Gross anatomy is the study of anatomy at the macroscopic level. The term gross distinguishes it from other areas of anatomical study, including microscopic anatomy, which must be studied with the aid of a microscope.
Techniques of study
Gross anatomy is studied using both invasive and noninvasive methods with the goal of obtaining information about the macroscopic structure and organization of
organs and organ systems. Among the most common methods of study is
dissection, in which the body of an animal is
surgically opened and its organs studied.
Endoscopy, in which a
video camera-equipped instrument is inserted through a small incision in the subject, may be used to explore the internal organs and other structures of living animals. The anatomy of the
circulatory system in a living animal may be studied noninvasively via
angiography, a technique in which
blood vessels are visualized after being injected with an opaque dye. Other techniques of study include
X-ray and
MRI.
Many types of multimedia exist for the study of gross anatomy, including textbooks and educational CDs and DVDs.
In education
Most doctoral health profession schools, such as medical and dental schools, require that students complete a course in gross human anatomy. Such courses aim to educate students in basic human anatomy and seek to establish anatomical landmarks that may later be used to aid
medical diagnosis. Many schools provide students with
cadavers for investigation by dissection, aided by dissectors such as
Grant's Dissector, as well as cadaveric atlases (e.g. Rohen's).
Category:Subjects taught in medical school
gross anatomy]
