What is Anatomy?
Anatomy (from the Greek word meaning to cut up, cut open) is the branch of biology that deals with the structure and organization of living things. It can be divided into animal anatomy (zootomy) and plant anatomy (phytonomy). Major branches of anatomy include comparative anatomy, histology, and human anatomy.
Anatomy from point of Medicine consists of a knowledge of the exact form, position, size and relationship of the various structures of the healthy human body, and to this study the term descriptive or topographical human anatomy is given, though it is often, less happily, spoken of as anthropotomy.
So intricate is the human body that only a small number of professional human anatomists, after years of patient observation, are complete masters of all its details; most of them specialize on certain parts, such as the brain or viscera, contenting themselves with a good working knowledge of the rest.
Before proceeding to understand anything about human body, it is imperative to know atleast the names of major body systems and organs present in human body that make it so intricate and astonishing.
Fig: Human Anatomy
MAJOR BODY SYSTEMS:
- Integumentary system
- Muscular system
- Nervous system
- Reproductive system
- Respiratory system
- Excretory system
- Circulatory system
- Lymphatic system
- Skeletal system (Human skeleton)
- Endocrine system
- Digestive system
- Immune system
ORGANS:
- Anus
- Appendix
- Brain
- Breast
- Colon or large intestine
- Diaphragm
- Ear
- Eye
- Heart
- Kidney
- Labia
- Larynx
- Liver
- Lungs
- Nose
- Ovary
- Pharynx
- Pancreas
- Penis
- Placenta
- Rectum
- Skin
- Small intestine
- Spleen
- Stomach
- Tongue
- Uterus
BONES IN THE HUMAN SKELETON: 
- Collar bone (clavicle)
- Thigh bone (femur)
- Humerus
- Mandible
- Patella
- Radius
- Skull
- Tibia
- Ulna
- Rib
- Vertebrae
- Pelvis
- Sternum
GLANDS:
- Ductless gland
- Mammary gland
- Salivary gland
- Thyroid gland
- Parathyroid gland
- Adrenal gland
- Pituitary gland
- Pineal gland
TISSUES:
- Connective tissue
- Endothelial tissue
- Epithelial tissue
- Glandular tissue
- Lymphoid tissue
Externally visible parts of the human body:
- Abdomen
- Arm
- Back
- Buttock
- Chest
- Ear
- Eye
- Face
- Genitals
- Head
- Joint
- Leg
- Mouth
- Neck
- Scalp
- Skin
- Teeth
- Tongue
Other anatomic terms (not classified):
- Artery
- Coelom
- Diaphragm
- Gastrointestinal tract
- Hair
- Exoskeleton
- Lip
- Nerve
- Peritoneum
- Serous membrane
- Skeleton
- Skull
- Spinal cord
- Vein
Human anatomy or anthropotomy is a special field within anatomy. It studies gross structures and systems of the human body, leaving the study of tissues to histology and cells to cytology. The human body, like the bodies of all animals, is made up of systems that are made up of organs that are made up of tissues that are made up of cells.
Human organ systems:
- Cardiovascular system: Blood circulations with heart and blood vessels.
- Digestive system: Processing food with mouth, stomach and intestines.
- Endocrine system: Communicating within the body using hormones.
- Immune system: Defending against disease-causing agents.
- Integumentary system: Skin, hair and nails.
- Lymphatic system: Structures involved in the transfer of lymph between tissues and the bloodstream.
- Muscular system: Moving the body
- Nervous system: Collecting, transferring and processing information with brain and nerves
- Reproductive system: The sex organs
- Respiratory system: The organs used for breathing, the lungs
- Skeletal system: Structural support and protection through bones
- Urinary system: The kidneys and associated structures involved in the production and excretion of urine
External body features:
Common names of well known parts of the human body, from top to bottom:
Fig: Human Body Features
Skin
Head -- Forehead -- Eye -- Ear -- Nose -- Mouth -- Tongue -- Teeth -- Jaw -- Face -- Cheek -- Chin
Neck -- Throat -- Adam's apple -- Shoulders
Arm -- Elbow -- Wrist -- Hand -- Fingers -- Thumb
Spine -- Chest -- Breast -- Ribcage
Abdomen -- Belly button -- Sex organs (Penis/Scrotum or Clitoris/Vagina) -- Rectum -- Anus
Hip -- Buttocks -- Leg -- Thigh -- Knee -- Calf -- Heel -- Ankle -- Foot -- Toes
Internal Organs
Common names of internal organs (in alphabetical order):
- Adrenals
- Appendix
- Bladder
- Brain
- Duodenum
- Eyes
- Gall bladder
- Heart
- Intestines
- Kidney
- Liver
- Lungs
- Ovaries
- Pancreas
- Parathyroids
- Pituitary
- Prostate
- Spleen
- Stomach
- Thymus
- Thyroid
- Testicles
- Womb
Anatomy of the brain
Amygdala -- Brainstem -- Cerebellum -- Cerebral cortex -- Hypothalamus -- Limbic system -- medulla-- midbrain -- Pituitary gland -- pons
Studying Human Anatomy
Certain professions, especially medicine and physiotherapy, require the study of human anatomy in depth. Textbooks usually split the body into the following regional groups:
Head and Neck - includes everything above the thoracic inlet
Upper limb - includes everything from your hand, forearm, arm, shoulder, axilla, pectoral region and scapular region.
Thorax - contains the region of the chest from the thoracic inlet to the thoracic diaphragm.
Abdomen - Everything from the thoracic diaphragm to the pelvic brim or to the pelvic inlet.
The back - about the spine and its components, the intervertebral disks and bodies
Pelvis and Perineum - the pelvis consists of everything from the pelvic inlet to the pelvic diaphragm. The perineum is everything below the pelvic diaphragm.
Lower limb - the lower limb is usually everything below the inguinal ligament, including the thigh, the hip joint, the leg, and the foot.
