Anatomy instruction in medical schools: connecting the past and the future

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.