Donald B. McMillan – författare

Atlas of Comparative Vertebrate Histology looks at the histology of a wide range of vertebrates, representative of all the major classes and families, with examples ranging from amphioxus to primates. The authors focus their microscope on commonly seen vertebrates as well as 'non-standard' species, such as lamprey, hagfish, dogfish, skate, rock bass, cod, river catfish, toad, amphiuma, leopard and bull frog, garter and brown snake, Coturnix quail and cowbird.

The study of comparative histology in the vertebrates helps students and researchers alike understand how various groups have addressed similar problems, opening doors to interesting research possibilities. Not all vertebrates follow the mammalian model of tissue and organ structure.

When dealing with unique species, we see some structures taken beyond their 'normal' function. Comparative histology allows us to understand the structural responses underlying the physiology unique to each vertebrate group.

This volume describes the myriad ways in which fish have approached problems of reproduction - it is an amply illustrated comparative study of the microscopic structure of the female genital systems of fish. The timing of its appearance is auspicious in that it coincides with the decline of the golden age of descriptive morphology. It is a compilation of thousands of micrographs - mostly electron micrographs - from classic works in the field and should prove valuable to investigators studying fish in areas such as ecology, physiology, and reproductive biology who may view histology as essential in their work but have little background in this area. It includes chapters on the origin of genital systems, the structure of ovarian follicles, mechanisms of ovulation, the cortical reaction, oviducts, oviparity, and amazing examples of viviparity.