THE ROLE OF THE LATIN LANGUAGE IN THE DEVELOPMENT AND STANDARDIZATION OF ANATOMICAL NOMENCLATURE

Abstract

Latin has played a fundamental role in the creation, consolidation, and continuous development of anatomical nomenclature from the Renaissance to the present day. The aim of this article is to examine the linguistic and conceptual development of anatomical terminology and to explore the lasting influence of Latin on the standardization of anatomical nomenclature. The study uses a historical-linguistic and descriptive method, analyzing key moments from the early Greek names of body parts to the contemporary Terminologia Anatomica (TA2023AG). The results show that the adoption of Latin as the lingua franca of anatomy has provided a basis for semantic precision, morphological consistency, and cross-cultural scientific communication. Furthermore, the systematic revisions from Basle Nomina Anatomica (1895) through Nomina Anatomica (1955) to Terminologia Anatomica (1998, 2023) illustrate the dynamic interaction between linguistic tradition and scientific innovation. The discussion highlights the importance of Latin in contemporary medical education and international standardization, emphasizing its irreplaceable function as a unifying linguistic code in the biomedical sciences. In conclusion, the thesis on the need to preserve Latin as a reference framework in anatomical terminology is presented, along with the integration of modern bilingual structures that reflect current linguistic and didactic realities, as well as the need for its presence in the curricula of medical specialties. The importance of Latin is emphasized not as an anachronism, but as one of the most reliable and appropriate tools for scientific clarity, standardization, and universalism.