[Anatomy education in medical and dental schools in Japan]

We studied the anatomy education and the view of anatomy professors on it in medical and dental schools in Japan. In most schools anatomy is taught in the second year. In medical schools, the systematic education separating macroscopic and microscopic anatomy is prevalent. Although the tutorial system has been introduced in 80% of medical schools, its introduction into anatomy education has remained at 30%. The tutorial system is regarded to be more effective by engaged professors than non-engaged. Some kinds of clinical anatomy education have been introduced in half of the medical schools surveyed. In dental schools, on the other hand, macroscopic and microscopic anatomy tend to be taught in combination. One third of the dental schools have introduced clinical anatomy but few schools have a tutorial system. The overwhelming majority of professors are evaluated by students and have regarded the evaluation useful for improving their teaching. They also have thought that the questionnaire and the timing of the evaluation must be considered carefully, and that the evaluation should not be directly used for purposes other than the improvement of education. We have made the proposals for further improvement in anatomy education based upon this study.