A Brief Word on Cross-Sectional Anatomy..
Unlike gross anatomical specimens, anatomical cross-sections
present you with a two-dimensional 'snap shot' of anatomy
(see the halves of a coronal section which border
this page).
Individual muscles, organs, or bones cannot be seen in their
entirety. While this form of presentation may seem awkward at first,
it presents an excellent means of learning how specific structures
relate to one another in the body proper.
While looking at individual sections it's helpful to visualize
how the anatomy will appear ahead of and behind the section
shown.
Even if you barely remember where the liver is, or what an
adrenal gland does, you probably know something about the
brain - it's general location, shape and appearance.
The next page presents a series of animations to
introduce the three planes of sectioning. As an introduction
to following three-dimensional structures through two-dimensional
sections, observe the path of the brain in each of the
animations.
Next:
Planes of Sectioning