INTRODUCTION AND HISTORY OF

ANATOMY
Anatomy is the science which deals with the structure of the
body from macroscopic to the microscopic level.
The understanding of structural organization of the human
body is essential so that the doctor knows which structure is
affected in disease, which structure is being examined by him
and which structure is being cut by him during operation.
The term anatomy is derived from the Greek word anatome
meaning to cut up.
The term dissection is the Latin equivalent of the Greek term
anatome and in the past the word anatomize was more
commonly used than the word dissect.
 SUBDIVISIONS OF ANATOMY
Based on different approaches adopted to study anatomy, all possible ways and
techniques like imaging, microscopy, etc. anatomy is divided into following types :
a. Gross anatomy/topographical anatomy
b. Microscopic anatomy (histology)
c. Surface anatomy
d. Comparative anatomy
e. Physical anthropology
f. Living anatomy
g. Clinical anatomy
h. Radiological anatomy
i. Developmental anatomy/embryology
j. Genetics
k. Experimental anatomy
Conventionally, the body is
divided into the following six
regions :

i. Head and neck

ii. Brain
iii.Thorax
iv.Abdomen
v. Upper limb
vi.Lower limb