Anatomy is a
branch of biology and medicine that is the consideration of the
structure of living things. It is a general term that includes human
anatomy, animal anatomy (zootomy) and plant anatomy (phytotomy). In some
of its facets anatomy is closely related to embryology, comparative
anatomy and comparative embryology, through common roots in evolution.
Anatomy
is subdivided into gross anatomy (or macroscopic anatomy) and
microscopic anatomy. Gross anatomy (also called topographical anatomy,
regional anatomy, or anthropotomy) is the study of anatomical structures
that can be seen by unaided vision with the naked eye. Microscopic
anatomy is the study of minute anatomical structures assisted with
microscopes, which includes histology (the study of the organization of
tissues), and cytology (the study of cells).
The history of
anatomy has been characterized, over time, by a continually developing
understanding of the functions of organs and structures in the body.
Methods have also improved dramatically, advancing from examination of
animals through dissection of cadavers (dead human bodies) to
technologically complex techniques developed in the 20th century
including X-ray, ultrasound, and MRI imaging.
Anatomy should not
be confused with anatomical pathology (also called morbid anatomy or
histopathology), which is the study of the gross and microscopic
appearances of diseased organs.
Physiology
Physiology
is the science of the functioning of living systems. It is a
subcategory of biology. In physiology, the scientific method is applied
to determine how organisms, organ systems, organs, cells and
biomolecules carry out the chemical or physical function that they have
in a living system. Physiology is a scientific study of the ways in
which the bodies of living things work.
Pathophysiology
Pathophysiology is the study of functional changes in the body which occur in response to disease or injury. For example, if someone ingests a toxin, that toxin might be associated with a variety of physical changes, such as inflammation in the stomach lining or necrosis of the extremities. The field of pathophysiology is designed to help people study the progress of disease so that they can quickly identify diseases and consider various treatment options.
This field is required study for most people who work in the medical profession, including doctors, nurses, and medical technicians. Understanding the progress of disease is key to learning how to identify and treat it, and many medical professionals gain additional pathophysiology skills in the course of their work. A radiologist, for example, often becomes quite adept at identifying the structural changes associated with cancer as a result of viewing hundreds or thousands of films.
There are two separate medical fields involved in pathophysiology. The first is physiology, the study of the body and its functions. The second is pathology, the study of disease and its impact on the body. In pathophysiology, students look at how the progress of a disease changes the body, and how the changes can be treated or reversed.
This field of study is not merely academic. Knowing the way in which a disease progresses can allow a doctor to predict the next move of the disease, providing appropriate care to the patient. Understanding the ways in which diseases can be treated is also critical, as doctors must choose the best procedures and medications for their patients. Pathophysiology can also be important in end of life care, as doctors can recognize the signs that a patient is close to the end of his or her life, and they can provide the care needed to keep the patient comfortable.
One of the major issues in pathophysiology is that every human body is different. What may be normal in one person could be abnormal in another, and diseases will not always behave in the same way. For this reason, it is critical for people in this field to be exposed to a diversity of patients and disease manifestations, so that they see real-world examples of physiological and pathological differences. Failure to be exposed to diversity in medical education can be dangerous for doctors and patients, as it may lead to a missed or erroneous diagnosis.
