microscopic anatomy

(noun)

The study of minute anatomical structures on a microscopic scale, including cells (cytology) and tissues (histology).

Related Terms

Examples of microscopic anatomy in the following topics:

  • Defining Anatomy

    • There are two major types of anatomy.
    • Microscopic anatomy is the study of tiny anatomical structures such as tissues and cells.
    • Within microscopic anatomy, two topics of study are of great importance:
    • Microscopic anatomy allows one to focus on these tissues and cells.
    • Human anatomy is the study of the structure of the human body, from the microscopic to the macroscopic.

  • Microscopic Anatomy of the Stomach

  • Microscopic Anatomy

    • Sarcomeres appear under the microscope as striations, with alternating dark and light bands.

  • Microscopic Anatomy of Bone

    • The basic microscopic unit of bone is an osteon, which can be arranged into woven bone or lamellar bone.
    • The basic microscopic unit of bone is an osteon (or Haversian system).
    • A photo taken through a microscope that shows the anatomy of compact bone with a detailed view of an osteon.

  • Nose and Paranasal Sinuses

    • The interior of the nasal cavity is lined with mucous membranes, nasal hairs, and cilia (microscopic hairs), that perform many of the specialized functions of the nose.

  • Anatomy of the Gallbladder

    • Illustration of the gallbladder from Gray's Anatomy with each section labeled.

  • Medical Imaging

    • Medical imaging refers to the processes used to create images of the human body, or parts and function thereof, for clinical purposes (medical procedures seeking to reveal, diagnose or examine disease) or medical science (including the study of normal anatomy and physiology).
    • Bacteria and microorganisms were first observed with a microscope by Antonie van Leeuwenhoek in 1676, initiating the scientific field microbiology.

  • Anatomy of the Liver

  • Anatomical Position

    • Standard anatomical position is the body orientation used when describing an organism's anatomy. 
    • Thus, the standard anatomical position provides a "gold standard" when comparing the anatomy of different members of the same species.
    • Dissection of cadavers was one of the primary ways humans learned about anatomy throughout history, which has tremendously influenced the ways by which anatomical knowledge has developed into the scientific field of today.

  • Directional Terms

    • These words are used more often for animal anatomy and rarely and only with very specific meaning in human anatomy.
    • These are mostly used with animal anatomy, but can be used in human anatomy as long as they are describing the side of an appendage.