Anatomical Oddities: The Otherworldly Realms Hidden within Our Bodies

by Alice Roberts

From acclaimed science writer, presenter, and illustrator Alice Roberts, a visual and linguistic adventure through the strange, astonishing worlds within our anatomy

Every part of the human body has a name—and story. But how familiar are you with your arachnoid mater or your Haversian canals ?

Anatomical Oddities explores the less-familiar realms of the body, unveiling the mysteries etched into the most outlandish landscapes hidden inside all of our crypts and caverns, gorges, islets, and mountains. Along the way, it dips into the history of our relationship with our physical form and the discoveries that paved the way for modern anatomy and medicine.

Quirky, bizarre, and beautiful, these pages feature original artworks by Alice Roberts. The stunning, full-color illustrations lay bare the intricate details of the human body, the stories of people who unearthed its secrets, and the meanings of the words we use to describe it.

Genres: Nonfiction, Science, Medicine, Health, History, Medical, Biology

128 pages, Hardcover

Published November 7, 2023

About the author

Alice May Roberts is an English anatomist, osteoarchaeologist, physical anthropologist, palaeopathologist, television presenter and author.

Roberts studied medicine and anatomy at Cardiff University, qualifying in 1997 as a physician with a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MB BCh) degree, having gained an intercalated Bachelor of Science degree in anatomy. She earned a PhD in paleopathology in 2008 from the University of Bristol.

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Reviews

[CanadianReader · Rating 3 out of 5]

Anatomical Oddities is an attractive nonfiction book that is something of a niche read. It would likely be most appreciated by someone who’s both an anatomy and an etymology enthusiast. Author Alice Roberts, a specialist in human anatomy and physiology, explores the human body and traces “stories of discovery in human anatomy.” She features over fifty structures (drawing on multiple body systems), often explaining how those structures function, and giving careful consideration to their names. She notes that around two thirds of medical terms are Greek, usually passed through a Latin filter, and sometimes through an Arabic one. (During the Dark Ages, 500-1100 AD, it was Muslim scholars who preserved medical and scientific knowledge.)

The names of some body parts point to what those things look like, and the use of metaphors is common. Hence we have the kidney’s glomerulus, a knot of capillaries (tiny blood vessels), involved in filtering the blood and producing raw urine. Glomerulus is the diminutive form of “glomus”, Latin for “a ball of yarn”, which is pretty much what this structure looks like. Other anatomical names tell what structures do. For example, a ligament—from the Latin noun “ligamentum”, a binding or bandage—binds bones together. Finally, some of our body parts are named after those who discovered them. Within the shafts of long bones, networks of blood vessels run through longitudinal channels, called Haversian canals, named after British physican Clopton Havers. Using a microscope, he’d discovered pores, evidence of those channels. No, he couldn’t see the blood vessels in them, and he believed that they allowed oil from the marrow to permeate the bone . . . but still, he did identify those channels in the late 17th century.

I’m not clear about the author’s criteria for the selection of her oddities. Some of the body parts featured didn’t strike me as particularly unusual. Why were sphincters— donut-shaped rings of muscle that can relax (and open) or tighten (and close)— included? We humans have quite a few, but I fail to see what so odd about them. The duodenum, the first part of the small intestine, into which partially digested food from the stomach is emptied, also doesn’t seem overly remarkable either. Was it because of the name, from the Latin meaning “twelve each”? The Greek physician Herophilus (353-280) apparently discovered that this structure was 12 finger-widths in length.

This brings me to one of my main complaints about the book. I am interested in etymology, but the author really goes into the weeds at times. Her discussion of the origin of the word thyroid, from the Greek “thyreos”, is a case in point:

“The word thyreos means a ‘door-shaped’ shield—coming from a hypothetical Proto-Indo-European word dhwer, which becomes duvara in Old Persian and the more familiar dor in Old English. The leading consonant changes in Latin to give us forum—for a public space, outdoors.”

Some sections read a little too much like anatomy textbook entries. Unlike the images found in good anatomy texts, however, the illustrations here are poor. They’re too small and lack detail. While I do have some knowledge of human anatomy, it’s not recent, and the densely detailed descriptions were sometimes hard going. I had to check for clearer online anatomical images to help me understand the author’s explanations. I can’t imagine attempting to read this book without any prior knowledge of anatomical features or terms. (I have no complaints about the author’s own imaginative artistic renderings of body parts. They’re quite delightful and make a very nice addition.)

There’s a wealth of information in this book, some of it quite fascinating, but I’m afraid that reading it was a bit more work than expected. I can’t say I found it consistently enjoyable.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for providing me with an advance reading copy for review purposes.

[Nicola Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great read. A quick hit of anatomy knowledge and one that’s written in a way that’s engaging, easy to read and not too arduous. Learning and reading about anatomy can be fairly heavy going, but not in this case. It’s succinct, informative and interesting to read with some fab accompanying illustrations too.

Prof Alice Roberts is a real expert in science communication and it makes reading her books so easy. I’ve read a fair few now and love how simple yet informing they are. And this one was made even easier with pages of pictures to back up the text; it helped that it was a super pretty and aesthetically pleasing book to read too.

I find the origins of words (especially medical terminology) super interesting so to read how certain words were devised and what they were derived from really added to the depth of the information. Not only is there a wide range of anatomical terms, body parts and info included but some great facts and intriguing science.

Only around 150 pages (and half comprised of illustrations), it’s a wonderful short no strings read and easy to get stuck into.

[Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating discussion of some parts of the body with unusual names, analysing their etymology and saying what they do. Hadn’t heard of most of them.

[Paulina (infinitechapters) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐

Only really understood, like, half of this, but the parts I did get were actually pretty fun to read

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this quickly but should have taken a bit more time (or had better pictures) so I could understand all the strange bits and pieces of the body. Not a book to read in one sitting, but rather to take a snippet of at a time. If you like etymology, this is for you.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifully and sometimes surprisingly illustrated, this book offers a fragmentary peek at the world of human anatomy.

[Neuron · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just upset me it wasn't in body order or alphabetical order. But very good to end with the uterus

[Jo · Rating 3 out of 5]

This beautifully illustrated book assesses various body parts (mostly inner ones) and gives a brief overview of what they do and the etymology surrounding what they're called. Interesting and educational.

[Elizabeth Mellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley and The Experiment for the ARC of this!

This was a fascinating look at individual parts of the human body. The illustrations were very cool and the tone of the book was fun to read.

[Beachcomber · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautiful artwork by the Prof herself, and a clear love of the subject matter and history. It wasn’t always as decipherable to me as a lay person (and a visual reader to boot, trying to imagine the things being described, but not having clear or labelled diagrams). This would be great for medical students with an interest in how things were named, or with a love of art and interesting ways to study (see also the Candy Anatomy account on Instagram, who recreates anatomy using pick and mix sweets).

[Steve · Rating 3 out of 5]

There were some aspects of the book I liked. There was some cute wording and good information on etymology. Some of the illustrations were informative. On the other hand, I found the writing style less than conversational. I think people who are already very familiar with anatomy will get more out of this book than I did. Thank you Netgalley and The Experiment for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

[Hayley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Closer to 3.5 stars. Great crossover for fans of both linguistics and anatomy! I really appreciated that each topic stood alone, so that you can open it up whenever and read a few. It is written at a higher level than I expected though — it takes some prior anatomy knowledge to follow. Not really written as a starting point. That said, it would make a very cute and informative coffee table book if you have a science background! Very well-written and enjoyable overall.

Thanks to the publisher for providing an ARC!

[Sharon Tyler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anatomical Oddities: The Otherworldly Realms Hidden within Our Bodies by Alice Roberts is currently scheduled for release on November 7 2023. Every part of the human body has a name—and story. But how familiar are you with your arachnoid mater or your Haversian canals? Anatomical Oddities explores the less-familiar realms of the body, unveiling the mysteries etched into the most outlandish landscapes hidden inside all of us: our crypts and caverns, gorges, islets, and mountains. Along the way, it dips into the history of our relationship with our physical form and the discoveries that paved the way for modern anatomy and medicine. Quirky, bizarre, and beautiful, these pages feature original artworks by Alice Roberts. The stunning, full-color illustrations lay bare the intricate details of the human body, the stories of people who unearthed its secrets, and the meanings of the words we use to describe it.

Anatomical Oddities is a fascinating read, and I am very glad that I requested it on Netgalley. I thought the page long sections on each body feature was just enough information to keep readers engaged, interested, and learning. I found the text to be accessible, with a conversational tone and sense of humor that balanced the more scientific and technical aspects of the topic. I thought the matching images were very well done, and gave context to the text. It was well written, and readers can feel the expertise and knowledge that has gone into crafting the book. The only thing I could have asked for is a bibliography or suggestions for further reading for those that would like to explore anatomy or the entomology of the related language further. I really enjoyed the entomology for the terms, and learning more about the human body, and how bizarrely wonderful it is.

[J Earl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anatomical Oddities by Alice Roberts is a fun read that is also very interesting.

I don't think I would have used the word "oddities" in the title, but I'm not sure what else would work. Many of the body parts are commonly known is why I would have preferred a different word. The key, however, is that this is an informative and visually engaging book. The pictures ranged from what seems to be fairly accurate (though uniquely colored) to almost abstract (I'm thinking of the illustration for the sella turcica). But Roberts makes sure we know where to look when the drawing is more creative, so it still works quite well.

The writing is very accessible, whether describing the body part and its function or the etymological origins of the name. Each entry is fairly short, a page, so the book can be read straight through or kept handy for when you want to dip in for a bit. Though smaller than what you normally think of as a coffee table book, it would serve that function beautifully. It is visually fun and with short self-contained entries, it can be skimmed or flipped through and start plenty of conversations when you have company.

Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.

[Elisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun, original and fascinating look into the archaeology of anatomy. With funny illustrations and no apparent order, the author describes those little and not so little parts of the body that make us human. The style is conversational and funny, making this an approachable, short read. This may not help you find your appendix, but it will show you curious organs, muscles and bones that I had no idea existed. There is also great emphasis on where the names came from (spoiler alert, Greek and Latin) and how sometimes they were fundamentally changed so that they are misleading. I especially loved how the author gives practical details to find the obscure body parts that she discusses, whenever possible, as well as fun anecdotes that explain their function better than a boring text. This is a great way to learn about the human body, the history of anatomy and even random trivia that will make you seem smarter. Whether your dura mater will thank you, who knows.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, #NetGalley/#The Experiment!

[Debra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to The Experiment for my advance copy. My opinions are my own.

I read this book with admiration, sometimes with repulsion, but always with fascination. It is so visual and cerebral and organic, all at once. Some things I noted: first, there's a lot of latin. And Greek. But everything is explained so well that even a layperson like me can understand what the different bits do, where they are, and the etymology of their names. Which leads me to the second thing--there are some very beautiful things in our bodies! Even random, small things that didn't come up in my basic anatomy and physiology class. The illustrations clearly indicate where the body part is but are also beautiful and wonderful in and of themselves--so much so that I would be willing to mount some on the walls in my house. And lastly, it is eminently readable. Not only educational, but captivating. I found myself wanting to go back and re-read to absorb more of it.

[PJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Each page of this humorous and fact-filled book is dedicated to one interestingly-named part of the human body. While I enjoy learning the history of anatomy, this book opened my eye to just how intricately detailed and also fragile the human body is.

I enjoyed how subjects link back to each other throughout the book, relating nearby pieces to previously-discussed oddities.

I enjoyed the use of unique artwork instead of generic anatomy diagrams to show the oddities themselves and where in the body they are located.

While only 128 pages long, I needed to take this in short doses, otherwise the terminologies and etymologies would overwhelm my attention span. Because this book is so detailed! Rightly so for the plentiful minutiae included. I love how this is a book about the word origins of fine-detail anatomy full of fascinating information!

[Summer R Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you, Alice Roberts and NetGalley, for the ARC. I leave this review voluntarily and happily. Also, thank you publishers for your hard work!

The pictures and all the information on the strange and wonderful body parts inside of us were awesome! This book is, in my opinion, great for middlegrade and up: young adults and older. The history and word play in this book are absolutely wonderful, and I just pive to learn, so this book is right up my alley. It's not too graphic or too gross. it's just right, in my opinion.

It certainly earned its stars. Thank you again for allowing me to read this book, I certainly enjoyed reading and learning about the strange yet interesting things about our bodies.

[KateKing58 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an interesting, quirky little picture book. The information about the origins of the words used for the various parts of the body that it deals with, plus the brief details about the men who gave the names, is sometimes absolutely fascinating, sometimes a funny insight into past confusion and misconception. I'm just not really sure who the book is for. It's a long time since I learned anatomy, and this isn't comprehensive enough or systematic enough to support the medical curriculum. I hope there are enough intelligent and curious people in the world to give it a warm welcome.

[Luciano Elementi · Rating 4 out of 5]

A light read from the onset, I truly enjoyed the selection, the history, and the connections. I learned something too. There is some humor here and there, and good pictures.
Please don't get too deep though, this goes only for me: others may have different opinions here. I think the author could have done a better job with the images, some are just marginally understandable in the anatomical feature these are representing. I like though that the images clearly enlighten the origin of the (medical)words

[Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to say, it's not what I expected when I read the title anatomical oddities, I was expecting more unusual things, that not all bodies contain, rather than lesser known parts of the body. That being said, I found this book very interesting. I think I needed a bit of anatomy background as I didn't understand some parts, but still found the root of the names and learning new things interesting.

[Emma Dostal · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this is a great book for anatomy enthusiasts, AP bio/anatomy students, or anyone interested in the human body. It was fascinating to learn about the origins of names for different parts of the body. The illustrations help make a connection between the shape and the Latin name which could be a useful tool for students. The illustrations were so fun!

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The art in this book was so freaking cool! I wish I had more of an understanding of anatomy though cause some of the words went right over my head. The explanations were fun and interesting. I learned quite a bit about the human body that I didn’t know before. Very cool read and highly recommend.

[John Wood · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was hoping to learn more about the human body and be entertained at the same time. I got a little book with a disjointed list of obscure body structures that seemed more focused on the strange names and their origins than their functions, accompanied by crude drawings. It's a tedious read.

[Document Of Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was full of interesting information about the etymology of anatomical words, titbits about the human body and it's processes, and how doctors names specific parts of the body throughout history. It was equally interesting and educational with beautiful illustrations.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifully illustrated book of various obscure parts of the human anatomy with the etymology of each anatomical term. A strange book yet weirdly enjoyable.

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating for word nerds and science geeks.

[Em · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely fascinating: the etymology, the medical information & the art make this such a digestible & interesting read.

[Charliiey Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Professor Alice Roberts beautifully describes the wonders of our bodies in this indescribably illustrated book. I was in awe every time I turned the page at every illustration.

[T.M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely LOVE books like these where there are a collection of weird facts that I may or may not know, and Anatomical Oddities was no exception! Such an interesting read and definitely worth it.