Description
Human anatomy is the science that deals with the structure and design of the human body. A knowledge of anatomy is not only important for the anatomist, but is an essential tool for all the professionals who deal with the human body in any of a variety of ways. Furthermore, everyone can benefit from a knowledge of anatomy because it is what we are, and understanding our bodies can be invaluable.
Anatomy is an ancient science. The principal methods anatomists used, and still use, to reveal what is known about anatomy are dissection and microscopy. Dissection involves the cutting apart of a body to reveal its gross structure. This was the fi rst technique used to discover the structure of the body and is still the best way to truly understand the design and relationship of anatomical detail. The best drawings, photos, and virtual images can never reveal what the dissector experiences during a dissection. The advent of the microscope expanded anatomical knowledge by revealing microscopic perspectives that were not available to the unaided eye. This understanding of microscopic structure opened the door to an increased knowledge of the functional aspects of anatomy.
In this atlas we attempt to teach the elegant structure and design of the human body using the tools and methods of the anatomist — dissection and microscopy. While there are numerous excellent visual resources that depict anatomy, we believe that, with the exception of personal dissection study, excellent photographs based on excellent dissections and microscopy are the truest form of anatomical imagery. Nothing depicts the actual thing as well as the actual thing. Our goal is to create images that teach, and to use that imagery to highlight the patterns and design features of anatomy.
This atlas approaches the body from a systemic perspective; that is, it covers each body system and the organs associated with that system. Each system is highlighted in the dissection photos. However, the dissections of the systemic anatomy oft en reveal regional p erspectives and relationships, and the structural details of regional anatomy are labeled on every image. Have fun exploring what we think might be the next best thing to dissection.