Exploring the uncharted: Missing anatomical names in the Terminologia Anatomica

Abstract

Effective communication and precise navigation within the intricacies of the human body rely on robust anatomical terminology. Since its creation by the Federative Committee on Anatomical Terminology (FCAT), the Terminologia Anatomica (TA 1998) has consistently served as the benchmark in the field. However, the constant advancement of anatomical knowledge requires regular revisions, updates, and enhancements of anatomical nomenclature to accommodate the latest scientific discoveries. The recent adoption of the second edition of Terminologia Anatomica (TA 2019) by the International Federation of Associations of Anatomists (IFAA) has drawn attention to certain notable omissions. Despite over a century of dedicated work establishing standard anatomical terminology, specific widely recognized gross anatomical structures are still absent from the official listing in the Terminologia Anatomica. There is, however, a consensus that the inclusion of names for trivial or variably present structures should be avoided. Accordingly, this article focuses on a thoughtfully selected group of anatomical structures, which are so important that they are routinely discussed during anatomy courses, despite their exclusion from the official lists of anatomical terms. These basic structures hold fundamental importance for both anatomy education and clinical practice. Consequently, their appropriate nomenclature warrants consideration for inclusion in future editions of TA.

Terminologia Anatomica of the groove for vertebral artery: Pros and Cons

“…Terminologia anatomica (TA) has some speci c principles that enables an accurate and unconfused communication [11,12]. A new o cial edition of TA was released by the International Federation of Associations of Anatomists [13], but the present topic is not yet updated.…”

Exploring the frontal recess: Specimens, endoscopy, and CT perspectives

“…The frontal recess (recessus frontalis in Latin) represents the lower portion of the frontal sinus drainage pathway [1,3] and the upper portion of the ethmoidal infundibulum [4]. This recess was first described by a German laryngologist, Gustav Killian in 1903.…”

“…Considering that the frontal recess is clinically significant, it may come as a surprise that the Terminologia Anatomica has never recognized its existence [5,6]. Due to its intricate architecture, the frontal recess ranks among the most complex anatomical structures found within the paranasal sinuses, warranting recognition in future editions of the international standardized anatomical nomenclature [3,4].…”

“…They drain into the lateral wall of the middle nasal meatus through the frontal sinus drainage pathway, which is also known as the frontal sinus outflow tract, that penetrates the ethmoidal labyrinth and continues as the ethmoidal infundibulum at the front end of the semilunar hiatus. The frontal sinus drainage pathway can be divided into two segments: the frontal ostium superiorly and the frontal recess inferiorly [3]. The frontal ostium is bounded anteriorly by the agger nasi cell, posteriorly by the roof of the ethmoidal bulla, laterally by the orbital plate of the ethmoid bone (lamina papyracea), and medially by the basal lamella of the middle nasal concha.…”

“…Despite its clinical significance, the frontal recess has been omitted by leading anatomical atlases, textbooks, and lexicons. Surprisingly, the Terminologia Anatomica has never acknowledged its existence [3][4][5][6].…”