Systemic Anatomy

Pros

When using the systems approach to anatomy the student can focus on one type of material at a time. For example, when learning the skeletal system the student will learn about bone structure and then continue on to learn all of the bones of the body. When one system has been completed the student can focus on another system, for example the muscular system. This allows the student to focus on one type of subject matter at a time.

Cons

When using the systems approach the student does not necessarily see the connection/integration between one system and another. For example, one of the major functions of the skeletal system is to provide rigid bars for a lever system that produces movement. The force for this lever system comes from muscle contraction, thus the skeletal system is almost worthless if it is not combined with the muscular system. Thus the systems approach requires that the student “revisit” a previously learned system when they are learning a new system. For example when learning the muscular system the student must recall what they previously learned about the skeletal system so that they will know the muscular attachments. When they learn the nervous system they must recall what they previously learned about the muscular system so that they know which muscles are innervated by which nerves. This continues as each new system is covered.