Anatomy Is a Science of Inherited Observation

I've often said, “Modern anatomy is a science of inherited observation, continually supplemented by new observations.” This statement reminds us that we should always question what we've been taught and investigate human morphology with fresh eyes and modern investigative tools. Many of the papers in this issue of Clinical Anatomy do just that. Long-standing anatomical dictums should be revisited and tested. Who better to do this than the modern clinical anatomist? Those of us who teach anatomy have a particular responsibility to ensure that our teaching reflects the most current and reliable evidence. In an age when misinformation is readily available and can now be generated and disseminated rapidly through artificial intelligence platforms, the burden is increasingly on us as anatomists to distinguish established anatomical knowledge from assumption, repetition, and error. Where better to pursue this than in Clinical Anatomy, a journal used by clinicians, surgeons, educators, and anatomists alike to access the latest research in our field? As the papers in this issue demonstrate, even seemingly settled anatomy deserves another look.