'anatomical-medical' originates from a compound of two English adjectives. 'anatomical' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'anatomē', where 'ana-' meant 'up' or 'through' and 'temnein' (cut) meant 'to cut'. 'medical' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'medicus', where the root 'med-' meant 'to heal.'

'anatomical' passed into English via Latin and Medieval/Modern Latin ('anatomia'/'anatomicus') and Old French influences before becoming Middle/Modern English 'anatomical'; 'medical' passed from Latin 'medicus' into Old French and then Middle/Modern English 'medical'. The compound form 'anatomical-medical' is a modern English formation combining these elements.

Initially, 'anatomical' primarily referred to dissection or the study of bodily structure and 'medical' to healing or clinical practice; over time the compound has come to denote matters that are simultaneously anatomical and clinical/medical in nature.