Evidence-Based Anatomy: Quantitative Methods, Evidence Synthesis, and Clinical Applications in Musculoskeletal Research

Dear Colleagues,

Over the past decades, anatomical research has undergone a remarkable transformation. Traditional descriptive investigations remain the cornerstone of anatomical science; however, advances in quantitative methodology, medical imaging, digital morphometry, evidence synthesis, and statistical analysis have substantially expanded the scope of anatomical research. As the volume of the published anatomical literature continues to increase, the challenge is no longer limited to simply generating new observations but also to critically evaluating, synthesizing, and translating existing anatomical evidence into clinically meaningful knowledge.

This evolution has given rise to what may be regarded as Evidence-Based Anatomy—an emerging framework that integrates the systematic generation, critical appraisal, quantitative synthesis, and clinical application of anatomical knowledge through transparent and reproducible scientific methods. Rather than replacing traditional anatomy, this approach strengthens it by promoting methodological rigor, reproducibility, and the effective integration of diverse sources of anatomical evidence.

Within the musculoskeletal system, evidence-based approaches are becoming increasingly relevant. Anatomical variations, morphometric investigations, cadaveric dissections, dry bone studies, radiological imaging, and functional analyses provide essential information for orthopedic surgery, sports medicine, rehabilitation, regional anesthesia, musculoskeletal imaging, and clinical decision-making. Concurrently, systematic reviews, meta-analyses, umbrella reviews, and other evidence synthesis methodologies allow these individual observations to be interpreted within a broader scientific context, providing more robust estimates of anatomical prevalence, morphology, and clinical relevance.

The continuing development of methodological standards within anatomical research is equally important. Advances in statistical methodology, quality assessment instruments (including AQUA, CATAM, AVQAT, and QUACS), publication bias assessment, reproducible analytical workflows, and reporting recommendations are gradually establishing the methodological infrastructure required for high-quality evidence synthesis in anatomy. These developments represent an important step toward a more transparent, reproducible, and quantitatively rigorous discipline.

This Special Issue aims to provide an international forum for original research and scholarly discussion that advances both the generation and the synthesis of anatomical evidence. We particularly welcome contributions combining anatomical investigation with quantitative methodology or demonstrate direct clinical relevance. By bringing together researchers working across anatomical science, evidence synthesis, statistics, imaging, and musculoskeletal medicine, this Special Issue seeks to foster interdisciplinary collaboration and contribute to the continued evolution of evidence-based anatomical research.

We welcome submissions including, but not limited to:

• Cadaveric, osteological, radiological, and functional anatomical studies;
• Morphometric investigations of the musculoskeletal system;
• Anatomical variations and their clinical implications;
• Orthopedic, sports medicine, rehabilitation, and regional anesthesia anatomy;
• Clinical and translational anatomy;
• Systematic reviews, meta-analyses, umbrella reviews, and meta-meta analyses;
• Statistical methodology applicable to anatomical research;
• Quality assessment, reproducibility, reporting standards, and methodological innovations in anatomy;
• Artificial intelligence, digital anatomy, and computational approaches supporting anatomical research and evidence synthesis.

We hope that this Special Issue will contribute not only to the dissemination of high-quality anatomical research but also to the continuing development of Evidence-Based Anatomy as a rigorous, quantitative, and clinically relevant scientific framework.

Dr. Vasileios P. Papadopoulos
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology is an international peer-reviewed open access quarterly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1800 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• evidence-based anatomy
• clinical anatomy
• functional anatomy
• surgical anatomy
• anatomical variations
• quantitative morphology