l) study of the structure and composition of plants and other living organisms. 2} structure and composition of p1ants and other living organism

Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary
anatomy (noun)
1.
a branch of morphology that deals with the structure of organisms
2.
a treatise on anatomical science or art
3.
the art of separating the parts of an organism in order to ascertain their position, relations, structure, and function - dissection
4.
obsolete a body dissected or to be dissected
5.
structural makeup especially of an organism or any of its parts
6.
a separating or dividing into parts for detailed examination - analysis
7.
a) (1) - skeleton
(2) - mummy
b) the human body
Related Articles:
anatomy (Wikipedia)
For the anatomy of plants, see Plant anatomy. For other uses, see Anatomy (disambiguation).

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

Anatomy (Greek anatomē, "dissection") is the branch of biology concerned with the study of the structure of organisms and their parts. Anatomy is a branch of natural science which deals with the structural organization of living things. It is an old science, having its beginnings in prehistoric times. Anatomy is inherently tied to developmental biology, embryology, comparative anatomy, evolutionary biology, and phylogeny, as these are the processes by which anatomy is generated over immediate (embryology) and long (evolution) timescales. Anatomy and physiology, which study (respectively) the structure and function of organisms and their parts, make a natural pair of related disciplines, and they are often studied together. Human anatomy is one of the essential basic sciences that are applied in medicine.

The discipline of anatomy is divided into macroscopic and microscopic anatomy. Macroscopic anatomy, or gross anatomy, is the examination of an animal's body parts using unaided eyesight. Gross anatomy also includes the branch of superficial anatomy. Microscopic anatomy involves the use of optical instruments in the study of the tissues of various structures, known as histology, and also in the study of cells.

The history of anatomy is characterized by a progressive understanding of the functions of the organs and structures of the human body. Methods have also improved dramatically, advancing from the examination of animals by dissection of carcasses and cadavers (corpses) to 20th century medical imaging techniques including X-ray, ultrasound, and magnetic resonance imaging.

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