For a better understanding of the structures comprising the human body and in view of the possible need for future revision of anatomical nomenclature, Latin anatomical names of skeletal canals (including canaliculi) in Terminologia Anatomica were analyzed and classified, and compared with the corresponding Japanese anatomical names.
The words following Canalis or Canales indicated : 1) the structure to which the canal belongs, 2) the structure to which the opening of the canal belongs, 3) the position of the canal, 4) the structure to which the canal leads, 5) the structure that exists near the opening of the canal, 6) the structure that transmits the canal, 7) the structure that is a component of the canal, or 8) the function of the canal.
The analysis of Latin names and comparison with Japanese names clarified some characteristics of both names and revealed some problems in them.