Anatomy is the scientific research of the shape, structure, location, adjacency, and functional relationships of all parts of a normal human body, divided into two parts: gross anatomy and microscopic anatomy. Gross anatomy relies on the use of anatomical instruments and laser cutting of cadavers to study the shape and structure of the internal organs and systems of the human body with the naked eye. Microscopic anatomy can be further divided into cytology and histology. Microscopic anatomy must rely on the magnification function of microscopes or transmission electron microscopes to study the minute structures of the body.

The definition and tasks of human anatomy

Basic body structure

With the development of human society and the advancement of scientific and cultural undertakings, human anatomy has developed into various specialized fields due to different research objectives, in terms of research methods, focuses, and specificity, etc. There have gradually emerged several unique fields: such as systematic anatomy, which scientifically researches and describes the shape and structure of organs in each system of the body; regional anatomy, which scientifically researches and describes the shape, location, and adjacent relationships of various structures in each part of the body according to the needs of the body’s subdivisions and surgical procedures; artistic anatomy integrated with professional artistic requirements such as painting and sculpture; sports anatomy, which studies the shape and function relationships of organs and structures in sports competitions and training; and applied anatomy, which professionally discusses the basic application of clinical surgical structural analysis (surgical anatomy). In addition, due to different research methods, there are also general (macroscopic) anatomy dominated by human observation and anatomical operation, and microscopic anatomy and ultra-microscopic anatomy, which observe tissues with optical microscopes and transmission electron microscopes, respectively. There is also embryology or ontogeny, which specializes in the generation and development stages and laws of the human body.

Due to the rapid development of cognitive science in the past two decades and its potential to become a trend in the next century for the development of biology and leading courses, as well as the reference to the curriculum content of medical universities in capitalist countries, this research and teaching group has carried out innovation and reform on the original two courses of systemic anatomy and regional anatomy, opening up two new courses of general human anatomy and neuroanatomy. The original central nervous system will be taught independently to integrate with the global trend of cognitive science development and promote the rapid upgrading of the curriculum content. The majority of other professional knowledge of body shape and structure is incorporated into this course, namely general human anatomy. The teaching of this course content is divided into two stages. The first stage introduces the structural knowledge of various systems of the human body, using teaching as the main method, supplemented by necessary demonstrative practice, but for the skeletal system that supports the body, it is required to master all the necessary content in this stage.

The second stage conducts anatomical observations one by one according to the various parts that make up the body. The basic method is for students to carry out anatomical practical operations based on the content of the teaching materials alone after being reminded by the teacher, to obtain professional knowledge of body shape and structure, and gradually shape and enhance students’ observation, specific analysis, and comprehensive organization abilities, as well as certain anatomical practical operation methods. In this process, cross-sectional logical teaching is necessary, and the key task is to correctly guide students to generalize and modernize the professional knowledge obtained from practical activities. In addition, please let the teachers from the relevant clinical medicine departments teach some practical significance of structural content in disease diagnosis and treatment, in order to broaden students’ knowledge and thinking, and increase the interest in learning and training.