Anatomy

Anatomy is the branch of biology that studies how various parts of an organism are connected to each other. organism and how they relate to other parts of the body both spatially and functionally. Anatomy has many sub-disciplines and is used in many different fields. In general, there are two main types of anatomy: gross o gross anatomy, y microscopic anatomy. However, most biology specialties require knowledge of both types of anatomy.

Types of anatomy

Macroscopic anatomy

Commonly called gross anatomy, gross anatomy involves studying the structures and shapes that can be seen in the organism with the naked eye. It does not matter what type of organism. A botanist can study the macroscopic anatomy of an plantsuch as the shape and size of its leaves. A doctor might study the proportions of his patients, measuring their weight and height. Both scientists are using macroscopic anatomy skills.

Many branches of biology use gross anatomy to assess their subjects. While this is often combined with anatomy and physiology Sometimes the macroscopic anatomy is the only observable system. This is definitely true for the archaeology y evolutionary biology. Both branches of biology use evidence from the fossil record to establish relationships between extinct animals. Soft tissues do not usually fossilise, so these scientists must have a thorough knowledge of the fossil record. skeletal anatomy. Different species can be compared and fossils using comparative anatomywhich recognises similarities between specimens.

For example, a scientist using comparative anatomy might hypothesise evolutionary relationships between a bat, a blackbird and an ostrich. At first glance, the blackbird and the bat may be more closely related in size. But the scientist will quickly notice that the bat is covered with fur, while the blackbird has feathers. On examining the wings and their bones, the scientist would find that the bat wing resembles an outstretched hand, while the blackbird bones have fused into one large bone that runs the length of the wing, with feathers and feathering on the wing. skin supporting the rest of the wing.

Although the ostrich cannot use its wings to fly, the bone structure is the same. They may be of different sizes, but it is clear that the blackbird and ostrich are more closely related to each other than to the bat. This simple exercise in macroscopic anatomy provides the basis for the classification of many organisms.

drawing revealing the anatomy.

Microscopic anatomy

While macroscopic anatomy provided the basis for many modern sciences, modern technology has revolutionised the study of microscopic anatomy. Beginning with the invention of light microscopy and continuing with modern inventions such as the electron microscopethe inner workings of cells and organisms are increasingly understood. Entire new worlds of organisms have been opened up for study, such as bacteria and eukaryotes unicellular. Cell biology is an entire field devoted to the study of cells, their organelles and how they function. Microscopic anatomy is fundamental to this study.

Microscopic anatomy encompasses everything from the tissuesThe first step in the development of a new approach is the development of a new set of tissues, which are groups of similar cells, down to the inner workings of the molecules that drive the activities of the cell. A histologist who studies the fabric musclefor example, I would examine how cells are held together in tissue. Looking further into the cells using an electron microscope, you would see the complex arrangement of proteins in the cell that allow it to contract. You might also notice the nucleuswhich contains the DNA which codes for all the proteins and products produced by the cell.

Microscopic anatomy is often combined with the biochemistry, molecular biology and other disciplines to fully understand the organism or tissues being studied. Science knew for decades that cells contained many organelles. However, it was not until recent advances in DNA processing and protein analysis that the function of the many different organelles was understood. Using microscopic anatomy, scientists can also study cells during the development of an organism. This is called embryology and has developed into a broad field ranging from human development to the evolutionary relationships of organisms in terms of their developmental processes.

History of Anatomy

Anatomy is a science older than science itself. The first anatomists were the first humans, categorising and recognising other organisms in their environment using gross anatomical skills. Vision is fundamental to humans and is the basis of our understanding of the world. As we advanced in thought and organisation, early thinkers began to try to classify organisms. Without any other information, anatomy was often the only evidence available to link organisms into groups. Aristotle was one of the first to attempt a serious organisation of living things and used many attributes of his anatomy to group them. His two main groups were plants and animals, two groups that we can still easily distinguish today on the basis of their general anatomies.

Early medicine advanced rapidly once the moratorium on dissection was lifted. Often frowned upon in early society, early anatomists such as Leonardo Da Vinci often received scrutiny from the public or the church for their scientific research. However, the understanding of the human body emerged from these early pioneers, upon which today’s medical knowledge is built. Many of the earliest works on human and animal anatomy were published during the Renaissance. Many authors showed an advanced, if slightly absent or biased view of anatomy as we know it today. But, without any way to better understand the workings of the body, gross anatomy was stranded on its own.

Fast-forward several hundred years and the “Father of the taxonomy“Carl Linnaeus still focused mainly on macroscopic anatomy as a starting point for classification. Darwin’s idea of evolution and common ancestors was accepted by the end of the 19th century. Still, there were not many methods to further evaluate the relationships between animals. With the advent of better imaging technology, the 20th century brought the rise of microscopic anatomy and really began to change biology. Once it was understood that DNA was the primary mode through which organisms inherited traits, revolutions occurred in many disciplines.

Medicine experienced a rapid increase in understanding, thanks to the discovery that bacteria and other microbes can cause disease. The inner workings of the cell were being reconstructed and the functions of the many different organelles were understood. Many aspects of evolutionary biology were rediscovered or overturned as microscopic anatomy and DNA revealed different relationships than once assumed. This revolution continues today, as new developments in microscopic anatomy and physiology continually reshape our understanding of organisms.

Biological careers

Many careers in the biological sciences require some knowledge of gross and microscopic anatomy. Some professionals, such as a physician, require specific anatomical knowledge of a specific anatomy. species: humans. The human anatomy is the study of the macroscopic and microscopic portions of the human body. Human anatomy is essential for professionals in the medical field, as they must be able to discern between the many types of tissues in the body and understand their relationship to each other. Ergonomics is the study of the physical stresses on the human body and is based on a detailed understanding of its various components.

Other scientists focus on the anatomy of other species or groups of species. A mammalogist understands mammalian anatomy, while that a herpetologist understands the anatomy of reptiles and amphibians. A evolutionary biologist must understand the complex anatomies of many groups and uses the information to understand their hereditary relationships. Archaeologists mainly study the macroscopic anatomy of fossilised organisms, whereas cell biologists and bacteriologists must rely on microscopic anatomy as their organisms are single-celled.

Anatomy degrees can be earned at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels, with a wide variety of concentrations. Many schools offer human anatomy concentrations and courses as a prerequisite for medical school. Other schools and programmes focus on general anatomy, which is necessary for veterinary science, zoology, advanced degrees in biology, and other specialties that may rely heavily on anatomy. As an anatomy teacher, one would study and teach about the various aspects of anatomy. Many universities have researchers who incorporate different aspects of anatomy in their research.

If you are good at anatomy or are interested in career paths with anatomy involved, try to find which branch of anatomy you enjoy the most. Also if macroscopic anatomy suits you, you may want to look for a job as a surgeon or evolutionary biologist. If microscopic anatomy is more up your street, you could become a microbiologist or study internal medicine. Anatomy is extremely important in many fields, especially when combined with other science disciplines such as chemistry and physics. It can provide great insights into the world in branches of biology that cover both human medicine and evolution.

References

  • De luliis, G. and Pulera, D. (2007). The dissection of vertebrates. Amsterdam: Academic Press.
  • McMahon, MJ, Kofranek, AM and Rubatzky, VE (2011). Plant science: growth, development and utilization of cultivated plants. (5th ed.). Boston: Prentince Hall.

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