Safe surgery is founded upon careful dissection and clear identification of vital structures. Knowledge of the appropriate anatomy and anatomical relations is therefore essential, not only during surgical training, but as the cornerstone of surgical practice. The aim of this book is to describe the essential anatomical basis of a range of common procedures in general and vascular surgery. The large-format multi-volume texts on operative surgery, despite their undoubted excellence, are now too expensive for individual purchase. Single-volume books on operative surgery have been unable to devote sufficient attention to anatomical detail and the surgeon is left ploughing through anatomy texts, often failing to find illustrations which demonstrate clearly the features that are important in an operative dissection. The present text highlights features of the operations which are important anatomically while not attempting to give a complete description of the operative procedure. A combination of line diagrams and cross sections has been used to provide the topographical detail. The volume is aimed mainly at surgeons in training, to help them on a day-to­ day basis and to provide a text which will be useful in revising for post­ graduate examinations in surgery. It is also hoped that the book will be of use to practising surgeons, providing an easy means of highlighting important anatomical aspects of the procedures they perform relatively infrequently. 1989 S.J.S.