In biology a great variety of models can be distinguished: there is a gradation scale from the more realistic to the more idealistic ones. The place of a model on this scale depends on the role of the fundamental ideas, apriorisms and empirisms, which inspire the direction of thought. The relation between reality, models and explanatory theory is worked out. The interplay between model and ideas makes it understandable why in biology several kinds of explanation are possible.

An initial investigation of controversies and differences in opinion in the various schools of functional anatomy is presented by listing the methodology problems.The possibilities and limitations of functional anatomy are derived from the successive steps in the procedure in a functional anatomical investigation.Starting from the holistic approach as introduced byVan der Klaauw, the main problems of defining the term functional component and the applied methods are discussed.Two principal methods are presented, of which the limitations are considered. The various aspects where (...) new information is needed are illustrated in the example of bone mechanics. The advantages of an approach from a pattern of the interrelations are mentioned. (shrink)