Billions of structures that fall into four major categories combine to make up the human body. The four basic parts of the human anatomy include tissue, cells, organs and systems. Life begins with a basic cell and continues to grow by forming new cells. Tissues develops from complex cells and form nonliving structures that hold the body together. Organs are even more complex with more substantial duties and systems are the most intricate parts of the human anatomy. The muscular and nervous system are two of the 10 systems in the human anatomy.
History
In 1958, Andreas Vesalius was the first person to identify the various systems of the human anatomy. Vesalius was an Italian artist who dissected the first human cadaver to recreate the inner workings of the body in wood sculptures. Prior to his work, the only clues to the human anatomy were based on animal cadavers. Medical physiology was later translated more efficiently in the 17th century by a surgeon and anatomist at the University of Padua named Hieronymus Fabricius. The 19th century works of artist and illustrator Andrew Fyfe further advanced the science of anatomy with his detailed drawings.
Platforms
As medicine continues to improve and scientists uncover more and more information about human anatomy, advances in medicine can be shared to improve the lives of human begins. While all medical students study muscular and nervous anatomy in school, new methods of sharing recent discoveries of how the systems interact are being created. According to the National Library of Medicine, programs such as the Visible Human Project provide researchers with up-to-date anatomical information through a digital image library that continues to be updated and reformed.
Significance
The muscular system is made up primarily of fibers that are connected to bones, blood vessels and organs. They work through a complex system of contractions. In addition to controlling movement of the body, muscular fibers control posture, heat production and joint stability. The nervous system manages the communication systems in the body. It is the conduit for all mental activity and serves as a connector for communication of environmental factors, reacting to both exterior and interior stimuli.
Interconnections
The muscular and nervous systems work together to support a variety of bodily functions. Unlike skeletal muscles, the involuntary smooth muscles of the human anatomy are controlled automatically by the nervous system as part of the autonomic system. Muscles controlled unconsciously by the nervous system include those in the heart, stomach and intestines. Involuntary muscles also are located in the blood vessels where the nervous system provides the stimulus to pump blood through the veins as needed. Muscles react to input from the nervous system. For example, when you think something is funny, the muscles in your face cause you to smile.
