When it comes to the human body, it’s not merely our posteriors that most of us have trouble distinguishing from our elbows.

In a recent survey, fewer than 15% of participants could pinpoint their adrenal glands. The spleen was correctly located by 20% of participants and the gallbladder by 25%. Four in 10 were unable to pinpoint the heart on a blank template of the human body.

Of the 20 anatomical structures shown to them by researchers at the Lancaster Medical School (LMS), only the brain was correctly identified by all those who took part. Nine out of 10 were able to locate the cornea and biceps. Older people scored higher on average than the young, with those in the 40-49 age range doing best. Graduates fared no better than non-graduates (hopefully, this does not apply to those with medical degrees). Assuming our doctors can navigate their ways around our bodies better than we can, does this widespread lack of anatomical self-knowledge matter?

Emphatically yes, says Dr Adam Taylor, of the LMS, lead author of the research published this week in the journal Anatomical Sciences Education.

For one thing, knowing where our bits and pieces are helps us to monitor and understand our own health, and make better decisions about when to access healthcare services. In extreme cases, it can save our lives.

“We found that only 50% of people knew where the appendix was,” says Taylor. “If you have pain in your abdomen, it could be appendicitis, and if it is, you need to have that looked at as soon as possible because if it ruptures that could be a life-or-death event.”

Doctors may use anatomical terms during consultations, and a failure by patients to understand these can undermine both diagnosis and effective treatment. A lack of anatomical knowledge can also reduce the effectiveness of public health campaigns. A survey carried out by Prostate Cancer UK found that half of men did not know where the prostate was. Some 17% did not know they had a prostate, and only 8% knew what it did. With more than 46,000 cases of prostate cancer and almost 11,300 deaths in 2014 in the UK, it’s important for men to know the basics.

Taylor says that teaching schoolchildren a little more basic anatomical knowledge would pay significant dividends. This is especially relevant as the weather turns cold. NHS hospital managers are bracing themselves for increased patient numbers and lengthening queues. If people were better informed about where symptoms are in their bodies, they might be better able to decide whether to visit A&E or a GP.

“Improved knowledge would have a societal benefit in relieving the burden on stretched NHS services, freeing them up for those who really do need immediate care,” adds Dr Taylor.

The body: your quick key

1 Brain, 2 cornea, 3 lungs, 4 liver, 5 diaphragm, 6 heart, 7 stomach, 8 appendix, 9 bladder, 10 kidneys, 11 pancreas, 12 gallbladder, 13 spleen, 14 thyroid, 15 hamstrings, 16 biceps, 17 triceps, 18 quadriceps, 19 cruciate ligament, 20 achilles tendon, 21 adrenal glands