Robert H. Whitaker, FRCS, is a retired surgeon, who now works as a lecturer and dissection demonstrator at the University of Cambridge, and examiner at the Royal College of Surgeons. He is co-author of the book Instant Anatomy.

Whitaker graduated with a BA

Bachelor of Arts

A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...

 degree in medical science from the University of Cambridge

University of Cambridge

The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...

 and continued his medical training at University College Hospital

University College Hospital

University College Hospital is a teaching hospital located in London, United Kingdom. It is part of the University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and is closely associated with University College London ....

, London. He spent a year at Johns Hopkins Hospital

Johns Hopkins Hospital

The Johns Hopkins Hospital is the teaching hospital and biomedical research facility of Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, located in Baltimore, Maryland . It was founded using money from a bequest by philanthropist Johns Hopkins...

, Baltimore, in the Urological Research Laboratories before returning to continue his training at the St Peters Hospital group in London. He was a Senior Lecturer in Urology

Urology

Urology is the medical and surgical specialty that focuses on the urinary tracts of males and females, and on the reproductive system of males. Medical professionals specializing in the field of urology are called urologists and are trained to diagnose, treat, and manage patients with urological...

 at the London Hospital Medical School before starting work as a Consultant Paediatric Urology surgeon at Addenbrooke's Hospital

Addenbrooke's Hospital

Addenbrooke's Hospital is an internationally renowned teaching hospital in Cambridge, England, with strong links to the University of Cambridge. It was founded in 1766 on Trumpington Street with £4,500 from the will of Dr John Addenbrooke, a fellow of St Catharine's College...

, Cambridge in 1973. Since his retirement from the NHS he has worked with trainee surgeons and medical students at the University of Cambridge Department of Anatomy

Anatomy

Anatomy is a branch of biology and medicine that is the consideration of the structure of living things. It is a general term that includes human anatomy, animal anatomy , and plant anatomy...

 and is a senior examiner at the Royal College of Surgeons

Royal College of Surgeons of England

The Royal College of Surgeons of England is an independent professional body and registered charity committed to promoting and advancing the highest standards of surgical care for patients, regulating surgery, including dentistry, in England and Wales...

, the governing body of surgeons in England.

Instant Anatomy

Instant Anatomy is a reference book for students of human anatomy. It includes several schematic diagrams and pictures, many of which are drawn by Whitaker himself. The intention is to simplify the regions of anatomy into easier to remember parts, creating an 'instant' summary. The book is divided up into sections for arteries, veins, lymphatics, autonomic nervous system

Autonomic nervous system

The autonomic nervous system is the part of the peripheral nervous system that acts as a control system functioning largely below the level of consciousness, and controls visceral functions. The ANS affects heart rate, digestion, respiration rate, salivation, perspiration, diameter of the pupils,...

, cranial nerves

Cranial nerves

Cranial nerves are nerves that emerge directly from the brain, in contrast to spinal nerves, which emerge from segments of the spinal cord. In humans, there are traditionally twelve pairs of cranial nerves...

, peripheral nerves, dermatomes and cutanious nerve distribution, muscles, joints, ossification

Ossification

Ossification is the process of laying down new bone material by cells called osteoblasts. It is synonymous with bone tissue formation...

 times, foramina - skull and spine, spaces other than skull and spine, position of structures according to vertebral levels and pharyngeal

Pharyngeal

The word pharyngeal, meaning to do with the pharynx or throat, may refer to:* Pharynx, for pharyngeal anatomy* Pharyngeal muscles**Superior pharyngeal constrictor muscle** Middle pharyngeal constrictor muscle** Inferior pharyngeal constrictor muscle...

derivatives. There is also an accompanying website which has several more pictures, podcasts and video teaching. It is clear from the 'guestbook' of the website that it is used and appreciated by many people all around the world in their studies of anatomy.