The skeleton
The nervous system
The muscles
The internal organs and their contents

Human anatomy (gr. ????????, "dissection", from ???, "up", and ???????, "cut") is primarily the scientific study of the morphology of the human body.[1] Anatomy is subdivided into gross anatomy and microscopic anatomy.[1] Gross anatomy (also called topographical anatomy, regional anatomy, or anthropotomy) is the study of anatomical structures that can be seen by the naked eye.[1] Microscopic anatomy is the study of minute anatomical structures assisted with microscopes, which includes histology (the study of the organization of tissues),[1] 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,[1] 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 in the body. Methods have also advanced dramatically, advancing from examination of animals through dissection of fresh and preserved cadavers (dead human bodies) to technologically complex techniques developed in the 20th century.

## Study[edit]

Anatomical study by Leonardo da Vinci

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;[1] 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,[2][3] in line with modern teaching.

## Anatomy in visual arts[edit]

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.[4] 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.

## Approaches[edit]

### Regional groups[edit]

- Head and neck?? includes everything above the thoracic inlet.
- Upper limb?? includes the hand, wrist, forearm, elbow, arm, and 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, and 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, and the foot.

### Internal organs (by region)[edit]

Head and neck

- Brain
  - Basal ganglia
  - Brain stem
    - medulla
    - midbrain
    - pons
  - Cerebellum
  - Cerebral cortex
  - Hypothalamus
  - Limbic system
    - Amygdala

- Eyes (2, non-vital)
- Pineal gland
- Pituitary gland
- Thyroid gland
- Parathyroid glands (4 or more)

Thorax

- Heart
- Lungs (2)
- Esophagus
- Thymus gland
- Pleura

Abdomen and pelvis (both sexes)

- Adrenal glands (2)
- Appendix (non-vital)
- Bladder
- Gallbladder (non-vital)
- Large intestine
- Small intestine
- Kidneys (2)
- Liver
- Pancreas - gland
- Spleen (non-vital)
- Stomach

Male pelvis

- Prostate gland (non-vital)
- Testes - glands (2,non-vital)

Female pelvis

- Ovaries - glands (2, non-vital)
- Uterus (non-vital)

### Major organ systems[edit]

Main article: Biological system

- Circulatory system: pumping and channeling blood to and from the body and lungs with heart, blood, and blood vessels.
- Digestive System: digestion and processing food with salivary glands, esophagus, stomach, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, intestines, rectum, and anus.
- Endocannabinoid system: neuromodulatory lipids and receptors involved in a variety of physiological processes including appetite, pain-sensation, mood, motor learning, synaptic plasticity, and memory.
- Endocrine system: communication within the body using hormones made by endocrine glands such as the hypothalamus, pituitary or pituitary gland, pineal body or pineal gland, thyroid, parathyroids, and adrenals or adrenal glands
- Integumentary system: skin, hair and nails
- Immune system: the system that fights off disease; composed of leukocytes, tonsils, adenoids, thymus, and spleen.
- 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, and tendons.
- Nervous system: collecting, transferring and processing information with brain, spinal cord and 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, and penis.
- Respiratory system: the organs used for breathing, the pharynx, larynx, trachea, bronchi, lungs, and diaphragm.
- Urinary system: kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra involved in fluid balance, electrolyte balance and excretion of urine.
- Vestibular system: contributes to our balance and our sense of spatial orientation.

### Superficial anatomy[edit]

Main article: Superficial anatomy
Superficial anatomy of female and male human body
Surface projections of the major organs of the trunk, using the vertebral column and rib cage as main reference points of superficial anatomy

Superficial anatomy or surface anatomy is important in human anatomy being the study of anatomical landmarks that can be readily identified from the contours or other reference points on the surface of the body.[1] With knowledge of superficial anatomy, physicians gauge the position and anatomy of deeper structures.

Common names of well known parts of the human body, from top to bottom:

- Head ?? Forehead ?? Jaw ?? Cheek ?? Chin
- Neck?? Shoulder
- Arm ?? Elbow ?? Wrist ?? Hand ?? Finger ?? Thumb
- Spine ?? Chest ?? Thorax
- Abdomen ?? Groin
- Hip ?? Buttocks ?? Leg ?? Thigh ?? Knee ?? Calf ?? Heel ?? Ankle ?? Foot ?? Toe
- Eye, ear, nose, mouth, teeth, tongue, throat, adam's apple, breast, penis, scrotum, clitoris, vulva, navel are also superficial structures.

## See also[edit]

Main article: Outline of human anatomy

- Anatomic variation
- Anatomy
- Body orifices
- Death
- Human
- Human biology
- Human body
- List of human anatomical features
- List of human anatomical parts named after people
- List of bones of the human skeleton
- List of distinct cell types in the adult human body
- List of muscles of the human body
- List of regions in the human brain
- Terminologia Anatomica
- Terms for anatomical location
- Visible Human Project

## References[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e f g "Introduction page, "Anatomy of the Human Body". Henry Gray. 20th edition. 1918". Retrieved 27 March 2007.
2. ^ "Publisher's page for Gray's Anatomy. 39th edition (UK). 2004. ISBN 0-443-07168-3". Archived from the original on 20 February 2007. Retrieved 27 March 2007.
3. ^ "Publisher's page for Gray's Anatomy. 39th edition (US). 2004. ISBN 0-443-07168-3". Archived from the original on 9 February 2007. Retrieved 27 March 2007.
4. ^ Goldfinger, Eliot (1991). Human Anatomy for Artists: The Elements of Form. Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-505206-4.

## External links[edit]

| Wikimedia Commons has media related to Human anatomy.

- Integrative Biology 131: General Human Anatomy (Fall 2005) by Professor Marian Diamond. Complete videos of the 40 lectures at Anatomy Physiology (UC-Berkley)
- API at the Open Directory Project
- "Anatomy of the Human Body". 20th edition. 1918. Henry Gray. In public domain.
- Human anatomy in photo
- Terminologia Anatomica (names of anatomical features) on FIPAT site
- Human Body Maps (interactive human body) on HL.com

Anatomy and morphology
Mammals | Human anatomy Neanderthal anatomy Cat anatomy Dog anatomy Horse anatomy |
Other vertebrates | Bird anatomy Fish anatomy Shark anatomy
Invertebrates | Decapod anatomy Insect morphology Spider anatomy
Plants | Plant anatomy Plant morphology Hieracium anatomy
Other topics | Allometry Brain morphometry Comparative anatomy Microscopic anatomy histology molecular Morphometrics

Human regional anatomy (TA A01.1)
Head | Ear Face Cheek Chin Eye Mouth Nose Forehead Sinciput Jaw Occiput Scalp Temple
Neck | Adam's apple Throat
Trunk | Abdomen Navel Back Chest Breast Pelvis Sex organs
Limbs |
Upper limb | Arm Axilla Elbow Finger Thumb Index Middle Ring Little Forearm Hand Shoulder Wrist
Lower limb / (see also leg) | Ankle Buttocks Calf Crus Foot Heel Hip Knee Sole Thigh Toe Hallux Long Third Fourth Fifth
General anatomy: systems and organs, regional anatomy, planes and lines, superficial axial anatomy, superficial anatomy of limbs

Human systems and organs
TA 2–4: MS |
Skeletal system | Bone Carpus Collar bone (clavicle) Thigh bone (femur) Fibula Humerus Mandible Metacarpus Metatarsus Ossicles Patella Phalanges Radius Skull (cranium) Tarsus Tibia Ulna Rib Vertebra Pelvis Sternum Cartilage
Joints | Fibrous joint Cartilaginous joint Synovial joint
Muscular system | Muscle Tendon Diaphragm
TA 5–11: splanchnic/ viscus |
mostly Thoracic |
Respiratory system | URT Nose Nasopharynx Larynx LRT Trachea Bronchus Lung
mostly Abdominopelvic |
Digestive system+ adnexa | Mouth Salivary gland Tongue upper GI Oropharynx Laryngopharynx Esophagus Stomach lower GI Small intestine Appendix Colon Rectum Anus accessory Liver Biliary tract Pancreas
GU: Urinary system | Kidney Ureter Bladder Urethra
GU: Reproductive system | Female Uterus Vagina Vulva Ovary Placenta Male Scrotum Penis Prostate Testicle Seminal vesicle
Endocrine system | Pituitary Pineal Thyroid Parathyroid Adrenal Islets of Langerhans
TA 12–16 |
Circulatory system |
Cardiovascular system | peripheral Artery Vein Lymphatic vessel Heart
Lymphatic system | primary Bone marrow Thymus secondary Spleen Lymph node CNS equivalent Glymphatic system
Nervous system | Brain Spinal cord Nerve Sensory system Ear Eye
Integumentary system | Skin Subcutaneous tissue Breast Mammary gland
Blood (Non-TA) |
Myeloid | Myeloid immune system
Lymphoid | Lymphoid immune system
General anatomy: systems and organs, regional anatomy, planes and lines, superficial axial anatomy, superficial anatomy of limbs

Systems and organs of the animal anatomy
Respiratory system | Bronchus Trachea Lung Diaphragm
Excretory system | Kidney Bladder
Nervous system | Brain
Immune system | Spleen Adenoid
Digestive system | Anus Colon Mouth Pancreas Rectum Small intestine Spleen Stomach Tongue Tooth Vermiform appendix
Other organs | Bone Ear Eye Head Heart Larynx Liver Nose Penis Pharynx Rhinarium Skeleton Skin Skull Tonsil Thymus Thyroid
Tissues | Tissue (biology)