ANATOMY, literally dissection or cutting asunder, a term always used to denote the study of the structure of living things, animal or vegetable. Animal anatomy may include the study of the structure of different animals (comparative anatomy or ani mal morphology), or it may be limited to one animal only (special anatomy). From a utilitarian point of view the study of Man is the most important division of special anatomy, and this human anatomy may be approached from different points of view. From that of the medical man it consists of a knowledge of the exact form, position, size and relationship of the various structures of the human body in health (descriptive or topo graphical human anatomy). From the morphological point of view, human anatomy has for its object the discovery of the causes which have brought about the existing structure of Man, and needs a knowledge of the allied sciences of embryology or ontogeny, phylogeny and histology. Pathological or morbid anatomy is the study of diseased organs, while sections of normal anatomy, applied to various purposes, receive special names such as medical, surgical, gynaecological, artistic and superficial anat omy. The comparison of the anatomy of different races of mankind is part of the science of physical anthropology or anthropological anatomy.
In the present edition of this work the subject of anatomy is treated systematically rather than topographically. Each ana tomical article contains first a description of the structures of an organ or system (such as nerves, arteries, heart, etc.), as it is found in Man ; and this is followed by an account of the develop ment or embryology and comparative anatomy or morphology, as far as vertebrate animals are concerned.
The following separate anatomical articles will be found under their own headings:— Alimentary canal. Nerve.
Arteries. Nervous system.
Brain. Olfactory system.
Coelom and serous membranes. Pancreas.
Connective tissues. Pharynx.
Diaphragm. Placenta.
Ductless glands. Reproductive system.
Ear. Respiratory system.
Epithelium, Endothelium and Scalp.
glands. Skeleton.
Eye. Skin and Exoskeleton.
Heart. Skull.
Joints and Ligaments. Spinal cord.
Liver. Teeth.
Lymphatic system. Tongue.
Mammary gland. Urinary system.
Mouth and salivary glands. Vascular system.
Muscular system. Veins.
From the year 191 o onwards the government authorities have not only supervised the administration of the law, but also helped the schools to obtain an adequate supply of unclaimed bodies for their needs. The immediate result has been an extension of sources of supply so as to improve considerably the state of affairs which prevailed previously in Great Britain.