Human anatomy

Key takeaways

Human anatomy belongs to biology; place it in that map before memorising details.
Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
Connect Human anatomy to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
Reproduce the core statement of Human anatomy from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

Human anatomy (gr. ἀνατομία, "dissection", from ἀνά, "up", and τέμνειν, "cut") is primarily the scientific study of the morphology of the human body. Anatomy is subdivided into gross anatomy and microscopic anatomy. Gross anatomy (also called macroscopic anatomy, topographical anatomy, regional anatomy, or anthropotomy) is the study of anatomical structures that can be seen by the naked eye. Microscopic anatomy is the study of minute anatomical structures assisted with microscopes, which includes histology (the study of the organization of tissues), and cytology (the study of cells). Anatomy, human physiology (the study of function), and biochemistry (the study of the chemistry of living structures) are complementary basic medical sciences that are generally together (or in tandem) to students studying medical sciences. In some of its facets human anatomy is closely related to embryology, comparative anatomy and comparative embryology, through common roots in evolution; for example, much of the human body maintains the ancient segmental pattern that is present in all vertebrates with basic units being repeated, which is particularly obvious in the vertebral column and in the ribcage, and can be traced from very early embryos. The human body consists of biological systems, that consist of organs, that consist of tissues, that consist of cells and connective tissue. The history of anatomy has been characterized, over a long period of time, by a continually developing understanding of the functions of organs and structures of the body. Methods have also advanced dramatically, advancing from examination of animals through dissection of fresh and preserved cadavers (corpses) to technologically complex techniques developed in the 20th century.

Study

Generally, physicians, dentists, physiotherapists, nurses, paramedics, radiographers, and students of certain biological sciences, learn gross anatomy and microscopic anatomy from anatomical models, skeletons, textbooks, diagrams, photographs, lectures, and tutorials. The study of microscopic anatomy (or histology) can be aided by practical experience examining histological preparations (or slides) under a microscope; and in addition, medical and dental students generally also learn anatomy with practical experience of dissection and inspection of cadavers (dead human bodies). A thorough working knowledge of anatomy is required for all medical doctors, especially surgeons, and doctors working in some diagnostic specialities, such as histopathology and radiology. Human anatomy, physiology, and biochemistry are basic medical sciences, which are generally taught to medical students in their first year at medical school. Human anatomy can be taught regionally or systemically; that is, respectively, studying anatomy by bodily regions such as the head and chest, or studying by specific systems, such as the nervous or respiratory systems. The major anatomy textbook, Gray's Anatomy, has recently been reorganized from a systems format to a regional format, which is in line with the modern teaching.

Anatomy in visual arts Gross anatomy has become a key part of visual arts. Basic concepts of how muscles and bones function and deform with movement is key to drawing, painting or animating a human figure. Many books such as Human Anatomy for Artists: The Elements of Form, are written as a guide to drawing the human body anatomically correctly. Leonardo da Vinci sought to improve his art through a better understanding of human anatomy. In the process he advanced both human anatomy and its representation in art. Because the structure of a living organism is complex, anatomy is organized by levels, from the smallest components of cells to the largest organs and their relationship to other organs.

Approaches

Regional groups Head and neck – includes everything above the thoracic inlet Upper limb – includes the hand, wrist, forearm, elbow, arm, shoulder Thorax – the region of the chest from the thoracic inlet to the thoracic diaphragm Human abdomen to the pelvic brim or to the pelvic inlet The back – the spine and its components, the vertebrae, sacrum, coccyx, intervertebral disks Pelvis and perineum – the pelvis consists of everything from the pelvic inlet to the pelvic diaphragm; the perineum is the region between the sex organs and the anus Lower limb – everything below the inguinal ligament, including the hip, the thigh, the knee, the leg, the ankle, the foot

Internal organs (by region) Head and neck

Brain Basal ganglia Brain stem Medulla Midbrain Pons Cerebellum Cerebrum Cerebral cortex Hypothalamus Limbic system Amygdala Eyes (2) Pineal gland Pituitary gland Thyroid gland Parathyroid glands (4) Thorax

Heart Lungs (2) Esophagus Thymus gland Pleura Abdomen and pelvis (both sexes)

Adrenal glands (2) Appendix Bladder Gallbladder Large intestine Small intestine Kidneys (2) Liver Pancreas – gland Spleen Stomach Male pelvis

Prostate gland Testes – glands (2) Female pelvis

Ovaries – glands (2) Uterus

Major organ systems

Circulatory system: pumping and channeling blood to and from the body and lungs with heart, blood, blood vessels Digestive system: digestion and processing food with salivary glands, esophagus, stomach, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, intestines, rectum, anus Endocrine system: communication within the body using hormones made by endocrine glands such as the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, pineal gland, thyroid, parathyroid glands, adrenal glands Immune system: the system that fights off disease; composed of leukocytes, tonsils, adenoids, thymus, spleen Integumentary system: skin, hair, nails Lymphatic system: structures involved in the transfer of lymph between tissues and the blood stream, the lymph and the nodes and vessels that transport it Musculoskeletal system: muscles provide movement and a skeleton provides structural support and protection with bones, cartilage, ligaments, tendons Nervous system: collecting, transferring and processing information with brain, spinal cord, nerves Reproductive system: the sex organs; in the female; ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterus, vagina, mammary glands, and in the male; testicles, vas deferens, seminal vesicles, prostate, penis Respiratory system: the organs used for breathing, the pharynx, larynx, trachea, bronchi, lungs, diaphragm Urinary system: kidneys, ureters, bladder, urethra involved in fluid balance, electrolyte balance, and excretion of urine

Surface anatomy

… excerpt ends here. Continue reading the full article.

Illustrations

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Human anatomy

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Human anatomy claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In biology, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Human anatomy before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Human anatomy ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Human anatomy

In research: Human anatomy appears in biology research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses Human anatomy in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: Human anatomy is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Human anatomy, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for Human anatomy outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

How to study Human anatomy in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what Human anatomy means in your own words.
Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
Explain Human anatomy out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is Human anatomy in simple terms?

Human anatomy (gr. ἀνατομία, "dissection", from ἀνά, "up", and τέμνειν, "cut") is primarily the scientific study of the morphology of the human body. Anatomy is subdivided into gross anatomy and microscopic anatomy.

Why does Human anatomy matter?

Because it connects several biology ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Human anatomy?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Human anatomy.