Teaching anatomical terminology: effective learning strategies in medical education

Abstract

All healthcare professionals have to master the extensive anatomical terminology, which is an indispensable tool in communication. The Terminologia Anatomica Nomina Anatomica, is a particularly useful tool for effective communication among anatomists and specialists beyond the field, both within a medical context and the broader scientific discourse. The inaugural edition of the Terminologia Anatomica, which was issued in 1998 by the Federative Committee on Anatomical Terminology, gained widespread international recognition. Nevertheless, many authors believe that precise definitions and valid names for the parts and segments of the anatomical structures that are clinically and didactically useful should be incorporated in future editions of anatomical nomenclature. Thus, refining and extending the Terminologia Anatomica remains a challenging task for future generations of anatomists. Simultaneously, the intricate nature of anatomical nomenclature poses a major challenge, as learning, remembering, and understanding the complex terminology is a difficult task, especially for first-year medical students and newcomers to the field, emphasizing the need to simplify the anatomical language. The purpose of this article is to explore specific strategies designed to elevate the educational experience of medical students as they endeavor to master human gross anatomy and its terminology.