Human Dissection has been the classic tool to teach and learn anatomy of the human body. Recently, voices have raised against it, or at least questioning if, with new technologies, anatomy teaching shouldn't evolve and avoid cadavers, due to the emotional impact of the cadavers, the fact that it is a time-consuming task, etc. What's your opinion about this? Do you believe human dissection is needed to teach anatomy?
Here some references:
Granger NA, Calleson D. The impact of alternating dissection on student performance in a medical anatomy course: are dissection videos an effective substitute for actual dissection? Clin Anat 2007;20(3):315-21.
McLachlan JC, Bligh J, Bradley P, Searle J. Teaching anatomy without cadavers. Med Educ. 2004 Apr;38(4):418-24.
McLachlan JC, Patten D. Anatomy teaching: ghosts of the past, present and future. Med Educ 2006;40(3):243-53.
McLachlan JC. New path for teaching anatomy: living anatomy and medical imaging vs. dissection. Anat Rec B New Anat 2004;281(1):4-5.
I belief that human cadaver dissection is a key element in gross anatomy teaching. However, novel imaging technologies (CT,MRI,etc) can be regarded as perfect complement (not substitute!). Providing additinal learning modalities (cross-sectional and 3D imaging data) improves students‘ learning performance and links anatomical knowledge and the ability to read and interprete radiologic data.
In this context I also suggest our recent publication investigating learnig benefits of cadaver-specific whole-body post-morten CT in anatomy teaching.
Hi,
I strongly agree with Mr. Paech. Cadaver dissection must be in the center of gross anatomy curriculum. Models, computer programs, radiological images etc. helps to improve the understanding of students.
- Badges
- Science topic
- Similar topics
- Biological Science
- Anatomy