Human Anatomy Dictionary

Anatomy (from the Greek anatomia, from ana: separate, apart from, and temnein, to cut up, cut open) is a branch of biology 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, through common roots in evolution.

Anatomy is subdivided into gross anatomy (or macroscopic anatomy) and microscopic anatomy. Gross anatomy (also called topographical anatomy, regional anatomy, or anthropotomy) is the study of anatomical structures that can be seen by unaided vision. Microscopic anatomy is the study of minute anatomical structures assisted with microscopes, which includes histology (the study of the organisation of tissues), 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 advanced dramatically, advancing from examination of animals through dissection of cadavers (dead human bodies) to technologically complex techniques developed in the 20th century.

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.

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* 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.

* 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.

* 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.

* Immune system - protecting against disease by identifying and killing pathogens and tumor cells.

* Integumentary system - skin, hair and 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 including the Immune system: defending against disease-causing agents with leukocytes, tonsils, adenoids, thymus, and spleen.

* Activity system - movement with muscles and human skeleton (structural support and protection with bones, cartilage, ligaments, and tendons).

* Nervous system - collecting, transferring and processing information with brain, spinal cord, peripheral nerves, and nerves.

* Reproductive system - the sex organs, such as ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterus, vagina, mammary glands, testes, 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.

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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. With knowledge of superficial anatomy, physicians gauge the position and anatomy of the associated deeper structures.

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

* Head - Forehead - Jaw - Cheek - Chin
* Neck - Shoulders
* Arm - Elbow - Wrist - Hand - Fingers - Thumb
* Spine - Chest - Ribcage
* Abdomen - Groin
* Hip - Buttocks - Leg - Thigh - Knee - Calf - Heel - Ankle - Foot - Toes
* The eye, ear, nose, mouth, teeth, tongue, throat, adam's apple, breast, penis, scrotum, clitoris, vulva, navel are visible too.

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Common names of internal organs (in alphabetical order) :

Adrenals - Appendix - Bladder - Brain - Eyes - Gall bladder - Heart - Intestines - Kidney - Liver - Lungs - Esophagus - Ovaries - Pancreas - Parathyroids - Pituitary - Prostate - Spleen - Stomach - Testicles - Thymus - Thyroid - Uterus - Veins

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