A Career in Anatomy and Physiology

Hailey Bonczek

Mr. Alburger

English III Honors

18 November 2020
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Hailey Bonczek

Mr. Alburger

English III Honors

18 November 2020

A Career in Anatomy and Physiology

Has one ever wondered how scientists have acquired an abundance of knowledge about

the human body? Anatomy and physiology professionals are some of the most forward-thinking

and experienced people in the medical industry. With everything in the medical field based

around the human body and its functions, the study of anatomy and physiology is the root and

foundation of other medical practices. Throughout history, well-trained Anatomists and

Physiologists have worked with cadavers and other bodies to develop their understanding and

knowledge of how human life is sustained.

The underlying foundation of all medical practices is the study of the structures and parts

of the human body. The Encyclopaedia Britannica writes, “Anatomy, a field in the biological

sciences concerned with the identification and description of the body structures of living things”

(The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica). Anatomy is used to discover new ideas and solutions

to common problems with the knowledge of how the body works to sustain life. According to the

Editors of Encyclopaedia of Britannica, “‘Gross anatomy’ customarily refers to the study of

those body structures large enough to be examined without the help of magnifying devices, while

microscopic anatomy is concerned with the study of structural units small enough to be seen only

with a light microscope” (The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica). Gross Anatomists are

anatomists who study specific parts of the body and specialize in larger organs and body

structures. Anatomists can discover new types of disorders and diseases that can help diagnose
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millions of people. These professionals can work together with other scientists such as

pharmaceutical scientists, pathologists, and physiologists to create and distribute vaccines or

other medicines.

Physiologists are medical professionals who specialize in the study of how the organs and

organ systems work together to carry out bodily functions. Scheer states, “Physiology, study of

the functioning of living organisms, animal or plant, and of the functioning of their constituent

tissues or cells” (Scheer). The human body works in incredible ways to make sure that air can be

circulated throughout the body and to make sure that the body can grow every single day. The

body’s organelles work to make up cells, which make up tissues. Those tissues combine to form

organs, then organ systems. Finally, an organism can be produced and all of those parts help the

organism to perform necessary life functions. Scheer explains, “Discoveries of unity of structure

and functions common to all living things resulted in the development of the concept of general

physiology...” (Scheer). If physiology was not as developed and advanced as it is today, scientists

and other civilians would not know how to keep themselves healthy and would not be able to

make healthy decisions for their life.

The interest in anatomy and physiology sparked with the Ancient Egyptians who wrote

on papyrus. Papyrus is a paper-like material made from a plant called Cyperus papyrus.

According to Habbal, “Ancient anatomical drawings and sculptures have been found in caves in

Western Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia; while the exact dating of such artefacts is uncertain,

some are at least 25,000 years old” (Habbal). Ancient Egyptians used papyrus to write and

document their findings and some of the first anatomical terms and concepts used. The Smith

Papyrus is known as the first, or earliest, recorded group of rational observations in natural

science which dates back to 3000 BCE. This document is said to consist of cases dealing with
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head trauma, the first descriptions of cranial structures, and other observations regarding an

injury to the brain and spine. New ideas, discoveries, and methods of studying came along as

history moved east with the House of Wisdom. Stranding states, “The Bayt al‐Hikmah (House of

Wisdom)... was the intellectual hub of Islamic scholarship, where many of the newly imported

documents were translated: ‘ownership’ of ancient Greek medical and anatomical knowledge

passed to Arabic physicians” (Standring). Generations of knowledge and understanding of these

practices were passed down for thousands of years.

Moving to the 18th century, there came evidence of the first printed source of anatomical

dissection to be published, De indiciis et praecognitionibus. Anatomical textbooks were

generally imported from France and Italy up until the beginning of the 19th century. The method

for looking inside the body changed during the 19th century when researchers found ways to

look inside the body without reflecting the skin. Stranding says, “...as technological innovations

rendered visible the previously invisible (van Dijck, 2005), stimulating anatomical research and

radically altering clinical practice (Stranding). As history moved forward, more and more

technological advancements became available with the invention of the endoscopy, new imaging

technologies, and even the microscope. These helped anatomists dive deeper into the body and

discover new things that were invisible to the naked eye. The data and information that historians

and scientists have are richly infused with how the true pioneers of science viewed certain

practices.

As time progresses, there are continuous discoveries and new methods of studying the

body. Even though anatomy and physiology have a rich history and a promising future, there was

a steady decline in the interest of being an anatomist or physiologist only a few years ago. There

were a low supply of teachers who chose to teach anatomy and physiology. However, those
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numbers are slowly rising and there are institutions such as the Anatomical Society of Great

Britain and Ireland who are supplying training programs for further education of future

anatomists. According to Lunsford, “Utilizing active learning techniques allows students to more

directly participate in their education and achieve more favorable results than traditional passive

methods” (Lunsford). These institutions are finding ways to peak students’ interests and are

creating methods to make learning more fun and profitable. Fraher points out, “Early indications

suggest that… this Training Program will help deliver the next generation of anatomists and

ensure that anatomy continues to play a fundamental role in the education of clinicians,

healthcare professionals, and scientists” (Fraher). With this in mind, there is hope that anatomy

and the interest of students will begin to lift these studies off the ground again and only push

forward the names of Anatomy and Physiology.

When it comes to training and requirements, there is a fair amount of work that is

required. The author of this article writes, “Most employers look for a candidate with experience

teaching, designing curricula, organizing research projects, and leading research teams” (How).

A Bachelor's degree is extremely important for this career choice and for those who choose to

follow a basic biology course. The next step is to get as many hours of training and laboratory

hours as possible to gain experience and to prove that the course requirements are met. This

article states, “Key Skills: Ability to analyze statistical data, leadership skills, communication

skills, ability to relate to patients, problem-solving skills, ability to speak in front of crowds”

(How). Many of these aforementioned skills are required, or sought out, by many professions in

the world. After earning a Bachelor’s and getting the necessary hours, one needs to earn a degree

in either medicine, M.D, or a doctoral degree, Ph.D. Postdoctoral training is extremely useful to

a student who recently attained their doctorate and needs, or wants, additional training and
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experience. Lastly, a license is needed to be a practicing medical professional. License

requirements vary by state and profession or career choice.

There are many different paths when choosing a career that is associated with anatomy

and physiology including becoming a professor at a college or university or training other

medical scientists. According to this article, “Some work for government agencies or for medical

and scientific publishing firms” (Anatomist). Even though salary can vary with these careers, the

average salary for medical scientists is $84,810. This article states, “Others are employed by

private companies, such as firms that make artificial limbs or organs” (Anatomist). Many spend

almost all of their time in a laboratory studying the bodies and how it functions. There is an

abundance of opportunities and career paths with a degree in anatomy and physiology that can

take people far within the medical field.

Anatomy and Physiology have come a long way from the once small and unknown idea

to a worldwide practice, where millions of people are educated and can educate others, on basic

human anatomy and physiology. Becoming a professional anatomist or physiologist can escalate

people to high positions in the medical industry. Many people want to be a doctor but do not

want the stress of dealing with patients. Therefore, becoming an anatomist or physiologist would

make a great career because most of the people that are being examined or worked on are not

alive. Overall, the field of anatomy and physiology is grounded and the people who work in this

industry are the backbone that keeps the rest of the field strong and steady.
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Works Cited

“Anatomist Job Description, Career as an Anatomist, Salary, Employment - Definition and

Nature of the Work, Education and Training Requirements, Getting the Job.”

StateUniversity.com, <careers.stateuniversity.com/pages/383/Anatomist.html>

Fraher, John P., and Darrell J.R. Evans. “Training Tomorrow9ikli9s Anatomists Today: A

Partnership Approach.” American Association for Anatomy, John Wiley &amp; Sons,

Ltd, 11 May 2009, <anatomypubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/ase.81>

Habbal, Omar. “The Science of Anatomy: A Historical Timeline.” Sultan Qaboos University

Medical Journal, Sultan Qaboos University Medical Journal, College of Medicine &amp;

Health Sciences, Feb. 2017, <www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5380415/>

“How to Become an Anatomist: Education and Career Roadmap.” Study.com, Study.com, 5 Mar.

2020,

<study.com/articles/How_to_Become_an_Anatomist_Education_and_Career_Roadmap.h

tml>

Lunsford, Eddie, and Michael Diviney. “Changing Perspectives on Anatomy & Physiology:

From Killer Class to Gateway Course.” Bioscene: Journal of College Biology Teaching,

vol. 46, no. 1, May 2020, pp. 3–9. EBSCOhost,

<http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&AuthType=ip,custuid&custid=s845

5861&db=eric&AN=EJ1258124&site=eds-live&scope=site&authtype=custuid>

Scheer, Bradley Titus. “Physiology.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.,

<www.britannica.com/science/physiology>
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Standring, Susan. “A Brief History of Topographical Anatomy.” Wiley Online Library, John

Wiley &amp; Sons, Ltd, 9 June 2016,

<onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/joa.12473>