ANSWER
The human body is a complex and intricate piece of engineering, with each structure serving a specific purpose. There are 200 bones, 650 muscles, 79 organs, and enough blood vessels to circumnavigate the Earth twice!

The anatomy of these structures is typically taught in medical schools over one academic year. But what exactly does human anatomy entail?
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This article will look at this topic and how to approach it most logically.

Methods for studying human anatomy
Table game
Regional physiology
Divides the body into distinct parts: Upper and lower limbs, trunk and back, thorax, abdomen and pelvis, head and neck, and neuroanatomy are all covered.
Anatomy of the System
The body is evaluated using predefined systems: The nervous, endocrine, circulatory, respiratory, digestive, urinary, reproductive, and lymphatic systems are interconnected.
Anatomy at the microscopic level
Examines the structure of tissues and organs at the microscopic level.
Other approaches
Cross-section, clinical/applied anatomy, medical imaging
Contents
The fundamentals and terminology
Regional physiology
Upper body
Lower extremity
Back and trunk
Thorax
The pelvis and the abdomen
The head and neck
Neuroanatomy
Anatomy of the System
The Immune System
System musculoskeletal
The Nervous System
The Endocrine System
The circulation system
The respiratory System.
System of digestion
The urinary System
The reproduction system
System of lymph nodes
Anatomy at the microscopic level
Alternative approaches to learning
Case studies in clinical and applied anatomy
Cross-sections
Sources \s+ Display all
The fundamentals and terminology
First and foremost, what is anatomy, and how did it all begin? The term “anatomy” comes from the Greek word for “dissection” or “to dissect,” and it refers to the study of the structure of the human body. This 2000-year-old scientific discipline arose in Ancient Egypt and was further developed by anatomy titans such as Galen, Leonardo da Vinci, Vesalius, and others.

Learning such a complex subject can only be done in small, logical steps. What is the best place to begin? Learning the fundamentals, such as directions, movements, body planes, and anatomical terminology.

The body is divided into three anatomical planes: frontal, lateral, and transverse views. These views show the position and relationships of anatomical structures, which are described using precise terms such as superior, inferior, lateral, and many others. Standardly accepted words like flexion and extension can also describe movements. With this vocabulary under our belts, it’s time to delve deeper into the subject and learn more about its learning methods. Human anatomy is divided into two sections:

Gross anatomy vs. macroscopic anatomy
Anatomy at the microscopic level
Are you feeling brave today? Start your first quiz on the human body’s directional terms and body planes!

Pelvis
Learn all of the terms used to describe where something is in the human body (28 structures).

QUIZ BEGINNING 192
Questions about essential structure identification, 56 questions about advanced structure identification, 24 exam questions (Question bank)
Regional physiology
Let’s start with macroscopic anatomy, also known as gross anatomy. As the name implies, this branch deals with large structures most visible to the naked eye. It describes the location of each human body structure (topography), similar to how a geographic map of an area shows all the landmarks within a specific perimeter. It also describes how the systems are linked, including their starting and ending points, layering, etc. There are two basic approaches to learning gross anatomy: regional and systemic.

Regional anatomy divides the body into several parts or regions:
The upper and lower limbs
The trunk (thorax, abdomen, pelvis, and back)
The head
The neck
This method divides teaching and learning into discrete regional didactic areas, each with bones, joints, muscles, arteries, veins, nerves, lymphatics, and organs. Let’s look at these regions and learn a little about them.

Upper body
Let’s start with the extremities responsible for interacting with the environment, locomotion, weight-bearing, and many other functions. The upper limb comprises four major parts: the shoulder, arm, forearm, and hand. The limb’s mobility is provided by the shoulder, elbow, and wrist joints, on which various muscles act. Their action, however, depends on innervation, and their viability depends on proper nutrition and blood supply. Do you know the name of the vein that the needle punctures when you have your blood drawn? What about the name of the nerve that can cause tingling if you lean on your elbows for an extended period?

The answers and additional information can be found in the study units listed below.

Arm and shoulder neuro vasculature
Arm and shoulder neuro vasculature
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Elbow and forearm neuro vasculature
Elbow and forearm neuro vasculature
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The hand’s neuro vasculature
The hand’s neuro vasculature
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Lower extremity
The hip, thigh, leg, and foot are the four main parts of the lower limb. The hip, knee, and ankle joints provide flexibility, allowing you to kick, jump, squat, and shake on the dance floor. Some of the most powerful muscles in the human body are found in the lower extremity, which is divided into several compartments. This limb is supplied by significant vessels such as the femoral artery and the sciatic nerve, the longest nerve in the human body.

More information about the microvasculature of the lower limb can be found in the materials listed below.

The neurovascular System of the hip and thigh
The neurovascular System of the hip and thigh
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Leg and knee neuro vasculature
Leg and knee neuro vasculature
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The foot’s arteries and nerves
The foot’s arteries and nerves
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Back and trunk
The trunk, also known as the torso, is an anatomical structure that connects the upper and lower limbs. The box is divided into four sections: the thorax, abdomen, pelvis, and back. The vertebral column, which houses the spinal cord, runs through the center of the back. Trapezius, latissimus dorsi, and rhomboids, as well as deeper, smaller muscles, are attached to various points of the vertebral column. The back musculature assists you in maintaining your posture, bending your trunk, moving your arms, shrugging your shoulders, and much more.

Large abdominal muscles, such as the rectus abdominis, also support the trunk. This is the well-known six-pack,’ that many fitness enthusiasts strive for.

Thorax
In the previous section, we learned about the trunk’s regions, which included the thorax, abdomen, and pelvis. Let’s go over each one quickly. ‘My heart is beating out of my chest,’ you’ve probably heard. But what exactly is the chest? The chest is the thorax in anatomy and is located between the neck and the abdomen. This region is the circulatory System’s epicenter and the primary player in breathing, with the diaphragm controlling the latter function. The thoracic wall protects the internal organs and supports the breasts.

On the inside, the thorax is just as complicated as it is on the outside. Internally, it consists of the thoracic cavity, which houses the lungs first and foremost. Membranes surround these two vital organs called the pleura and are in charge of breathing. The surface area of the lungs is equivalent to that of a tennis court. The mediastinum is a space between the lungs that contains blood vessels, nerves, lymphatics, and, most importantly, the heart. This vital organ is enclosed within a sac called the pericardium and pumps 5 liters of blood through the entire body every minute of your waking day.

The pelvis and the abdomen
We continue inferiorly to the thorax, passing through the abdomen and pelvis. Although these two regions are frequently taught separately for didactic purposes, their contents merge into one sizeable abdominopelvic cavity. Internally, it is lined by the peritoneum, a membrane that wraps around many structures, making them intraperitoneal. Extraperitoneal refers to those located outside the membrane. The gastrointestinal tract is the most extensive organ system found here. The intestines, primarily responsible for absorption, travel 7.5 meters through these regions, the equivalent of four humans stacked upright on top of each other.

The abdominopelvic cavity contains four accessory organs that aid the gastrointestinal tract in its functions. The liver, gallbladder, pancreas, and spleen are examples of these organs. They are especially beneficial in protein and fat digestion and metabolic processing.

It’s easy to believe that the gastrointestinal tract takes up most of the abdomen and pelvis, but there’s more! Here you’ll find organs like the kidneys, ureters, urinary bladder, and female and male reproductive structures. They form systems that work together to ensure waste elimination, reaction to stressful or frightening situations, and reproduction.

Some of the largest blood vessels in the body can be found in your abdomen and pelvis. They are large caliber structures transporting liters of blood because they supply significant organs and even more distal body parts. If the aorta or a renal artery ruptures during a traumatic event, the person would die within minutes. These areas also contain vital nerves that control the activity of the abdominopelvic organs and allow you to feel pain.

The head and neck
A strong and mobile neck that supports a five-kilogram head, which includes the brain, extends from the trunk perfectly harmoniously with the limbs. Because vital nerves and blood vessels travel through the neck between the head and the rest of the body, mastering these areas is critical.

Now that we’ve covered the fundamentals let’s move on to the head. It is made up of several bones that are joined together to form the bony skull, or cranium, parts of which enclose the brain and others that make up the facial skeleton. The eyes, nose, ears, and mouth are associated with the head. They have many functions, such as vision, smell, hearing, eating, and speaking, to name a few.

Do you know why you can taste nasal drops or why you sneeze after crying? This is because some of the previously mentioned structures are in direct communication. Continue reading to find out how!

The neck acts as a conduit between the head and the thorax. The pharynx, known as the throat, connects the nasal and oral cavities. This muscular passage allows liquids, food, and air to pass through your windpipe (trachea) and food pipe (esophagus). The neck and the pharynx contain numerous cartilages, muscles, organs, blood vessels, and nerves. The larynx (voice box), thyroid gland, hyoid muscles, carotid arteries, jugular veins, and cervical plexus are all crucial structures.

The following articles will teach you more about the neuro vasculature of the head and neck:

Head and neck major arteries
Head and neck major arteries
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Head and neck major nerves
Head and neck major nerves
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Neuroanatomy Understanding the anatomy of each region of the human body is critical. However, how does the brain communicate with other areas, such as the hand, to produce a movement or detect objects? Neuroanatomy explains the concept of nerves. The Nervous System controls every function of the human body. It involves physiological processes such as body temperature, voluntary movements, and higher-order thinking such as consciousness and emotional behavior, to name a few.

The Nervous System is divided into two structural parts: central and peripheral. The brain and spinal cord form the central nervous System (CNS), which is protected by meninges and bathed in cerebrospinal fluid. The brain is the master regulator of the body and comprises four major parts: the cerebrum, subcortical structures, the brainstem, and the cerebellum. The cerebrum is the most significant part of the human brain and is responsible for cognition. It is divided into five lobes.

Every part of the brain, however, is equally important. Do you recognize the main character who keeps a patient alive during a “vegetative state” or coma? Because the cerebrum is dysfunctional, it is only the brainstem that functions.

The spinal cord is the brainstem’s continuation through the vertebral column. It is divided into five sections: cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacral, and coccyx. Spinal nerves exit the spinal cord and travel through the vertebrae, carrying nerve impulses to and from the periphery. Tracts are neural pathways that connect the brain and spinal cord. Ascending tracts transport information from the peripheral nervous System to the brain, while descending tracts transport information back down from the brain.

The term “peripheral nervous system” (PNS) refers to all neural tissue located outside of the central nervous System (CNS). It comprises 12 pairs of cranial nerves, 31 pairs of spinal nerves, and all of their branches. The PNS innervates and reaches every anatomical structure in the human body.

As you can see, the human body’s regions are incredibly complex. Beginning at the top, the head allows you to gather information through sensorial structures, but not only while the brain integrates and controls everything through the nervous System. The head is supported by the neck, a conduit for designs traveling to and from the thorax. The trunk, which includes the thoracic, abdominal, pelvic, and back regions, is located below the neck. The box supports the body, facilitates movement, and protects various anatomical structures within the cavities, such as internal organs, blood vessels, and nerves. It is attached to two upper and lower limbs, which allow you to function as a human being, move, interact with your environment, and do various other things.

Anatomy of the System
We’ve gone over regional anatomy, which divides our body into distinct regions. On the other hand, the human body comprises physiological systems that span multiple areas and numerous anatomical structures. Systemic anatomy’s second branch of human anatomy, divides the body into discrete organ systems that collaborate to achieve a common goal or function. The ten systems are intertumoral, musculoskeletal (skeletal, muscular), nervous, endocrine, circulatory, respiratory, digestive, urinary, reproductive, and lymphatic.

Unlike its predecessor, the systemic approach divides research into areas dealing with specific functions rather than locations or proximity. This approach examines anatomy from a more physiological standpoint, focusing on structures that work together to perform a single body function. For example, the nervous system encompasses all nerves in the body, which range from the brain to the lower limb.

The Immune System
The integumentary System comprises the skin and its appendages, including hair follicles, nails, sweat glands, and sebaceous glands. It performs several functions, including protection, tactile and thermal sensation, and temperature regulation via sweating.

The Immune System
The Immune System
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System musculoskeletal
The human body’s 200 bones serve as a scaffold, supporting, protecting, facilitating locomotion, and storing various cells and substances. The bones serve as pulley systems for muscles capable of contracting and relaxing and thus producing movement.

The skeletal System
The skeletal System
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The Nervous System
Nerves transport electrical impulses, which allow communication between the brain, spinal cord, our senses, and every anatomical structure on the periphery. This communication enables humans to interact with their surroundings, drift and feel emotions, think, and perform various other complex cognitive tasks.

The Nervous System
The Nervous System
Examine the article Nervous System
The Nervous System
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The Endocrine System
The Endocrine System comprises glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream. When these hormones reach their targets, they initiate chemical communication between anatomical structures, inducing various regulatory effects.

The Nervous System
The Nervous System
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The circulation system
The circulatory system keeps us alive by delivering oxygenated arterial blood to every part of the human body. The heart, an organ that pumps oxygenated blood into arteries, which then returns to the heart via veins as deoxygenated blood, is the key player.

The Circulatory System
The Circulatory System
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The respiratory System.
The respiratory System’s primary function is to keep us alive by inhaling oxygen and exhaling carbon dioxide. Gas exchange occurs in the lungs and alveoli, connected by a network of convoluted air passages and membranes.

The respiratory System.
The respiratory System.
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System of digestion
The digestive System is a hollow system with two openings that house a variety of organs. Food is ingested through the mouth, processed, and absorbed within the System, and the resulting solid wastes known as feces are eliminated through the anus.

System of digestion
System of digestion
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The urinary System
The urinary (excretory) System is the primary filtering unit of the human body, responsible for blood purification and waste elimination. The whole blood is continuously passed through the kidneys, and the unwanted or toxic substances are given to the bladder, eventually eliminated via the urethra.

Kidneys \sKidneys
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The reproduction system
The reproductive System’s primary responsibility is to facilitate the generation of new offspring and to pass on our genes. The female System creates eggs and feeds the developing fetus until birth, whereas the male System synthesizes sperm and delivers it to the egg to aid in fertilization.

System of lymph nodes
The lymphatic System helps to remove interstitial fluid from tissues, transport absorbed fats after digestion, and protect the body. Immune cells and substances pass through the lymphatic system, sampling lymph for potential invaders and mounting an immune response if necessary.

System of lymph nodes
Explore the lymphatic System as a study unit.
There are numerous systems, so let us quickly review them. The integumentary System protects and regulates the body’s temperature by covering the entire body. The skeletal System provides the scaffold upon which the muscles act, ultimately facilitating movement. The nervous and endocrine systems are the primary regulators, controlling nearly everything through nerves and hormones, respectively. The respiratory and circulatory systems keep us alive by allowing us to breathe and pump blood around the body, while the digestive System enables us to feed. The urinary system removes and excretes the wastes produced by the body. Last but not least, the reproductive System prevents humanity from going extinct, while the lymphatic System transports lymph and plays a role in the protection from microorganisms.

Anatomy at the microscopic level
Until now, we’ve discussed gross anatomy, which deals with the macroscopic or large structures of the human body. However, what happens at the microscopic level, where systems are too small to be seen with the naked eye? Microscopic anatomy, the second branch of human anatomy, is the study of tissues and their organization into organs and organ systems. Since this subdivision of anatomy deals with barely visible structures to the naked eye, such as tiny arteries, veins, capillaries, and nerves, it exploits the magnifying power of microscopes.

Microscopic anatomy and histology are often interchangeable, but they are distinct. Histology has a much broader scope, dealing with the structure and organization of tissues at all levels, from the intracellular components to cells and organs. In contrast, microscopic anatomy has a narrower scope, dealing only with ‘microstructures’ and the organization of tissues into organs. Let’s use the example of the skeletal muscle motor unit to put it into context. Microscopic anatomy describes skeletal muscle as consisting of fascicles and subsequent fibers, while neurons consist of axons. However, histology explains much more, including the threads’ internal structure, each muscle cell, the axons, the appearance of the nuclei, and so on.

Get started with your first histology quiz to boost your knowledge!

Pelvis \sOverview of the main cellular components and tissues (16 structures) (16 systems).

START QUIZ \s48 \sBasic structure identification questions \s16 \sAdvanced structure identification questions
23 \sExam questions (Question bank) (Question bank)
Alternative approaches to learning
Teaching anatomy according to regions or systems is the classical approach to preparing the subject worldwide. In this way, you learn the fundamental knowledge and details about every anatomical structure. However, it lacks context. You need other methods that can relate structures to each other and place the ability in a clinical context, ultimately facilitating learning and long-term retention. Two such ways can achieve this; case reports and cross-sections.

Case studies in clinical and applied anatomy
Clinical and applied anatomy is an exciting and powerful way to learn challenging anatomical aspects in a clinical context. Case reports describe real-life scenarios encountered by physicians during their daily practice. The cases are structured systematically, starting with the patient’s complaints, followed by the diagnostic and management approaches. These aspects are then integrated with your anatomy knowledge to put the entire case into context and help you learn the importance of various anatomical structures encountered during your daily studies. Therefore, clinical cases are excellent learning tools!

Cross-sections
The second learning approach includes cross-sections, which can add much depth to your learning. They are created by transverse cuts, resulting in a view that adds a dimension of depth to the typical frontal and lateral views used in standard anatomy learning. This combination of height, width, and depth ultimately build a complete 3D picture of the precise location of every anatomical structure.

Without cross-sections, you wouldn’t be able to truly understand how muscles are layered, how organs are wedged or contact one another, or how neurovascular structures twist and turn along their course, for example. Therefore, they add a lot of context to your anatomy learning! They are also used by physicians daily, for instance, when looking at CT scans, during surgeries, or while performing standard maneuvers. When draining excess fluid from a patient’s thorax or abdomen, it’s essential to know how deep you can safely advance the needle without puncturing a vital organ or blood vessel, right?

QUESTION
After reviewing and studying this module’s content, answer the following questions. Be sure to complete all lab activities and attend/watch all live lectures before completing this assignment. All of your answers should be written in your own words, using full sentences, correct terminology, and proper spelling and grammar.

Explain the anatomical concepts associated with the respiratory system. Summarize this module’s key points in 5-6 sentences.
Explain the physiological concepts associated with the respiratory system. Summarize this module’s key points in 5-6 sentences.
How will you apply the concepts you have learned about the respiratory system in real life and in your future career?
Which topic within this module has been the most valuable to your learning experience and why?
Which topic(s) within this module did you struggle to understand and why?
(Optional) Do you have any suggestions for your instructor on how they could help you connect with the difficult topics you’ve noted?