anatomical

adjective

an·​a·​tom·​i·​cal ˌa-nə-ˈtä-mi-kəl 

variants or less commonly anatomic

ˌa-nə-ˈtä-mik 

: of or relating to anatomy or the body structure of organisms

anatomical studies/structures/mechanisms

The mollusks are divided according to common anatomical traits into seven classes …

—Carol M. Lalli and Ronald W. Gilmer

Mayberg has been mapping anatomical areas of the brain that are either hyperactive or inactive in depressed men and women.

—Siddhartha Mukherjee

Diabetes mellitus is characterized by a broad array of physiologic and anatomic abnormalities, but its most notable feature is disturbed glucose metabolism, which results in inappropriate hyperglycemia.

—George F. Cahill, Jr. et al.

anatomically

ˌa-nə-ˈtä-mi-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

… in Africa and possibly in the Middle East, anatomically modern humans were evolving.

—Rick Gore

Examples of anatomical in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The artist Ernie Barnes, who once played professional football, captured the anatomical and experiential details of bodies in motion in an expansive survey at Ortuzar Projects. —Holland Cotter, New York Times, 7 June 2024

Some argue that Neanderthals lacked the anatomical ability to even produce sounds. —Emilie Le Beau Lucchesi, Discover Magazine, 5 June 2024

Open release surgery is the only option in some cases with visualization difficulties or anatomical variations.14 Endoscopic Release An endoscopic release surgery is done entirely beneath the skin. —Scott Sundick, Verywell Health, 3 June 2024

Researchers have located one more anatomical organ where microplastics — of all shapes and constituents — are found: human testes. —Susanne Rust, Los Angeles Times, 22 May 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1627, in the meaning defined above