The Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and Embryology recruits master and PhD candidates majoring in human anatomy, histology, enmbryology and neuroscience.
     The Department of Human Anatomy was established at the 1917 founding of PUMC under the directory of Cowdry, an American anatomist and zoologist. Davidson Black, a Canadian anatomist who coined Homo Erectus Pekinensis, occupied the chair of the Department from 1921 to 1934. Prof. Jun Zhang was the first Chinese director followed by Prof. Bingchang Zhang, Prof. Xuancai Wan and Prof. Yiping Yan. When PUMC was reorganized in 1959, Prof. Zuogan Zhang was appointed as the Director of the Histology Department, and Prof. Shepu Xue as the Director of the Embryology Department. After the Embryology and Histology was combined into one department, Prof. Shepu Xue continued to be the director,  followed by Prof. Jing Xu and Prof. Shijuan Ye. The Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and Embryology was merged in the 1990s, under the chairmanship of Prof. Zenglu Xu. The current director of the Department is Prof. Chao Ma.
     Prof. Jun Zhang, medical educationist, pioneer of modern human anatomy in China. After finishing school in Japan, he furthered his education in the United States in 1921 and 1933. He took teaching position in Jiangxi, Hunan, Shanghai and Peking Union Medical College successively for nearly 60 years. In 1947, he was engaged in founding and rebuilding the Chinese Society for Anatomical Sciences, of which he was the fourth and fifth president (1956-1978). He initiated Acta Anatomica Sinica and Anatomy Record, and was the chief editor of Human Anatomy, China’s first textbook of anatomy. In addition to years of research into human anatomy, prof. Zhang also made substantial contributions to histology and embryology. He focused on administration of medical education, and has cultivated large numbers of talents for the development of China’s medicine and anatomy.
     Following prof. Jun Zhang’s core idea of prudent teaching, the Department has cultivated distinguished experts in education as well as in research, including Shepu Xue, Zuogan Zhang, Bingchang Zhang, Huizhu Yu, Huizhen Li, Xuancai Wan,Tongsun Shao, Jing Xu, Shijun Ye, Jinchan Lv, Baikuan Ye, Zenglu Xu, Weisan Ye and Chenggang Cao. Not only have they made invaluable contributions to the education and research work of anatomy, histology and embryology in PUMC, but also engaged in management in related schools and departments.
     Prof. Zuogan Zhang (1906-1969), graduated from Yenching University in 1932, successively taught in Yenching University, PUMC, and Guiyang Medical school. He studied in the US during 1947-1949 when he obtained his PhD. Prof. Zhang is one of founding scientists of China’s histochemistry, and was the chief editor of Acta Anatomica Sinica over a long period of time. Since 1950, he started to work on cytology and histology in CAMS (Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences), and developed the first cryostat microtome in China. He started early on research in histochemistry and electron microscopy. He also organized workshops and cultivated a large number of talents nationwide. The major work Prof. Zhang focused on was the histochemistry and the changes in ultrastructure throughout embryonic development. He created the experimental animal model of embryonic development in mice and was the author of Progresses in Cytology (1965) and Influences of Various Factors to the Development of Bones and the Causes of Malformation. Embryology written by I. G. Barth was translated into Chinese by prof. Zhang in 1956.
     Shepu Xue, academician of Chinese Academy of Sciences (1917-) graduated from former National Central University in 1942, where he stayed for a brief teaching period. He studied in the US from 1947 to 1951 where he obtained his PhD. From 1951, Dr. Xue taught in Dalian Medical School, Harbin Medical School, Beijing Normal University and Central Heath Institute and Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences. His research focused on cytology, embryology and reproductive biology. In 1991, Dr. Xue was laureated an academician of Chinese Academy of Sciences. He was the eighth and ninth chairman of Chinese Society for Anatomical Sciences (1986-1994); in his early years, Dr. Xue studied neurogenesis, and obtained achievements in various areas, including induced differentiation of germ layers and genital glands, differentiation regulation of genital cells, pharmacological effects and  mechanisms, and reversible control of tumor cell growth and differentiation. In recent years, he is engaged in molecular biology study into the gene family of erythroid differentiation denucleation factors (EDDF). Dr. Xue was the chief editor of Basic Histology and Embryology (1960), Progress in cytology (1963), Atlas of Human Embryology (1965), Experimental Study of gossypol: A Birth Control Pill for Males (1983), Chinese Encyclopedia of Medicine: Histology and Embryology (1988) and Real Case Atlas of Embryonic Genesis and Development of Chinese People (1992).
     The Anatomy offers classes of topographic anatomy, neuroanatomy, and neuroscience for undergraduates of the 8-year medical program; human biology I for students in School of Nursing; topographic anatomy and neuroanatomy for College of Adult Education; clinical practical anatomy and neurobiology for graduate students. The Histology & Embryology offers histoembryology class for undergraduates of the 8-year medical program; Human Biology I,  Growth and Development for students in School of Nursing; Histochemistry for graduate students. Growth and development and histoembryology, are regarded as Excellent Courses in Beijing and within PUMC respectively. Carrying forward the fine tradition of PUMC, under the ‘imparting, helping, motivating of experienced professors, the Department cradled many young teachers who have gradually become the main force of teaching and research. Now, young teachers have come a long way, and won many prizes including the 10th Young College Teachers Prize in Fok Ying Tung Education Foundation, PUMC ‘Xiehezhiyou’ Excellent Teacher and PUMC Excellent Teacher Honorary Titles. They also won several prizes in the Basic Skills Competition among Young College Teachers in Beijing. Young teachers are also actively engaged in teaching reform. Reform programs include Histology Virtual Slide and The Tentative Explore of Transforming the Teaching Mode of Human Anatomy for Medical Undergraduates.
     The Department's scope of research includes the mechanism of chronic pain and itch, the isolation and application of stem cells, ECM biology and reproductive biology. Two of the programs are funded by Natural Science Foundation of China.

Faculty：
Professor: Chao Ma (Director)
Re-engaged Professors: Zenglu Xu, Chenggang Cao, Yikuan Xie
Visiting Professor: Lawrence Rizzolo (Yale School of Medicine)
Associate Professor: Yongmei Chen, Xiaojing Qian, Wenting Li
Instructor: Ke Liu, Wenying Qiu, Wei Liu, Xinhua Shen
Supervising Technicians: Naili Wang, Enhui Zhang, Yinhua Kou, Ruimin Mu, Yuanyuan Xu
Technician: Zhang Di