some people study the human body. they look at where it is different from, or the same as, other animals' bodies. these animals can be alive today. or they can be extinct animals like other hominids. (hominids are primates that are close to humans. neanderthals and "homo erectus" were hominids.) some people study how the human body works and lives in its environment. some people study what people think about their body. artists study how to draw or paint the human body.