At the Iberian Latin American Symposia Terminology (SILAT) of anatomy, histology and embryology is studied, analyzes, translates and disseminates international morphological terminology, for it is used daily by educational institutions of medicine and other areas of health, speaking Spanish and Portuguese.
The communication in health sciences requires a clear and precise terminology. However, in some areas of morphological sciences (anatomy, histology and embryology) remain different names for a single structure based on analogies of forms, names of teachers, synonyms and eponyms. To overcome these uncertainties is necessary an international morphological terminology. The terminology seeks to achieve the unification of the names of the structures that in practice this have not yet been achieved satisfactorily.
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In the past there were no current media thus was ignored what was written in others countries and in others languages. This caused the proliferation of differents terms for the same structure. Also several factors intervened to facilitate the persistence of some names over others.
The first committee was founded by the German Society of Anatomy in 1895 and were indicated more than 5,000 anatomical terms with a single name. Their work was the Basle Nomina Anatomica (BNA). It was subsequently revised and expanded in the 6th International Congress of Anatomists in Paris in 1955, and was adopted a new denomination, Paris Nomina Anatomica (PNA). This work was made by IANC. Then followed others, until the 13th International Congress in Rio de Janeiro, in 1989, where was established the Federative International Committee on Anatomical Terminology (FICAT). Therefore, the former International Anatomical Nomenclature Committee (IANC) continues operating today as the Federative International Committee on Anatomical Terminology.
The latter seeks to:
Since 1933, the International Anatomical Nomenclature Committee formally established the removal of eponyms.
Anatomical terminology was born 114 years ago in Basel and its last update was published in 1998. Moreover, histological terminology, most recently, had its update in 2008. And finally, embryological terminology was discussed and adopted at the 17th International Congress of Anatomy in Cape Town, South Africa, in August 2009. These international morphological terminologies are the result of expert meetings that constitute the FICAT, dependent from the International Federation of Associations of Anatomists (IFAA).[1]
The terms elect by the Committee must be as accurate as possible in order to give sense and meaning of the word chosen to identify a structure. The term chosen should relate the morphological characteristics with the function, providing a solid basis for understanding this structure.
It allows the use of a common scientific language for the entire scientific community. Therefore, their knowledge and management is very useful for researchers and professors of morphological science.
The Iberian Latin American Symposia Terminology (SILAT) are a scientific activity of the Pan American Association of Anatomy (PAA).[2] The initiative was from Dr. Rolando Cruz Gutierrez (Costa Rica), supported by the PAA Honoraries Presidents and led by Dr. Ricardo J. Losardo (Argentina).
The reasons for its creation were: a) to respond to difficulties in the use of terminology in educational institutions of the region, and b) the need to train in the use of a common scientific language used throughout this international community.
At these Symposia scientific from all participating countries: Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Chile, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua and Peru, presented and discussed terms of some body structures.
In San José de Costa Rica, was conducted the 1st Iberian Latin American Symposium Terminology on anatomy and histology, from 13 to 16 April 2009, at the University of Costa Rica, Research City, and was its president, Prof. Dr. Rolando Cruz Gutierrez.
In Lima, Perú, was performed the 2nd Iberian Latin American Symposium Terminology on anatomy and histology, between 15 and 18 September 2009, at the University of San Martín de Porres, Faculty of Dentistry, together with 4th International Dental Congress, and was its president, Prof. Dr. Germán Molina Albornoz.
In San José de Costa Rica, was conducted the 3rd Ibero-Latin American Symposium Terminology on anatomy, histology and embryology, from 26 to 30 April 2010 at the University of Costa Rica, School of Medicine, and was its President Prof. Dr. Rolando Cruz Gutierrez.
Following the guidelines of FICAT, it is accepted the denomination of morphological structures, respecting the Latin and Greek roots, but considering the translations according the rules of the linguistic official language.
Terminology must be adapted to the vernacular language and its denomination should concentrate not only in the descriptive information but also in the function of the morphological structure.
Any change in the terminology should follow the principles that were originated in Basel, Switzerland in 1895:
a) the universality;
b) comply as far as possible the word in Latin and its translation into Spanish;
c) describe the element in the most faithful to the principles of geometry and form, and
d) that the term be consistent, that is accept its derivatives must accept the primitive word which gave rise to these derivatives.
At these Iberian Latin American Symposia are held proposals that seek to provide more accurate information of some structures and achieve a single name, because in some terms it is observed a lack of precision in them.
It is necessary to update and unification terms to avoid confusion, making easier the teaching-learning and research.
It was noted that in some Latin American Universities included terms of anatomy, histology and embryology with its synonyms and eponyms but privileging those with greater international consensus.
It was suggested that there were problems with some anatomical terms frequently used in professional surgical practice and in current medical publications.
Although some morphologic terms are inadequate and lead to an altered vision of reality morphology, this is compounded by the entries made in the field of tradition, popular science and manuscripts.
These issues unfortunately tend to confuse students, graduates and professors and is recommend to do not give value to the publications which use outdated terms.
It was insisted that it is our duty to perpetuate the anatomical terms vernacular, folk and even vulgar to avoid losing them for the next generations. If not probably to be gather and rescue now, in a hundred years will be very difficult to re-mention or investigate.
There are also terms that were born in the dissection laboratories, in the anatomical amphitheaters and in operating rooms, which differ in different countries and regions and that they should be preserved for history.
Also was emphasized the importance of preservation of eponym’s terms from a historical point of view. This perpetuated the memory of those anatomists who have investigated, discovered and described anatomical structures and were honored for their contemporary colleagues by granting them their names on its merits.
They could join in other publications with historical interest, not exactly terminology and which are the medical history and folklore of each country or region.
It was suggested to compare historical lists of anatomical terminology done by Latin American anatomists, such as Prof. Dr. Yves Chatain (Colombia) with current translated into Spanish and in circulation.