anatomical structure
/ˌæn.əˈtɒm.ɪ.kəl ˈstrʌk.tʃər/ · an·a·to·mi·cal struc·ture
noun
- A distinct part of an organism's body, identified by its form and function. The heart is an anatomical structure that pumps blood throughout the body.
- Any component of a biological system that can be described in terms of its shape, organization, or relationship to other parts. Researchers mapped each anatomical structure of the mouse brain to its corresponding gene expression patterns.
Did you know? The phrase "anatomical structure" became a staple of modern biology after the 19th‑century rise of comparative anatomy, and it was central to the Human Genome Project's effort to link genes to specific bodily structures.