Anatomy in Exercise Science

Introduction

This chapter begins by defining the various subspecialties in the field of anatomy. The author then gives a brief history of anatomy from the prescientific period to the present. Important figures, places, and dates are included. The student is encouraged to relate this information to the progress that has been made in exercise science. The chapter concludes with an overview of instrumentation and techniques currently in use in anatomy.

Chapter Objectives

After studying this chapter, students will be able to do the following:

1. Define the various subspecialties of anatomy.
2. Explain why exercise scientists should have a good background in anatomy.
3. Describe the major historical events that have contributed to progress made in anatomy.
4. List important leaders in anatomy and describe the major achievements of each.
5. Understand the uses of modern-day imaging equipment and their implications for exercise science.
6. Discuss employment opportunities in the field of anatomy.
7. List the professional journals and associations available in the field.

Study Questions

1. Define anatomy and explain why an exercise scientist should be firmly grounded in the field.
2. List and describe the various subspecialties of anatomy and explain the usefulness of each to exercise science.
3. Why is it important for the exercise scientist to be familiar with the history of his/her field?
4. Describe the type of knowledge prehistoric people may have had about the human body.
5. Describe the philosophical beliefs that impacted medical knowledge in (a) China, (b) Greece, (c) Roman Empire, (d) Arabia, (e) India, and (f) Japan.
6. How did the Egyptians contribute to the advancement of anatomy?
7. Describe the humoral theory of the body.
8. Explain why the progress of science was halted for nearly 1,000 years after Claudius Galen.
9. Describe the changes in scientific thought that came about during the Renaissance.
10. Discuss the contributions of Andreas Vesalius to the field of anatomy.
11. Discuss the important contributions of William Harvey to the field of anatomy.
12. List the important steps in the development of cell theory during the nineteenth century.
13. Describe the advantages of the electron microscope over the light microscope.
14. Describe the background an individual should have if he or she wants to teach anatomy.

Student Activities

1. Find an article from three different journals that are prominent in anatomy (see the list at the end of the chapter). Write an abstract of each article, relating to its potential impact on the field of exercise science.
2. Have the students investigate and share with the class possible uses of the following in exercise science: X-ray, CT scan, PET scan, MRI, DXA, and ultrasound.
3. In small groups, have the students come up with examples of how small individual discoveries can add up to large leaps in scientific understanding and then share their examples with the class.

Quizzes

Links

American Association of Anatomists

https://www.anatomy.org/