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Anatomy facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Lateral head anatomy detail
Anatomy of the human head

Anatomy is the study of the bodies of people and other animals. Anatomy is the study of the inside of the body and outside the body. Anatomy notes the position and structure of organs such as muscles, glands and bones. A person who studies anatomy is an anatomist.

The history of anatomy dates back to 1600 BC when Egyptians began studying human anatomy. They discovered the functions of many organs like the liver, spleen, kidneys, heart etc. and were the first to discover the structure and functions of the lymphatic system.

For long periods the dissection of deceased people was forbidden, and correct ideas about human anatomy was a long time coming.

Academic human anatomists are usually employed by universities, medical schools and teaching hospitals. They are often involved in teaching, and research. Gross anatomy studies parts of the body that are big enough to see. Micro-anatomy studies smaller parts.

Body systems

There are different organ systems, such as the cardiovascular system, also known as the circulatory system (the system that gets blood around the body), the muscular system (the system that contains muscles), the nervous system (the system that controls the nerves,and the brain) and the skeleton (the bones).

Anatomy, physiology and biochemistry are similar basic medical sciences.

Related pages

Images for kids

  • Vesalius-copy

    One of the large, detailed illustrations in Andreas Vesalius's De humani corporis fabrica 16th century, marking the rebirth of anatomy

  • Cartilage polarised

    Hyaline cartilage at high magnification (H&E stain)

  • Normal gastric mucosa low mag

    Gastric mucosa at low magnification (H&E stain)

  • Skeletal muscle - cross section, nerve bundle

    Cross section through skeletal muscle and a small nerve at high magnification (H&E stain)

  • VolRenderShearWarp

    Mouse skull

  • Internal anatomy of a fish (cutaway diagram)

    Cutaway diagram showing various organs of a fish

  • Ceratophrys cornuta skeleton front

    Skeleton of Surinam horned frog (Ceratophrys cornuta)

  • Frog anatomy tags

    Plastic model of a frog

  • Crotalus atrox -Museum of Osteology, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA-29Aug2012

    Skeleton of a diamondback rattlesnake

  • Duerer wing of a blue roller

    Part of a wing. Albrecht Dürer, c. 1500–1512

  • Parasagittal MRI of human head in patient with benign familial macrocephaly prior to brain injury (ANIMATED)

    Modern anatomic technique showing sagittal sections of the head as seen by an MRI scan

  • Violin Scroll (2769099541)

    In the human, the development of skilled hand movements and increased brain size is likely to have evolved simultaneously.

  • Chirocephalus diaphanus male head

    Head of a male Daphnia, a planktonic crustacean

  • Foetal positions in uterus, pregnant female Wellcome L0000845

    Image of early rendition of anatomy findings

  • The Blue Beryl-Anatomy

    An anatomy thangka, part of Desi Sangye Gyatso's The Blue Beryl, 17th century

  • Zahrawi1

    Surgical instruments were invented for the first time in history by Abulcasis in the 11th century

  • Cheshm manuscript

    Anatomy of the eye for the first time in history by Hunayn ibn Ishaq in the 9th century

  • 13th century anatomical illustration

    13th century anatomical illustration

  • Leonardo da Vinci - RCIN 919000, Verso The bones and muscles of the arm c.1510-11

    Anatomical study of the arm, by Leonardo da Vinci, (about 1510)

  • Charta ex qva figvram parare convenit, illi qvae nervorvm seriem exprimit appendendam, 1543.

    Anatomical chart in Vesalius's Epitome, 1543

  • Siemens-electron-microscope

    An electron microscope from 1973

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Anatomía para niños

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Anatomy Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.