From Man's to Practical Anatomy: the Evolution of an Anatomical Textbook.

This paper traces the history of Man's Anatomy, one of the most influential anatomy textbooks produced on the African continent. Authored by the two renowned South African educators Phillip Vallentine Tobias and Maurice Arnold, the first volume of this book was published in 1963. Both an anatomy textbook and a dissection manual Man's Anatomy included an in-depth exposition of structures of the human body, presented in an innovative and engaging way. In 1999, in line with the developments in medical and anatomy education as well as broader societal changes, the book was significantly condensed, and its name changed to Practical Anatomy. The second edition of Practical Anatomy was published in 2020 and is currently still in use at many South African universities.