ABSTRACT

A student’s first exposure to anatomy is likely to be a course in gross human anatomy. The method by which gross anatomy is presented or studied can vary. Some courses use the systemic method of study. Systemic anatomy means that each of the systems of the body is studied independently before moving on to the next system. Typically, the skeletal system is studied first, then the muscular system, nervous system, circulatory system, and the rest of the 11 body systems in various order. The other method of study is regional anatomy, which means that everything about a specific region of the body is studied together. In this method, all the bones, muscles, nerves, and vessels of the upper limbs are learned at the same time before moving on to another body area. Beginning courses in anatomy typically use the systemic method, whereas advanced courses, such as those offered in medical schools, usually use the regional method of study. Gross human anatomy is best studied using dissected human cadavers. When cadavers are not available, reasonable knowledge can be obtained by studying animal bodies, such as cats or fetal pigs. Computer simulations of dissection and models are also helpful learning aids when used in conjunction with cadavers.