open access

Vol 79, No 2 (2020)
Review article
Submitted: 2019-06-29
Accepted: 2019-07-10
Published online: 2019-07-29
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Terminologia Anatomica and its practical usage: pitfalls and how to avoid them

P. P. Chmielewski1, Z. A. Domagała1
·
Pubmed: 31411339
·
Folia Morphol 2020;79(2):198-204.
Affiliations
  1. Division of Anatomy, Department of Human Morphology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland

open access

Vol 79, No 2 (2020)
REVIEW ARTICLES
Submitted: 2019-06-29
Accepted: 2019-07-10
Published online: 2019-07-29

Abstract

In 2016, the Federative International Programme for Anatomical Terminology tentatively approved the updated and extended version of anatomical terminology that replaced the previous version of Terminologia Anatomica (1998). This modern version has already appeared in new editions of leading anatomical atlases and textbooks, including Netter’s Atlas of Human Anatomy, even though it was originally available only as a draft and the final version is different. We believe that updated and extended versions of anatomical terminology are important and they can be a powerful tool in communication between anatomists and other specialists around the world. In general, the new version uses more precise and adequate anatomical terms and many segments, including the part dealing with the nervous system, which is also known as the Terminologia Neuroanatomica, have been considerably improved. Nevertheless, some segments have not been extended or modernised, while other parts have been modified considerably, thereby posing a challenge to those who prefer the traditional version of Latin terminology because a number of official names for bones, muscles, organs and blood vessels have been changed. Whilst most of these changes seem to be inspired by a long anatomical tradition and thus cannot come as a surprise to anyone in the field, other modifications are characterised by terminological innovativeness. Selected new and unexpected changes that might cause confusion among those who prefer traditional anatomical terms and definitions are discussed here.

Abstract

In 2016, the Federative International Programme for Anatomical Terminology tentatively approved the updated and extended version of anatomical terminology that replaced the previous version of Terminologia Anatomica (1998). This modern version has already appeared in new editions of leading anatomical atlases and textbooks, including Netter’s Atlas of Human Anatomy, even though it was originally available only as a draft and the final version is different. We believe that updated and extended versions of anatomical terminology are important and they can be a powerful tool in communication between anatomists and other specialists around the world. In general, the new version uses more precise and adequate anatomical terms and many segments, including the part dealing with the nervous system, which is also known as the Terminologia Neuroanatomica, have been considerably improved. Nevertheless, some segments have not been extended or modernised, while other parts have been modified considerably, thereby posing a challenge to those who prefer the traditional version of Latin terminology because a number of official names for bones, muscles, organs and blood vessels have been changed. Whilst most of these changes seem to be inspired by a long anatomical tradition and thus cannot come as a surprise to anyone in the field, other modifications are characterised by terminological innovativeness. Selected new and unexpected changes that might cause confusion among those who prefer traditional anatomical terms and definitions are discussed here.

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Keywords

anatomical nomenclature, anatomical terminology, clinical anatomy, human anatomy, Nomina Anatomica, Terminologia Anatomica

About this article
Title

Terminologia Anatomica and its practical usage: pitfalls and how to avoid them

Journal

Folia Morphologica

Issue

Vol 79, No 2 (2020)

Article type

Review article

Pages

198-204

Published online

2019-07-29

Page views

2263

Article views/downloads

1306

DOI

10.5603/FM.a2019.0086

Pubmed

31411339

Bibliographic record

Folia Morphol 2020;79(2):198-204.

Keywords

anatomical nomenclature
anatomical terminology
clinical anatomy
human anatomy
Nomina Anatomica
Terminologia Anatomica

Authors

P. P. Chmielewski
Z. A. Domagała

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