This book is quite functionally named, "Unwin Hyman Dictionary of Biology, 2nd Edition", and it seems to have a certain empirical beauty in that [1]. However, scratch beneath the surface, and a cold deceit lies at its black, black heart. This book is the same as the Harper Collins Dictionary of Biology, 2nd Edition. What would have happened if I'd bought the Harper Collins Dictionary of Biology, 2nd Edition as well as the Unwin Hyman Dictionary of Biology, 2nd Edition? What then? Hmmm? it doesn't bare thinking about.
Anyway, get on with it I hear you sigh. Ok.
I bought this dictionary in my first year of my undergraduate studies, way back in 1999. I've never really used it, until now that is. Today I forgot which was which out of tendons and ligaments. Stupid, I know, but is has been one of those weeks.
Tendon a bunch of parallel collagen fibres making up a band of connective tissue which serves to attach muscle to bone[2]
Nice, exactly what I needed to know.
Ligament a capsule of elastic connective tissue that joins bone[3]
That has confirmed it. Good work Hale, Margham and Saunders (the editors of the Unwin Hyman Dictionary of Biology, 2nd Edition).
So in summary, the Unwin Hyman Dictionary of Biology, 2nd Edition is an excellent reference source to remind you which is which out of tendons and ligaments.
Post of normal infrequency, which are just as poorly written will resume shortly. Honest. Thanks for your patience.
[1] Empirical, hmmm if only I had some sort of book full of words and their meaning to check to to see if I used that in the right context there...
[2] Entry truncated, you know, just cos i couldn't be bothered to type the rest
[3] see [2]
