Applied Anatomy

Applied anatomy is an unusual and intellectually rich degree that places the detailed study of the structure of the body at the centre of a broader education in comparative animal form and function. Anatomy is the foundational science of medicine and veterinary medicine, yet it is also a discipline in its own right, concerned with how the body is organised, how structures relate to each other, and how form and function have evolved across the animal kingdom. Applied anatomy at Bristol bridges human and veterinary anatomy, giving you a perspective that is broader than most anatomy-focused training.

At the University of Bristol, this three-year full-time programme provides a thorough understanding of both human and veterinary anatomy through hands-on, practical teaching that includes some dissection. You will explore the principles of comparative anatomy and the structure of the major mammalian body systems, developing a deep and precise knowledge of how bodies work at the level of structure. Bristol's veterinary and medical schools provide an exceptional research and teaching environment, and the practical orientation of the programme means you develop the kind of detailed spatial and structural understanding that anatomy at this level requires.

You will develop skills in dissection, anatomical imaging, histology, and the ability to describe and discuss anatomical structures with precision. The scientific literacy and critical thinking you develop alongside that practical knowledge are equally important.

Graduates are well positioned for careers in medicine, veterinary medicine, dentistry, physiotherapy, and other allied health professions, where anatomy is a prerequisite (with further professional study). Others go on to work in medical illustration, anatomical pathology, biomechanical research, medical education, and science communication. Many continue to postgraduate study in anatomy, medical sciences, or related fields.