Anatomy and Related Anatomical Terms

A standard position of the body: The anatomic position is used to describe a person's posture when standing erect against a wall, facing directly forward, feet pointed forward and slightly apart, and arms hanging down at the sides with the palms facing forward.

A small, cup-like depression on the back of the hand at the base of the thumb near the wrist: The anatomic snuffbox, or anatomical snuffbox, is formed by the three tendons reaching toward the thumb and index finger as the thumb is turned toward the palm and then spread back out as the wrist is turned back and forth.

A system of identification of a body part in terms of the region in which it is located and its nearby structures: An example of anatomic topography can be exemplified in tooth morphology in dentistry.

The beginning point of a joint range of motion: An anatomic zero joint position was explained by the professor to be descriptive of the preluding stage of the span of movement of a joint before actual movement begins.

The portions of the respiratory tract within the trachea, bronchi, and air passages containing air that does not reach the alveoli (tiny, thin-walled, capillary-rich sacs in the lungs where the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide takes place) during breathing: The amount of anatomical dead space is increased by certain lung disorders, such as emphysema.

A reference to anatomy or the structural organization of an organism: Professor Jones described the anatomical structure of a cat to his students.

Concerning anatomy and medicine: Bob and Barbara decided to take an anatomicomedical course during the semester so that they could increase their knowledge of the human anatomy in relation to medicine.

Referring to anatomy and pathology: Anatomicopathological disorders are those that show morphologic or structural alterations in the tissues of a living being.

Pertaining to anatomy and physiology: Anatomicophysiological aspects of a living being pertain to both the structure and the function of the body.

Referring to anatomy and surgery; surgical anatomy: In order to perform an operation, Jane had to take a practical anatomicosurgical course to learn more about the physical structure of a person and the medical treatment involving incisions in a body using instruments.

1. The theoretical concept that the phenomena of life in organized bodies are due to their structure: In contrast to animism, anatomism is the doctrine that the anatomical structure explains the miracle of animal life and vitality.
2. The application of the principles of anatomical structure and the exhibition of anatomical detail: Anatomism can be exemplified by paintings, sculptures, and other art forms depicting the anatomy of a living being.

Someone who is professionally involved in or a specialist in the science of anatomy: Mr. Bone was an anatomist who was an expert in dissecting pigs and horses.

The anatomic aspects of pathology: Samuel was very interested in diseases and decided to take as many courses in anatomopathology as possible in order to complete his studies in medicine.

1. The study, classification, and description of structures and organs of the body by observation or examination of a living being: Anatomy includes the examination or dissection of dead specimens, microscopic examination, and/or the use of textbooks or the internet.

Anatomy is the science of the structural organization of any organism, whether plant or animal.

The macroscopic structural organization of a part or body is usually determined by means of dissection.

The term anatomy is almost a direct borrowing of the Greek anatome, because the Greeks were among the first known to systematically dissect the human body.

The Greek word is a compound of ana-, "up" + tome, "a cutting" and therefore the earlier anatomy was a "cutting up" and "dissection" remains even to this day the essential method of learning about the structure of the body.

The study of the human body was not very reliable during the so-called Dark Ages until Andreas Vesalius (1514-1564), a Flemish anatomist, revived the study of anatomy with his publication of De Humani Corporis Fabrica, "The Structure of the Human Body", in 1543.

The general name for any male sex hormone: Androgen is the steroid sex hormone of a man, one of which is testosterone, and is produced in the testes.