Article Surfing Archive

The term anatomy is derived from the Greek words anatomia, or from anatemnein meaning to cut up or to cut open. Anatomy is the division of biology which is based on the organization and structure of the living things. Anatomy can be categorized as zootomy and phytotomy. Zootomy is that branch of anatomy dealing with the structure and organization of the animal and phytotomy with plant anatomy.

In addition, anatomy may cover regional or systemic studies that are studies of the structure and organization of a specific region of the body like abdomen, head, or chest or of the specific system in the body like nervous system endocrine system or circulatory system etc. some of the principle branches of anatomy are human anatomy histology, and comparative anatomy etc with specific characteristic studies.

Moreover anatomy can be defined as biological field dealing with physical structures that can be discovered by dissection. Fundamental advancement in the field of anatomy are the microtomy where the specimens are sliced into thin sections and staining then only proceed to studies and these are the basis for recent fields of histology and cytology.

Electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction are the associated modern techniques for studying the subcellular structure leading to the latest subspecialty of the molecular anatomy. In comparative anatomy which is even term as morphology anatomy deals with the studies of the comparison of organization of different animals describing the evolutionary changes. Morphology anatomy may also be restricted to single animal under special anatomy.

Anatomy is broad field in the biological studies and is coordinated with the other branches of biology and medical sciences. Human anatomy comes under the special anatomy where the study comprises of the human beings organization and structures only. Human anatomy deals with the comprehension of the accurate form, location, size and affiliation of the different organization of the vigorous human body along with the accurate description of topographical anatomy of the human body is given.

Human anatomy has close impact on the physiology and studies of treatment and management of the diseases are depended on the anatomy. At the same time plant anatomy deals with the organization and structures of the plants and as plants and animals has a close link in maintaining equilibrium in the ecosystem. Thus anatomy is the branch of biology dealing with the studies of structures and organization of the living things on which the whole biomedical studies and practices are depending. For example studying the anatomy of heart and its associated organs plus it is necessary for dealing with the diseases and disorders. Anatomy is therefore coordinated with biomedical fields also.

Anatomy is very essential branch of biology on which the basic foundation of the studies of the subject deals. In the course of the study of biology as subject may be plant biology or botany or animal biology that zoology, understanding of the basic anatomy of the concern living organism is must. Relevant knowledge on the organization and structure along with their specific characteristics make the study simpler and interesting.