Anatomy (from the
Greek ??at?µ?a anatomia, from
??at?µ?e?? ana separate, apart from, and temnein, to cut up, cut open. Also from the Greek word "anatome"--ana apart, tome to cut-->To cut apart.) 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 (zootomy) and
plant anatomy (phytotomy). In some of its facets anatomy is closely related to
embryology,
comparative anatomy and
comparative embryology,
[1] through common roots in
evolution.
Anatomy is subdivided into gross anatomy (or macroscopic 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 unaided vision with 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).
The history of anatomy has been characterized, over time, by a continually developing understanding of the functions of organs and structures in the body. Methods have also improved dramatically, advancing from examination of animals through dissection of cadavers (dead human bodies) to technologically complex techniques developed in the 20th century including X-ray, ultrasound, and MRI imaging.
Anatomy should not be confused with anatomical pathology (also called morbid anatomy or histopathology), which is the study of the gross and microscopic appearances of diseased organs.
