Anatomical Oddities

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Had we been crafted for extended operation, we would have fewer flaws capable of making us miserable in our later days. Evolution does not work that way, however. Instead it cobbles together new features by tinkering with existing ones in a way that would have made Rube Goldberg proud.

Of course, as someone who loves medical history, any book that delves into the discussion of the various nooks and crannies of the human body is right up my alley. In the book, each term is illuminated by the author’s own illustrations with a complete discussion of the term’s etymology and history of discovery. Living things are exceedingly complex, and experience teaches us that undesirable consequences invariably arise whenever humans have taken over the reins of evolution to modify organisms (microbes, plants and animals) to suit their purposes. The most worrisome trade-off for genetic manipulation directed toward living longer would be an extension of frailty and disability rather than an extension of youthful health and vitality. I find the origins of words (especially medical terminology) super interesting so to read how certain words were devised and what they were derived from really added to the depth of the information. Not only is there a wide range of anatomical terms, body parts and info included but some great facts and intriguing science. Keep collections to yourself or inspire other shoppers! Keep in mind that anyone can view public collections - they may also appear in recommendations and other places. There are countless other aspects of human biology that would merit modification if health and longevity were nature's primary objective. For example, gerontologists theorize that aging is caused, in part, by a combination of the molecular damage that inevitably arises from operating the machinery of life within cells and the imperfect mechanisms for molecular surveillance, maintenance and repair that permit damage to accumulate over time. If this view of the aging process is correct, then modifying these molecular processes to lessen the severity or accumulation of damage, or to enhance the maintenance and repair processes, should have a beneficial impact on health and longevity. These wondrous modifications, however, would have little effect unless the common sense that is needed to avoid destructive lifestyles becomes more widespread among people.I read parts of this with a high school student and we agreed we were able to retain names after learning history and meaning far better than other methods. Even the term “flaw” requires clarification. Living things, and everything they make, eventually fail. The cause of failure is a flaw only when the failure is premature. A race car that fails beyond the end of the race has no engineering flaws. In the same way, bodies that fail in the postreproductive span of life may contain numerous design oddities, but they have no design flaws as far as evolution goes. I have an impression of early anatomists, almost exclusively men, poring over the intricate structures of the human body and becoming quite excited when they found anything that reminded them of a bit of female anatomy. It’s extraordinary how many parts of the body, apart from the breasts themselves, are named after breasts and nipples.” This quote, which made me laugh out loud, was in reference to the mammillary bodies that are situated in the brain—far away from what we think of as female accoutrements.

I don't think I would have used the word "oddities" in the title, but I'm not sure what else would work. Many of the body parts are commonly known is why I would have preferred a different word. The key, however, is that this is an informative and visually engaging book. The pictures ranged from what seems to be fairly accurate (though uniquely colored) to almost abstract (I'm thinking of the illustration for the sella turcica). But Roberts makes sure we know where to look when the drawing is more creative, so it still works quite well. The process of human evolution has resulted in bodies that are optimized for successful reproduction and child-rearing but are not necessarily designed for healthy, long lives. Image credit: Image Courtesy of the Alabama Museum of the Health Sciences, The University of Alabama at Birmingham)Bulging disks, fragile bones, fractured hips, torn ligaments, varicose veins, cataracts, hearing loss, hernias and hemorrhoids: the list of bodily malfunctions that plague us as we age is long and all too familiar. Why do we fall apart just as we reach what should be the prime of life? Dr. Alice Roberts brings her artistic talents and her deep knowledge of science and medicine to her illustrated book Anatomical Anomalies. Of all the exhibits in the Mütter Museum, the Broken Bodies, Suffering Spirits might be the most emotionally wrenching. It contains letters, surgical tools, and samples of weaponry designed to rip the human body to shreds. I found this volume to be interesting both because of my interest in human anatomy—I have worked in healthcare in a variety of roles—and my desire for continued learning.

Anatomical Oddities is an artistic and linguistic adventure, taking the reader on a journey to discover the hidden landscape of the human its crypts and caverns, gorges, islets and mountains. Along the way, we dip into the history of our relationship with the human body and the discoveries that paved the way for modern anatomy and medicine. As a biology major I truly enjoyed this deep dive into the meaning behind obscure anatomical parts. The amount of research that went into this is amazing, as it not only covered the latinized meaning of the systems, organs, etc. it also included any history change to the term as scientific discovered more behind the hidden world of the human body. PDF / EPUB File Name: Anatomical_Oddities_-_Alice_Roberts.pdf, Anatomical_Oddities_-_Alice_Roberts.epub Inside the creepy yet clinical Mütter Museum, skeletons of all shapes and sizes reside as well as President Grover Cleveland's jaw tumor, deformed babies in jars, and preserved organs of all kinds. Buried is a tender, fascinating act of listening—of listening to the tales the dead have to tell us about the landscapes we share with them, the histories we have constructed around them, and the futures we imagine for ourselves. Lucid and illuminating.”— Robert MacfarlaneThe good doctor was inclined to help even the most hopeless of cases; those with drastic disfigurements that most people considered "monsters." He also became renowned for his knowledge and ability to treat rare conditions, and he would be the first surgeon in the United States to administer anesthesia to patients. Skeleton Painting Print - Halloween Wall Decor - Creepy Gothic Home Decor - Oddities and Occult Aesthetic - Spooky Wall Art Ghost Oddity #10

Thanks for reading Scientific American. Create your free account or Sign in to continue. Create Account Anatomical Oddities explores the less-familiar realms of the body, unveiling the mysteries etched into the most outlandish landscapes hidden inside all of our crypts and caverns, gorges, islets, and mountains. Along the way, it dips into the history of our relationship with our physical form and the discoveries that paved the way for modern anatomy and medicine.

A masterful account of why our bodies are the way they are. . . . Roberts's lightness of touch is joyous, and celebratory.”— Observer Alice Roberts writes as a scholar with the intensity and flair of a novelist.” —Dan Snow, author, historian, and award-winning television presenter As someone who loved taking Anatomy and Physiology in college, I found it helpful to understand the origin of the various anatomical and physiological terminology. The etymology of the terms—the study of the origin of words—was incredibly useful because it helped me understand and, most importantly for any exams, remember those words. Connoisseurs of the medical macabre have likely heard tales of the legendary Mütter Museum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This world-renowned wonderland of weird is filled with anatomical oddities, pathological specimens, human curiosities, and vintage medical instruments — along with the only known samples of Albert Einstein's brain. This exhibit explores war injuries: how to treat them and what it was like experience them. It comes complete with an interactive opportunity to see what it would be like to have an arm amputated.