79 - Terminologia Anatomica Non Delenda Est (sed…): Bridging the Gap Between the Latin of the TA and the English Equivalents

Poster Board Number: 79
There are separate poster presentation times for odd and even posters.
Odd poster #s – first hour
Even poster #s – second hour

Co-authors:

Natalie Brown - Dalhousie University; Zaineb Hamza - McMaster University; Mahnoor Moin - McMaster University; Natalie Palmer - McMaster University; Ava Shah-Beigi - McMaster University; Brenda Tran - McMaster University; Michael Zheng - McMaster University

Abstract Body : Title:
Terminologia Anatomica non delenda est (sed…): Bridging the Gap between the Latin of the TA and the English Equivalents

Introduction and Objective:
The Terminologia Anatomica (TA) is the current standardized list of Latin anatomical phrases that names all body parts. It was introduced in 1998 to replace the Nomina Anatomica, versions of which had been the standard nomenclature since 1895.

Our project focusses on the lack of proper English translations to accompany the Latin phrases of the TA. The TA itself offers what it terms “English equivalent names”, which can easily be mistaken for translations; but these are actually the vernacular English names for the same body parts. The fact that these are so easily mistaken for translations often causes confusion, especially in a world that doesn’t read Latin.

More specifically, this can mislead all those who use the TA – students, health professionals, and researchers – since the disconnect between the Latin phrases and their vernacular versions causes them to see the phrases as mere barcodes to be memorized, rather than as complex names having their own consistently-used meaningful parts and logic.

Our hypothesis is that precise and literal English translations of every name in the TA will solve this problem.

Materials and Methods:
Our project emerges from teaching Latin to aspiring medical students. We are currently building precise English translations (our “McMaster translations”) for the more than 7,000 terms of the TA, and our poster will provide a representative selection of terms diverse enough to emphasize the significance of this project.

Results:
We are proposing to the anatomical/medical community that the TA include our very literal English translations for each Latin phrase, which are consistent with the original grammar.

Conclusion:
Although the TA is meant to be universal, its current lack of universal acceptance is partly due to the hurdles created by eschewing literal translations.

Significance/Implication:
Latin names will continue to be used in anatomy, but, since fewer people are learning basic Latin, those who use those Latin names are becoming more and more alienated from their real meanings. Including our literal translations to act as bridges to the vernacular English equivalents will make these Latin names less mysterious, which will in turn help all those who use them both become more comfortable with the language of anatomy and see the logic behind the system of names, while freeing them from the need to memorize a seemingly impossible number of terms.

Funding Sources:
This project has received no outside funding. It was conducted by one instructor at McMaster along with a group of undergraduate volunteers.