Human Anatomy in MBBS

What is Human Anatomy?

Human anatomy can be precisely defined as a complementary basic medical science, which deals with the scientific study of morphology of human body. In simpler words, human anatomy is the study of structure of human body.

Anatomy is the branch of biology concerned with the study of the structure of organisms and their parts. In some of its facets, anatomy is related to embryology and comparative anatomy, which itself is closely related to evolutionary biology and phylogeny.

Human anatomy is one of the basic essential sciences of medicine.

The study of anatomy is distinct from the study of physiology, although the two are often paired.

While anatomy deals with the structure of an organism, physiology deals with the way the parts function together. For example, an anatomist may study the types of cells in the cardiac conduction system and how those cells are connected, while a physiologist would look at why and how the heart beats. Thus, anatomy and physiology are separate, but complimentary, studies of how an organism works.

The discipline of anatomy is divided into macroscopic and microscopic anatomy. Macroscopic anatomy, or gross anatomy, is the examination of an animal’s body parts using unaided eyesight. Gross anatomy also includes the branch of superficial anatomy. Microscopic anatomy involves the use of optical instruments in the study of the tissues of various structures, known as histology and also in the study of cells.

Subdivisions of Human Anatomy:

There are two main levels of structure of human body (as well as every other thing):

macroscopic level and microscopic level. For each of the two levels there is a separate subdivision of anatomy. The one dealing with macroscopic level is known as gross anatomy and the other which deals with microscopic level is called microscopic anatomy or histology.

Gross anatomy:

Body Systems Logo

In gross anatomy, structure of human body is studied as seen by naked eye. There are two approaches for gross anatomy: Regional approach and Systemic approach.

In regional approach, human body is divided into regions like arm; forearm, wrist etc and all structures within that region are studied simultaneously. Whereas in systemic approach, the body is divided into organ systems such as skeletal system, muscular system, nervous system etc and structures belonging to one system are studied together. This website follows the systemic approach. Visit “Body Systems” for detailed study of each system of human body.

Histology:

Histology Logo

Histology or microscopic anatomy is the study of the structure of various organs and tissues of human body under a microscope. The understanding of the ultra-structure helps understand the tissues and organs in a better way.

Basic Anatomy:

Basic Anatomy logo

In addition to the main subdivisions of human anatomy described above, a third branch, called basic anatomy, is considered of significant importance. It explains the basic terms and definitions used in the study of gross as well as microscopic anatomy. Thus it provides an introduction to anatomy and tells how to study it.

Human Body Systems:

• Skeletal System
• Muscular System
• Nervous System
• Respiratory System
• Cardiovascular System
• Lymphatic System
• Endocrine System
• Digestive System
• Urinary System
• Integumentary System
• Male Reproductive System
• Female Reproductive System

Goal:

The broad goal of the teaching of undergraduate students in Anatomy aims at providing comprehensive knowledge of the gross and microscopic structure and development of human body to provide a basis for understanding the clinical correlation of organs or structures involved and the anatomical basis for the disease presentations.

The subject deals with the structure of human body. The curriculum for subject is as follow:

1. General Anatomy

2. Regional Anatomy

a.    - Upper limb

b. - Lower limb

c. - Abdomen

d. - Thorax

e. - Head Face Neck

f. - Spinal Cord & Brain 

3. Micro-Anatomy    I - General Histology

II - Systemic Histology

4. Developmental Anatomy I - General Embryology

II - Systemic Embryology

5. Genetics

6. Radiological Anatomy, USG, CT, MRI

7. Surface Anatomy, Living & Marking