anatomical

adjective

an·​a·​tom·​i·​cal ˌa-nə-ˈtä-mi-kəl How to pronounce anatomical (audio)
variants or less commonly anatomic
: 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 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 Tulio Villalobos-Guerrero of the Centro de Investigación Científica y de Educación Superior de Ensenada in Mexico conducted the primary anatomical analysis that was necessary to determine that this was a new species. Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 6 Mar. 2024 As part of the research, Button calculated the species’ sense of smell using anatomical ratios in the brain cavity. Sara Novak, Discover Magazine, 26 Feb. 2024 Hrdlicka believed in white superiority and amassed thousands of bones and other body parts at the museum to further his theories on the anatomical differences between races. Claire Healy, Washington Post, 23 Feb. 2024 But the electrical field seemed to vary unpredictably across the brain's anatomical folds. Ingrid Wickelgren, Scientific American, 20 Feb. 2024 The look took a total of 394,000 crystals to create with creative director Ib Kamara’s anatomical signature, hence the muscles. Kerane Marcellus, Essence, 12 Feb. 2024 Here are some of the reasons for their exemplary anatomical support: Promoting proper alignment: Buckwheat and millet hulls naturally conform to the body's anatomy and alignment. Sixteen Ramos, USA TODAY, 14 Jan. 2024 Just those that play well, respect anatomical boundaries and understand that not every tennis ball is theirs. Matt Keenan, Kansas City Star, 30 Jan. 2024 Man’s reliance on monkeys for medical insight goes back centuries: Galen, famed physician of ancient Rome, used macaques for his influential anatomical studies in the second century AD. Erika Fry, Fortune, 27 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'anatomical.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1627, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of anatomical was in 1627

Dictionary Entries Near anatomical

Cite this Entry

“Anatomical.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/anatomical. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

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