Definition of the word anatomy

The word "anatomy" comes from the Greek words "ana" meaning "up" or "back" and "tomia" meaning "cutting". In ancient Greece, anatomists would cut open corpses (or perform vivisections on animals) to study the inner structures of the body. The term "anatomy" thus literally means "cutting up" or "dissecting". In the 16th century, the Flemish anatomist Andreas Vesalius is credited with reviving the study of anatomy using dissection and observation. His groundbreaking book, "De humani corporis fabrica" (On the Fabric of the Human Body), published in 1543, laid the foundations for modern anatomy. Today, anatomy refers to the study of the structure and organization of the human body, including both macroscopic (visible) and microscopic (invisible) components. The word has evolved over time, but its roots remain in the ancient Greek practice of cutting open corpses to better understand the human body.