Maybe because we’re involved in outdoor sports, we’re more aware of basic human anatomy than some other segments of the population, but I am still stupefied to read the results of a recent study in which less than one-third (31.4%) of the participants correctly identified the location of the lungs on a diagram of the human body.

The study, published in BMC Family Practice (2009, 10:43), was intended to evaluate the anatomical knowledge of different patient groups and the general public, and compare the results to a similar study done in 1970.

In the 2009 study, less than half (46.5%) of the participants correctly identified the location of the heart, and a little more than one-third (38.4%) could identify the location of the stomach.

The percentage correct for each item of the anatomy tested (heart, lungs, stomach, intestines, bladder, thyroid, liver and kidneys) averaged 51.4% in 1970 and 52.5% in the 2009 study.