Anatomy Instruction in Medical Schools: Connecting the Past and the Future

Abstract

Anatomy curriculum has changed dramatically around the world since the 1960s. These changes include the reduction of course hours, the abandonment of cadaver dissection, the use of problem-based learning, application of other teaching modalities such as prosected specimens, models, radiographic images, computer simulations, and the introduction of humanity and death education. This article discusses the controversies in anatomy curriculum in Western countries, including the rationale for those changes, and the opinions of the objections.

Teaching Embryology Using Models Construction in Practical Classes

“…For that reason, throughout the history, this discipline has been viewed as a factual knowledge base that must be learned in its entirety (Disnmore et al, 1999). Recently, many health science schools are diminishing the curriculum time (Leung et al, 2006) and reducing the time allotted to traditional basic science disciplines . In this context, the traditional morphology education based on topographical structural anatomy taught by didactic lectures and complete dissection of the body with personal tuition has been replaced by a multiple range of special study modules, problem-based workshops, computers, plastic models and many other teaching tools (Aziz et al;Disnmore et al, 1999;Rizzolo;Biasutto et al).…”

“…In some centers, dissected cadaver-based anatomy is no longer taught (Biasutto et al). Such changes may affect the efficiency of learning, which in turn might induce problems in health science education (Regan de Bere & Mattick; Disnmore et al, 1999;Leung et al;AversiFerreira et al;Disnmore et al, 1993;Dyer & Thorndike, 2000;Ferreira, 2003;Fornaziero & Gil, 2003;McLachlan & Regan de Bere, 2004;McLachlan & Patten, 2006;Montemayor, 2006;Aversi-Ferreira et al, 2009;Mota et al, 2010).…”

Changing Times in Undergraduate Studies on Neuroanatomy

“…This reduction in teaching hours is seen in almost every basic science across the world. In places like United States, United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand, anatomy teaching hours has declined sometimes by as much as 80% 16,17,18 . In the United States, over the period from 2002 to 2009, the instruction hours for neuroanatomy had declined from 96±37 to 79±33 hours, respectively, representing an 18% decrease 19,20,21 .…”

Importance of anatomy education in physical therapy and rehabilitation in Turkey: A qualitative study

“…Contemporary articles discuss new educational techniques and state that anatomy education should be adapted to technology as well (Cornwall & Pollard, 2012;Wilkinson & Barter, 2016). When practical education is in question, the importance of cadaver dissections are underlined (Strkalj, 2016;Leung et al, 2006). This education is extremely important in both medical applications performed on the healthy human body and pathological situations.…”