PREFACE TO THE FOURTH EDITION It gives me immense pleasure to present the latest edition of Textbook of Histology: Atlas and Practical Guide. This edition of the book is quite different from the third edition in that it is extensively revised, updated and is designed per the new competency-based curriculum by the Medical Council of India. It is designed specifically to cater the requirements of undergraduate medical and dental students and students of allied health sciences. The content of this book is simple, student-friendly and is wrapped up in the most efficient format, to increase the interest of readers. Updated high-quality, labelled photomicrographs es sential for undergraduate students are given emphasis, and the higher magnification and specially stained microscopic images are added as a separate section at the end of the book for the benefit of postgraduate students. All haematoxylin and eosin diagrams are redrawn with utmost care given to the details and are represented in the most student-friendly manner along with salient points of identification, well integrated with the text and the pho- tomicrograph. Students can easily correlate them with the photomicrographs (plates) and reproduce them in records and during exams. More schematic line diagrams, flow charts, tables and clinical correlation boxes are incorporated for better understanding. To facilitate easy understanding and to aid quick revision, a simple and precise language is used throughout the text. The volume of pages has been reduced because of the usage of precise language, point-wise presentation and shifting of self-assessment exercise to e-book. Detailed histological deions and jargons have been deliberately removed as the beginners need to know only the basic facts. The point-wise presentation will help easy learning and quick recapitulation during examination. A new section 'Key Facts to Remember' is added at the beginning of each chapter, which will give the students a quick introduction to each chapter and a quick revision before the exams. Important keywords/basic facts in the text are highlighted in BOLD and RED) to gain greater attention, especially during revision for exams. I hope that this revised edition will fulfil most of the requirements of the student community and receive the same kind of support as before.