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Anatomy (from Ancient Greek ἀνατομή (anatomḗ) 'dissection') is the branch ofmorphology concerned with the study of the internal and external structure oforganisms and their parts. Anatomy is a branch ofnatural science that deals with the structural organization of living things. It is an old science, having its beginnings in prehistoric times.
Anatomy is inherently tied todevelopmental biology,embryology,comparative anatomy,evolutionary biology, andphylogeny, as these are the processes by which anatomy is generated, both over immediate and long-term timescales. Anatomy andphysiology, which study the structure andfunction of organisms and their parts respectively, make a natural pair of related disciplines, and are often studied together.Human anatomy is one of the essentialbasic sciences that are applied in medicine, and is often studied alongsidephysiology.
Anatomy is a complex and dynamic field that is constantly evolving as discoveries are made. In recent years, there has been a significant increase in the use of advanced imaging techniques, such asMRI andCT scans, which allow for more detailed and accurate visualizations of the body's structures. (Full article...)
Anatomical terminology is a specialized system of terms used byanatomists,zoologists, andhealth professionals, such asdoctors,surgeons, andpharmacists, to describe the structures andfunctions of thebody.
This terminology incorporates a range of unique terms, prefixes, and suffixes derived primarily from Ancient Greek and Latin. While these terms can be challenging for those unfamiliar with them, they provide a level of precision that reduces ambiguity and minimizes the risk of errors. Because anatomical terminology is not commonly used in everyday language, its meanings are less likely to evolve or be misinterpreted.
For example, everyday language can lead to confusion in descriptions: the phrase "a scar above the wrist" could refer to a location several inches away from the hand, possibly on the forearm, or it could be at the base of the hand, either on the palm or dorsal (back) side. By using precise anatomical terms, such as "proximal," "distal," "palmar," or "dorsal," this ambiguity is eliminated, ensuring clear communication. (Full article...)
Thethorax (pl.:thoraces orthoraxes) orchest is a part of theanatomy of mammals and othertetrapod animals located between theneck and theabdomen.
Ininsects,crustaceans, and the extincttrilobites, the thorax is one of the three maindivisions of the body, each in turn composed of multiple segments.
The human thorax includes thethoracic cavity and thethoracic wall. It contains organs including theheart,lungs, andthymus gland, as well as muscles and various other internal structures. The chest may be affected by many diseases, of which the most common symptom ischest pain. (Full article...)
Theesophagus (American English) oroesophagus (British English) (/iːˈsɒfəɡəs,ɪ-/ ⓘ) is anorgan invertebrates through whichfood passes, aided byperistaltic contractions, from thepharynx to thestomach. The esophagus is afibromuscular tube, about 25 cm (10 in) long in adult humans, that travels behind thetrachea andheart, passes through thediaphragm, and empties into the uppermost region of thestomach. During swallowing, theepiglottis tilts backwards to prevent food from going down thelarynx and lungs. The wordesophagus is from Ancient Greek οἰσοφάγος (oisophágos), from οἴσω (oísō), future form of φέρω (phérō, "I carry") + ἔφαγον (éphagon, "I ate").
The wall of the esophagus from thelumen outwards consists ofmucosa,submucosa (connective tissue),layers of muscle fibers between layers offibrous tissue, and an outer layer of connective tissue. The mucosa is astratified squamous epithelium of around three layers of squamous cells, which contrasts to thesingle layer of columnar cells of the stomach. The transition between these two types of epithelium is visible as a zig-zag line. Most of the muscle issmooth muscle althoughstriated muscle predominates in its upper third. It has two muscular rings orsphincters in its wall, one at the top and one at the bottom. The lower sphincter helps to prevent reflux of acidic stomach content. The esophagus has a rich blood supply and venous drainage. Its smooth muscle is innervated by involuntary nerves (sympathetic nerves via thesympathetic trunk andparasympathetic nerves via thevagus nerve) and in addition voluntary nerves (lower motor neurons) which are carried in the vagus nerve to innervate its striated muscle. (Full article...)
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Andries van Wezel (31 December 1514 – 15 October 1564),latinized asAndreas Vesalius (/vɪˈseɪliəs/), was ananatomist andphysician who wroteDe Humani Corporis Fabrica Libri Septem (On the fabric of the human bodyin seven books), which is considered one of the most influential books onhuman anatomy and a major advance over the long-dominant work ofGalen. Vesalius is often referred to as the founder of modernhuman anatomy. He was born inBrussels, which was then part of theHabsburg Netherlands. He was a professor at theUniversity of Padua (1537–1542) and later became Imperial physician at the court ofEmperor Charles V. (Full article...)
SomeWikipedians have formed aproject to better organize information in articles related toAnatomy. This page and its subpages contain their suggestions; it is hoped that this project will help to focus the efforts of other Wikipedians. If you would like to help, please swing by thetalk page.
 | newgood articles since last newsletter includeThyroid,Hypoglossal nerve,Axillary arch,Human brain,Cerebrospinal fluid,Accessory nerve,Gallbladder, andInterventricular foramina (neuroanatomy) |
 | There isIntroduction to Anatomy on Wikipedia published in theJournal of Anatomy[1] |
 | We reach two projects goals of 20 good articles, and less than half of our articles as stubs, in July 2017.Wikipedia talk:WikiProject Anatomy/Archive 11#Congratulations to all |
 | A discussion about two preferred section titles takes placehere. |
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| Other vertebrates | ||
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