AnatomicalStructure

AnatomicalStructure is a MedicalEntity subtype for body parts: organs, tissues, bones, muscles, and cellular structures. It has 8 properties of its own: connectedTo (neighboring structures), partOfSystem (which body system), subStructure (smaller components), relatedCondition (conditions affecting this structure), relatedTherapy (treatments targeting this structure), diagram (anatomical illustration), bodyLocation (position description), and associatedPathophysiology.

The type hierarchy is Thing → MedicalEntity → AnatomicalStructure. Google reads this for health and anatomy knowledge panels. AnatomicalStructure is primarily used on medical education sites, anatomy references, and health information platforms. It connects to MedicalCondition via relatedCondition and to MedicalTherapy via relatedTherapy.

Full example of schema.org/AnatomicalStructure json-ld markup

The markup is verified as valid with Rich Results Test from Google.

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schema.org/AnatomicalStructure

<script type="application/ld+json">
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@id": "https://roydanmedjournal.dk/anatomy/small-intestine#structure",
  "@type": "AnatomicalStructure",
  "name": "Small Intestine",
  "description": "The portion of the gastrointestinal tract between the stomach and the large intestine, responsible for most nutrient absorption. Divided into three sections: duodenum, jejunum, and ileum.",
  "url": "https://roydanmedjournal.dk/anatomy/small-intestine",
  "bodyLocation": "Abdomen, coiled within the peritoneal cavity",
  "partOfSystem": {
    "@type": "AnatomicalSystem",
    "name": "Digestive system"
  },
  "subStructure": [
    { "@type": "AnatomicalStructure", "name": "Duodenum" },
    { "@type": "AnatomicalStructure", "name": "Jejunum" },
    { "@type": "AnatomicalStructure", "name": "Ileum" }
  ],
  "connectedTo": [
    { "@type": "AnatomicalStructure", "name": "Stomach" },
    { "@type": "AnatomicalStructure", "name": "Large Intestine" }
  ],
  "relatedCondition": [
    {
      "@type": "MedicalCondition",
      "name": "Post-War Childhood Malnutrition",
      "@id": "https://roydanmedjournal.dk/conditions/childhood-malnutrition#condition"
    },
    { "@type": "MedicalCondition", "name": "Celiac Disease" },
    { "@type": "MedicalCondition", "name": "Crohn's Disease" }
  ],
  "relatedTherapy": {
    "@type": "MedicalTherapy",
    "name": "Nutritional rehabilitation and micronutrient supplementation"
  },
  "associatedPathophysiology": "Villous atrophy from chronic malnutrition reduces absorptive surface area, leading to malabsorption of macronutrients and micronutrients.",
  "diagram": {
    "@type": "ImageObject",
    "url": "https://roydanmedjournal.dk/anatomy/small-intestine/diagram.jpg",
    "name": "Small intestine anatomical diagram"
  }
}
</script>

partOfSystem and subStructure

partOfSystem links the structure to its body system (digestive, respiratory, nervous). subStructure lists smaller components: the stomach's subStructures include the fundus, body, antrum, and pylorus. Together they build a hierarchical anatomy model that Google can traverse.

connectedTo

connectedTo links to neighboring AnatomicalStructure entities. The small intestine is connectedTo the stomach and the large intestine. These connections help Google understand anatomical relationships for medical queries.

relatedCondition and relatedTherapy

relatedCondition references MedicalCondition entities that affect this body part. relatedTherapy references treatments that target this structure. These cross-links create a medical knowledge graph: an AnatomicalStructure is affected by conditions, which are treated by therapies, which target specific structures.

Minimal valid version

The smallest markup that still produces a valid AnatomicalStructure entity. Use it as the floor. Reach for the advanced example above when you want search engines and AI agents to understand more about your content.

schema.org/AnatomicalStructure (minimal)

<script type="application/ld+json">
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "AnatomicalStructure",
  "name": "Small Intestine",
  "partOfSystem": { "@type": "AnatomicalSystem", "name": "Digestive system" },
  "subStructure": [
    { "@type": "AnatomicalStructure", "name": "Duodenum" },
    { "@type": "AnatomicalStructure", "name": "Jejunum" },
    { "@type": "AnatomicalStructure", "name": "Ileum" }
  ],
  "description": "Portion of the GI tract responsible for most nutrient absorption."
}
</script>

Google rich results this unlocks

Markup matching this example makes your page eligible for the following Google Search rich results. The primary target drives the required / recommended property classification in the advanced code block above.

Health knowledge panel (indirect)
Google docs

Common AnatomicalStructure mistakes

Mistakes that pass validation but silently fail to earn rich results or mislead consumers walking the graph. Avoid these and your markup will be ahead of most sites in the wild.

01
subStructure as a string list
Wrong
```
"subStructure": ["Duodenum", "Jejunum", "Ileum"]
```
Right
```
"subStructure": [{ "@type": "AnatomicalStructure", "name": "Duodenum" }]
```
subStructure expects AnatomicalStructure objects, not plain strings. Structured objects let Google build the hierarchical anatomy model and link sub-parts to their own conditions and therapies.
02
Missing partOfSystem
Wrong
```
AnatomicalStructure with no partOfSystem
```
Right
```
"partOfSystem": { "@type": "AnatomicalSystem", "name": "Digestive system" }
```
partOfSystem connects the structure to its body system. Without it, the structure is an orphaned entity. Google uses the system classification to group related structures in anatomy knowledge panels.
03
Using AnatomicalStructure for a disease
Wrong
```
"@type": "AnatomicalStructure" for celiac disease
```
Right
```
"@type": "MedicalCondition" for diseases; AnatomicalStructure for body parts
```
AnatomicalStructure is a body part. MedicalCondition is a disease or disorder. The small intestine is an AnatomicalStructure. Celiac disease is a MedicalCondition that affects the small intestine. Use relatedCondition to connect them.

Schema properties in this example

AnatomicalStructure MedicalEntity name description url bodyLocation partOfSystem AnatomicalSystem subStructure connectedTo relatedCondition MedicalCondition relatedTherapy MedicalTherapy associatedPathophysiology diagram ImageObject

About the example data

The small intestine, the organ most affected by childhood malnutrition in Jane Xoo's clinical research. Nutrient absorption failure in the small intestine is the primary mechanism of malnutrition pathology.

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