Human anatomy (gr. ἀνατομία, "dissection", from ἀνά, "up", and τέμνειν, "cut") is primarily the scientific study of the morphology of the human body. Anatomy is subdivided into gross anatomy and microscopic anatomy.<!--
-->
Anatomy in visual arts
Gross anatomy has become a key part of visual arts. Basic concepts of how muscles and bones function and deform with movement is key to drawing, painting or animating a human figure. Many books such as Human Anatomy for Artists: The Elements of Form, are written as a guide to drawing the human body anatomically correctly. Leonardo da Vinci sought to improve his art through a better understanding of human anatomy. In the process he advanced both human anatomy and its representation in art.
Because the structure of a living organism is complex, anatomy is organized by levels, from the smallest components of cells to the largest organs and their relationship to other organs.
Approaches
Regional groups
- Head and neck – includes everything above the thoracic inlet
- Upper limb – includes the hand, wrist, forearm, elbow, arm, 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, 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, the foot
Internal organs (by region)
Head and neck
- Brain
- Basal ganglia
- Brain stem
- Medulla
- Midbrain
- Pons
- Cerebellum
- Cerebrum
- Cerebral cortex
- Hypothalamus
- Limbic system
- Amygdala
- Eyes (2)
- Pineal gland
- Pituitary gland
- Thyroid gland
- Parathyroid glands (4)
Thorax
- Heart
- Lungs (2)
- Esophagus
- Thymus gland
- Pleura
Abdomen and pelvis (both sexes)
- Adrenal glands (2)
- Appendix
- Bladder
- Gallbladder
- Large intestine
- Small intestine
- Kidneys (2)
- Liver
- Pancreas – gland
- Spleen
- Stomach
Male pelvis
- Prostate gland
- Testes – glands (2)
Female pelvis
- Ovaries – glands (2)
- Uterus
Major organ systems
- Circulatory system: pumping and channeling blood to and from the body and lungs with heart, blood, blood vessels
- Digestive system: digestion and processing food with salivary glands, esophagus, stomach, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, intestines, rectum, anus
- Endocrine system: communication within the body using hormones made by endocrine glands such as the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, pineal gland, thyroid, parathyroid glands, adrenal glands
- Immune system: the system that fights off disease; composed of leukocytes, tonsils, adenoids, thymus, spleen
- Integumentary system: skin, hair, 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
- Musculoskeletal system: muscles provide movement and a skeleton provides structural support and protection with bones, cartilage, ligaments, tendons
- Nervous system: collecting, transferring and processing information with brain, spinal cord, nerves
- Reproductive system: the sex organs; in the female; ovaries, fallopian tubes, uterus, vagina, mammary glands, and in the male; testicles, vas deferens, seminal vesicles, prostate, penis
- Respiratory system: the organs used for breathing, the pharynx, larynx, trachea, bronchi, lungs, diaphragm
- Urinary system: kidneys, ureters, bladder, urethra involved in fluid balance, electrolyte balance, and excretion of urine
Surface anatomy
thumb|left|Superficial anatomy of [[female and male human body]]
thumb|right|Surface projections of the major organs of the [[Torso|trunk, using the vertebral column and rib cage as main reference points of superficial anatomy ]]
Surface anatomy, or superficial anatomy, is the study of anatomical landmarks that can be identified readily from the contours or other reference points on the surface of the body.