Now and then, I hear from eagle-eyed anatomists and surgeons around the world who have read The Anatomist and spotted a small anatomical error I made on page 220.  (I either misheard the TA that day, or the TA misspoke.)   While I regret the error--and it will certainly be corrected in upcoming editions of the book, including the forthcoming paperback (March 2009)--at the same time, I secretly do not mind (well, not so secretly now, right?).  For without the error, I might not have received charming letters such as these from two modern-day Henry Grays.  Thank you, everyone, for writing!  p.s., Say Grace Before Tea!

Dear Mr Hayes,

I thoroughly enjoyed reading your book - 'The Anatomist' and as a
lecturer/teacher/demostrator/prosector in anatomy, I related to many of the
senarios you described during your participation of the anatomy sessions at
the University. I thought you might be interested in a small anatomical
error that I came across on page 220 in my edition(last few lines prior to
the Epilogue). The three muscles that attach at the pes anserinus on the
medial aspect of the tibia are sartorius, gracilis and semitendinosus with
the mnemonic being SGBT:Say Grace Before Tea. Biceps femoris does not
attach to the pes anserinus. It is one of the hamstring muscles that
attaches on the lateral aspect to the head of the fibula via a split
tendon. I particularly enjoy teaching the students about the pes anserinus
('goose's foot') as it beautifully displays a unique area where three
biarthrodial muscles, each from a different compartment of the thigh and
each with a different nerve supply, attach to the tibia thus having the
ability to act on both the hip and the knee joints.

With very best wishes,
Adina Kleiner

Dear Bill Hayes,

I have just had the great pleasure of reading The Anatomist. I found it full of interest, beautifully crafted and elegantly written, and a very poignant story. I think there should be further editions.  With this in mind, will you allow an old surgeon to do a little nit-picking.
  
Turning to page 220, I think there is confusion between pes anserinus on the one hand and "hamstrings" on the other. Say Grace Before Food is all right for the latter, but on the medial side, the humble semi-tendinosus seems to have been forgotten.
  
With my best wishes and cogratulations on a wonderful book. Don Macleish.