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Glite Dictionary
anatomical structure

anatomical structure

1 5.3
A part of a living thing that has a specific shape and job in the body
  • noun
  • /əˈnætəˌmɪkəl ˈstrʌkʧər/
  • Specialized
translation icon : estructura anatómica
  • The human heart is a vital anatomical structure responsible for pumping blood throughout the body.

You started off by looking at a human being as an anatomical structure rather than a process in consciousness.

Examples

  • Biomodels are three-dimensional (3D) solid representations of anatomical structures.

    Academic text (2015)

  • The hands and feet, and general anatomical structure, are more like our primates.

    Fiction book (1999)

  • "And in the afternoon, you will be given the opportunity to explore our anatomical structures.

    Fiction book (1991)

  • The brain as an anatomical structure has brain tissue.

  • All other anatomical structures were left intact.

    Academic text (1998)

  • Peel back that outer layer of skin and get yourself acquainted with the general anatomical structure.

    The Quiet (2005)

  • Men show more variability even in their anatomical structure than women, who persistently trend to averages, both mental and physical.

    Academic text (1990)

  • Radiographs are two-dimensional (2D) images of three-dimensional (3D) structures, which result in superimposition of anatomical structures. Consequently, it is usually necessary to obtain multiple images taken at different angles.

    Academic text (2006)

  • Doctors study the anatomical structure of the leg to understand common injuries and how to treat them.

  • In biology class, we learned about various anatomical structures, such as bones and muscles, that make up the human body.

Synonyms

structure
vsanatomical structure
790 3.5

How parts are arranged in a system like a society or text

applies specifically to living parts with tissues and functions
body structure
vsanatomical structure
  • Specialized
4.0

The way the parts of a living body are arranged to give it shape and help it move

is more about tissues and their role in a part's function
bodily structure
vsanatomical structure
  • Specialized
6.3

A complex part of a living body made of pieces arranged to do a job

emphasizes form and specific functioning beyond mere construction
organum
vsanatomical structure
  • Archaic
8.9

A body part that does a particular job, for example the heart or liver

is the general term not limited to medical usage

How Complex

organism
229 3.5
system
856 3.3
organ
473 2.6
anatomical structure
  • Specialized
1 5.3
tissue
  • Specialized
470 3.2
cell
  • Specialized
917 2.1

Surface Forms

anatomical structure singular
anatomical structures plural

Morphology

anatomical + structure

The phrase is a straightforward adjective + noun composition: 'anatomical' (relating to the structure of organisms) modifies 'structure' (an arrangement of parts), so the combined meaning of a body part or bodily arrangement is directly inferable. This compositional pattern is common cross-linguistically and follows normal English adjective-noun semantics, making it immediately comprehensible to learners who know both words.

Etymology

The phrase anatomical structure comes from the idea of looking inside a body to find each anatomical part or structure, like pieces of a machine that you can see and study. That's why it means 'a part of a living body with a certain shape and job'.