through the embryonic period. Also included in this section are chapters on placentals and fetal development as well as prenatal diagnosis and birth defects. The second part ofthe text provides a description o f the fundamental processes of embryogenesis for each organ
system