Human anatomy - Definition and Overview

Human anatomy or anthropotomy is a special field within anatomy. It studies organs and organ systems of the human body, leaving the study of tissues to histology and cells to cytology. The human body, like the bodies of all animals, is made up of systems, that are made up of organs, that are made up of tissues, that are made up of cells.

See History of anatomy for a history of anatomy, including human anatomy.

Major systems of the human body

• Cardiovascular system: blood circulations with heart and blood vessels
• Digestive system: processing food with mouth, stomach and intestines
• Endocrine system: communicating within the body using hormones
• Excretory system: eliminating wastes from the body
• Immune system: defending against disease-causing agents
• Integumentary system: skin, hair and nails
• Muscular system: moving the body
• Nervous system: collecting, transferring and processing information with brain and nerves
• Reproductive system: the sex organs
• Respiratory system: the organs used for breathing, the lungs
• Skeletal system: structural support and protection through bones

External Features

Common names of well known parts of the human body, from top to bottom :

Skin

Head -- Forehead -- Eye -- Ear -- Nose -- Mouth -- Tongue -- Teeth -- Mandible -- Face -- Cheek -- Chin

Neck -- Throat -- Adam's apple -- Shoulders

Arm -- Elbow -- Wrist -- Hand -- Fingers -- Thumb

Spine -- Chest -- Breast -- Ribcage

Abdomen -- Sex organs (Penis/Scrotum or Clitoris/Vagina) -- Rectum -- Anus

Hip -- Buttocks -- Leg -- Thigh -- Calf -- Knee -- Heel -- Ankle -- Foot -- Toes

Internal organs

Common names of internal organs (in alphabetical order) :

Adrenal glands -- Appendix -- Bladder -- Brain -- Duodenum -- Gall bladder -- Heart -- Intestines -- Kidney --Liver-- Lungs -- Ovaries -- Pancreas -- Parathyroid gland -- Pituitary gland -- Prostate gland -- Spleen -- Stomach -- Thymus gland -- Thyroid gland -- Testicles -- Womb

Brain anatomy terms

Amygdala -- Brainstem -- Cerebellum -- Cerebral cortex -- Hypothalamus -- Limbic system -- medulla-- midbrain -- Pituitary gland -- pons

See also: Human brain, List of regions in the human brain

See also

• human biology
• List of human anatomical features
• Terms for anatomical location
• List of muscles of the human body
• List of bones of the human skeleton
• List of distinct cell types in the adult human body
• List of regions in the human brain
• List of human anatomical parts named after people
• Body orifices
• for physiological consequences of death, see Death