Between Netter and Sobotta: terminological scope and pedagogical strategy of Fazıl Noyan’s Anatomy Atlas

Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed to analyze the terminological scope and pedagogical strategy of Fazıl Noyan’s Anatomy Atlas Volume I by examining the visual materials and anatomical terminology of the locomotor system, and to evaluate its alignment with contemporary international standards and widely used reference atlasesç Methods: A descriptive and comparative analysis was conducted on all osteology, arthrology, and myology illustrations in Volume I of the atlas. Labeled anatomical terms were recorded, duplicate entries were removed to identify unique terms, and Latin terminology was compared with the Terminologia Anatomica 2019 (TA2). Quantitative parameters included the number of illustrations, label density per figure, and system-based distribution of unique terms. Qualitative comparisons were made with Netter and Sobotta atlases. Results: A total of 276 illustrations were analyzed, yielding 1,266 unique anatomical terms with 3,208 total occurrences. More than 95% of terms were fully consistent with TA2, with remaining discrepancies largely attributable to minor orthographic variations. Osteology and arthrology demonstrated comparable proportional representation within TA2, whereas myology showed lower coverage, reflecting the broader terminological scope of TA2 in this system. Conclusion: Fazıl Noyan’s Anatomy Atlas demonstrates a pedagogically selective yet terminologically robust approach, prioritizing visually representable core structures. The atlas occupies an intermediate position between clinically oriented and morphologically detailed reference atlases and represents a valuable scientific and educational heritage compatible with contemporary anatomical standards.

Keywords

• anatomy atlases
• education
• history of medicine
• musculoskeletal system
• terminology

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