Anatomy, with all its fascinating facets to investigate and teach, has been and continues to be my calling. To probe more deeply into the interconnections between structures and, through that, to clarify many functional problems that patients have never ceases to engage me. My students have always had a great deal to learn, but it is important to me that they understand anatomy, not merely memorize it. I dedicate my book to them. Based on 25 years and approximately 7,000 hours teaching functional anatomy—this book evolved from an instructional manual after many years of work. My book should not and cannot replace the classical anatomy texts. Rather, it is a supplement to them. Thus, I delve thoroughly into joint surfaces and the formation of joints, while only briefly describing the bones. While I have assumed a background knowledge of muscle origins and insertions, I feel it is important to describe the functional aspects of the muscles. Palpation of the various structures makes up a large portion of the book. It remains an important component of examination and treatment in physical therapy. I hope that my references to pathology and the practical tips are useful for all my colleagues in everyday practice. I especially wish to thank the illustrator, Piotr Gusta and his wife, who immersed themselves deeply in their work. The superb, detailed figures found in this book are the result. I would like to thank Dr. Alan Wiser for his excellent translation. I would also like to extend thanks to Angelika-Marie Findgott and Gabriele Kuhn-Giovannini for their excellent support, and to all the other associates at Thieme Publishers who participated in the production of this book. I also thank my colleagues at the School of Physical Therapy at the University Hospital Frankfurt. They have always assisted me in gathering important data.

"This completely updated third edition of the award-winning Palpation Techniques is a beautifully illustrated guide with clear step-by-step descriptions that teach readers how to identify and distinguish between a multitude of underlying body structures, mainly based on palpation alone. A unique graphic technique using detailed drawings of muscles, bones, and tendons directly on the skin, shown in almost 900 full-color photographs plus complementary color illustrations, provides a solid understanding of the functional significance of each anatomic region. The previous edition introduced palpation techniques for the shoulder and included new photos and illustrations for the hand, hip, and foot. This third edition is upgraded with a chapter on the abdominal area and additional subchapters on further starting positions and palpation techniques of the shoulder, elbow, and hip/groin. Many new illustrations accompany these new sections"