Chapter 1
Entering the World of Clinical Anatomy
In This Chapter
Looking at different types of anatomy
Arranging anatomy by systems and regions
You’re reading this book, so you’re probably embarking on a career in medicine and healthcare. That means you need to know how the human body works, and you also need to know how to find and examine the parts of the body. This chapter introduces you to the concept of clinical anatomy and how it compares with other ways to look at anatomy.
Studying the Body in Different Ways
Anatomy is the study of the tissues, organs, and other structures of the body, and it’s often combined with physiology, which describes how the body parts function. We present the info in this book from a clinical perspective, but the following sections describe multiple ways that people in medical fields study and discuss the body.
Looking under the microscope or with your eyes
Bodies are made up of cells — lots and lots of little cells that have different shapes and functions. For example, skin cells provide a protective barrier for the tender parts inside, red blood cells carry oxygen, and brain cells let you think about things (including anatomy).
Histology, or microanatomy, is the study of the anatomy of tissues and the cells of which they’re comprised. Because cells are ridiculously small, you can’t look at them with unaided eyes, but a microscope gives you a close-up view of the cells. Understanding the anatomy of cells is important, especially in the laboratory, but you really can’t examine patients under a microscope.
Gross anatomy, or macroscopic anatomy, is the study of the parts of the body you can see with your eyes. These parts include big structures like the pancreas, liver, bones, and muscles and smaller parts like little blood vessels and nerves. Of course, sometimes you need to use invasive methods to understand gross anatomy, which is fine when you’re working with a cadaver. However, gross anatomy isn’t always so helpful with a living, breathing patient.
Speaking clinically: Terms used in clinical anatomy
Anatomy has a lexicon of words that you’ll need to know. Most of them help you locate structures or understand how those structures relate to other parts of the body. The terms also help you describe the locations of things you find during a physical examination. For example, if you see a contusion (bruise) on a patient’s back, you’ll need to be able to explain exactly where it is in words that other healthcare providers will understand.
Certain anatomical words describe how the body (or parts) of the body move. Don’t worry, you don’t need to learn a whole new language — we cover the basic terminology in Chapter 2.
Dividing the Body into Systems and Regions
Medical practitioners rarely look at only one organ or body part at a time. In clinical anatomy, body parts can be grouped together by the system they belong to or by the area or region where they’re located. We describe both types of organization in the following sections.
Organizing the body by systems
Body parts don’t work alone; they work in concert with other body parts and tissues in systems to perform certain functions. You can group the organs and other structures of the body by these interactions.
The integumentary, musculoskeletal, and nervous systems
The main organ of the integumentary system is the skin, which is also called the integument. This system also includes the various structures that accompany the skin, like hair, eyelashes, and nails. The integumentary system works together to protect the vital tissues underneath, which includes almost everything.
The musculoskeletal system includes the muscles and bones and the tendons and ligaments that connect them all together. The main purposes of the musculoskeletal system are to provide the main structural frame of the body and to produce movement, ranging from walking with long strides to making delicate maneuvers with your fingers.
The nervous system includes the brain, spinal cord, and the nerves that run t...
