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Anatomy facts for kids

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Lateral head anatomy detail
Anatomy of the human head

Anatomy is the study of the bodies of people and animals. It looks at both the inside and outside of the body. When you study anatomy, you learn about where organs like muscles, glands, and bones are located. You also learn how they are built. A person who studies anatomy is called an anatomist.

A Look Back: The History of Anatomy

People have been studying anatomy for a very long time. The ancient Egyptians started studying human anatomy around 1600 BC. They learned what many organs like the liver, spleen, kidneys, and heart do. They were also the first to discover how the lymphatic system works.

For many years, it was not allowed to study human bodies closely. This made it hard to learn correct information about how our bodies are put together.

What Anatomists Do

Human anatomists often work at universities, medical schools, or hospitals. They usually teach students and do research.

There are two main types of anatomy:

  • Gross anatomy studies parts of the body that are big enough to see with your eyes. This includes organs, bones, and muscles.
  • Micro-anatomy studies smaller parts of the body. You need a microscope to see these tiny structures.

Anatomy is one of the basic sciences used in medicine. Other similar sciences include physiology (how the body works) and biochemistry (the chemistry of living things).

Exploring Body Systems

Our bodies are made up of different organ systems. Each system has a special job. Here are a few examples:

  • The circulatory system moves blood all around your body. It includes your heart, blood, and blood vessels.
  • The muscular system is made of all your muscles. These help you move, lift, and do many other actions.
  • The nervous system controls your nerves and your brain. It helps you think, feel, and react to the world.
  • The skeleton is made of all your bones. It gives your body shape and protects your organs.

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.