Human Skeleton: Gross Anatomy

Gross anatomy is defined as the study of anatomy with the unaided eye, essentially visual observation without the use of significant magnifying technologies. This application describes the gross anatomy of the human bones, which when assembled create the structural framework of the body called the skeleton. The gross anatomy of human bones is typically studied by viewing the distinctive features of "dried" bones. A dried bone is one in which the soft tissues, i.e. the organic components of the bone, have been removed, leaving only the hard, inorganic, mineralized framework of the bone. Indeed, the term "skeleton" is derived from the Greek meaning "a dried body, mummy" (Dorland's Medical Dictionary). This application includes 139 images of dried human bones that collectively address the entire human skeleton. Unlike many other applications, these are real bones, not computer simulations…