We explain the ins and outs of the study of body morphology.
The second term to which anatomy refers is the science that is responsible for studying these structures of living beings, but one of these beings is one of the most studied by this science: We.
In this article we will talk about 6 of the main branches of anatomy, mainly those applicable to humans, although there are several anatomical branches related to the study of the anatomy of other living beings, such as animals or plants.
- You might be interested: “The 50 main branches of Medicine (and their fields of study)”
History of Anatomy
The study of human anatomy has evolved over the years, depending not only on technological progress but also on the evolution of the ethical values of different societies. A few centuries ago, for example, it was frowned upon to study human cadavers, despite the enormous usefulness they have for medical and biological sciences.
For example, Roman tradition prevailed over Greek permissiveness about cadaver dissections, so much so that eventhe famous Roman physician Galen was forced to inspect primate corpses, assuming that their organs would be similar to those of humans.
It would not be until the fifteenth century, whenGaleazzo di Santa Sofia performed the first public dissection in Vienna, initiating the tradition of dissection as an event of public knowledge. This marks in a way how societies came to understand the need for the study of human cadavers to increase our anatomical medical knowledge.
Today, thanks to new techniques that can be used to study the body, such as microscopy or the most advanced viewing techniques, such as X-rays (used in X-rays and CT scans) or magnetic resonances, our knowledge about body structures and their functioning has skyrocketed.
It is worth mentioning that, although we may think that we know everything about our body, there are still many unknowns about it, even at a structural level. In 2018, for example, a new structure was described , the interstitium, which is made up of various fluid-filled sacs present in the skin, surrounding organs, muscles and blood vessels, with functions of cushioning and collaboration with the lymphatic system.
The 6 main branches of anatomical study
Within anatomy we can differentiate some divisions in terms of fields of study.
Although all of them study the structures of the human body, their focus, methodology and possible application differ enough to warrant their distinction from the others. We would find among them:
1. General Anatomy
General anatomy is also known as human anatomy . It is the science that studies the macroscopic structure of the human body, leaving the study of cells and tissues to other scientific branches, such as histology or cell biology.
General anatomy is studied without visual aids such as microscopes, analyzing preserved human bodies for didactic functions. There are mainly two ways of working on the general human anatomy: By regions or by systems .
This results in a division of general anatomy into two different anatomical schools, regional anatomy, which is responsible for studying specific regions of the body in depth, and systemic anatomy, which is responsible for studying the set of structures that make up a system. like muscle.
2. Comparative Anatomy
Comparative anatomy is a science that is responsible for making comparisons between the parts of the human body and those of animals. Especially in times before the advent of genetic technologies, comparative anatomy was key to the study of common structures among living beings, allowing the study of their divergence as a result of evolutionary changes.
This science has lost its usefulness in recent years , since genetic analyzes make it possible to establish phylogenies (evolutionary relationships between different species) with greater robustness. Even so, given its enormous historical importance, it is part of the most important branches of anatomy.
3. Anatomy of Development (Embryology)
Developmental anatomy is also known as embryology . As its name indicates, it is in charge of studying the morphological characteristics of the different states a being goes through during its development from a zygote.
Currently this branch of anatomy is also closely linked to genetics and biology , since the understanding of embryonic processes at the genetic and cellular level currently provides us with much more information than the mere morphological description of embryonic states.
4. Histology
Histology is a very important branch of anatomy, which is mainly responsible for studying tissues . Tissues are the group of organization of living cells higher than the organizational level of individual cells, but lower than the level of organization that we would find in an organ, which would present several different cell lines acting in conjunction.
Today this science also studies individual cells and their interior . All histological studies, due to the characteristics of their field of research (they study minute structures, difficult or impossible to differentiate with the naked eye), are carried out with the help of microscopes.
5. Pathology
Pathology is a branch of anatomy that influences medicine. It is responsible for studying, through the morphological analysis of body structures, the causes, evolution and final consequences of different diseases.
It is mainly used todiagnose correctly in biopsies and autopsies. Within the pathological anatomy, processes such as inflammation, tumors or tissue degeneration, to give examples, would be of interest.
6. Surface Anatomy
Surface anatomyis also known as visual anatomy. This curious branch of anatomy is responsible for relating the topography of the body surface (without making incisions or internal examinations), to establish superficial projections of the organs and internal elements of the body.
This anatomical study is of incredible importance for surgical sciences, in which the exact location of the internal components of the body must be known before making an incision.
References
- Ghosh S. K. (2015). Human cadaveric dissection: a historical account from ancient Greece to the modern era. Anatomy & cell biology, 48(3), 153–169. doi:10.5115/ACB.2015.48.3.153.
- Benias, P., Wells, R., & Sackey-Aboagye, B. (2018). Structure and Distribution of an Unrecognized Interstitium in Human Tissues. Scientific Reports, 8(1). doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-23062-6
To the classic question “what do you do?” I always answer “basically I am a psychologist”. In fact, my academic training has revolved around the psychology of development, education and community, a field of study influenced my volunteer activities, as well as my first work experiences in personal services.