Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Anatomical Terminology01:20

Anatomical Terminology

27.9K
Knowledge of anatomy is essential to understand human biology and medicine. Anatomists and health care professionals use standard terminology to describe the human body with more precision and no ambiguity. Anatomical terms have mostly Greek and Latin-derived roots. Because these languages are rarely used in conversation, the meaning of words remains the same. Each term is made up of a root in between the prefixes and suffixes. The root of a term often refers to an organ, tissue, or condition,...
27.9K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Arterial stiffness and carotid distensibility following acute formaldehyde exposure in female adults.

Toxicology and industrial health·2021
Same author

Regarding the Dead: A Model for Anatomical Gifting Outside the Traditional Medical School Setting.

Anatomical sciences education·2020
Same author

Naming the Dead: What information do Physical Therapy and Physician Assistant Anatomy Faculty Share With Students?

Anatomical sciences education·2019
Same author

Anatomy laboratory instruction and occupational exposure to formaldehyde.

Occupational and environmental medicine·2010
Same author

Robusticity and osteoarthritis at the trapeziometacarpal joint in a Bronze Age population from Tell Abraq, United Arab Emirates.

American journal of physical anthropology·2004

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 17, 2026

Use of Micro X-ray Computed Tomography with Phosphotungstic Acid Preparation to Visualize Human Fibromuscular Tissue
07:06

Use of Micro X-ray Computed Tomography with Phosphotungstic Acid Preparation to Visualize Human Fibromuscular Tissue

Published on: September 5, 2019

7.3K

Quantifying Cadaver Use in Physician Assistant Anatomy Education.

Mackenzie C Precht1, Cynthia C Bennett, Janet M Cope

  • 1Mackenzie C. Precht, MS, is a recent graduate of Elon University, and a Pediatric PA at Hickory Grove Pediatrics in Charlotte, North Carolina. Cynthia C. Bennett, MD, is a professor in the Department of Physician Assistant Studies at Elon University in Elon, North Carolina. Janet M. Cope, PhD, OTR/L, is a professor in the Department of Physical Therapy Education at Elon University in Elon, North Carolina.

The Journal of Physician Assistant Education : the Official Journal of the Physician Assistant Education Association
|December 1, 2017
PubMed
Summary

Physician assistant (PA) anatomy programs use hundreds of cadavers annually, but many educators lack knowledge of their origins. Ensuring ethical sourcing and informed consent is crucial for PA education.

More Related Videos

Vacuum-Sealed Hot Water Bath Immersion for the Preparation of Anatomical and Surgical Cadaveric Bone Models
04:36

Vacuum-Sealed Hot Water Bath Immersion for the Preparation of Anatomical and Surgical Cadaveric Bone Models

Published on: December 2, 2022

1.7K
DIPLOMA Approach for Standardized Pathology Assessment of Distal Pancreatectomy Specimens
10:38

DIPLOMA Approach for Standardized Pathology Assessment of Distal Pancreatectomy Specimens

Published on: February 1, 2020

8.0K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Feb 17, 2026

Use of Micro X-ray Computed Tomography with Phosphotungstic Acid Preparation to Visualize Human Fibromuscular Tissue
07:06

Use of Micro X-ray Computed Tomography with Phosphotungstic Acid Preparation to Visualize Human Fibromuscular Tissue

Published on: September 5, 2019

7.3K
Vacuum-Sealed Hot Water Bath Immersion for the Preparation of Anatomical and Surgical Cadaveric Bone Models
04:36

Vacuum-Sealed Hot Water Bath Immersion for the Preparation of Anatomical and Surgical Cadaveric Bone Models

Published on: December 2, 2022

1.7K
DIPLOMA Approach for Standardized Pathology Assessment of Distal Pancreatectomy Specimens
10:38

DIPLOMA Approach for Standardized Pathology Assessment of Distal Pancreatectomy Specimens

Published on: February 1, 2020

8.0K

Area of Science:

  • Medical Education
  • Anatomy
  • Ethics in Medicine

Background:

  • Physician Assistant (PA) programs increasingly rely on cadavers for anatomy education.
  • Understanding the sourcing and ethical implications of cadaver use is vital for maintaining educational integrity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To quantify the number of cadavers utilized in PA anatomy education.
  • To determine the sources from which these cadavers are obtained.

Main Methods:

  • An electronic survey was distributed to all accredited PA programs.
  • Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the survey responses.

Main Results:

  • A 49% response rate was achieved, with 79% of programs using 655 cadavers (1:5.72 student ratio).
  • Cadavers originated from medical schools (62%), in-house programs (23%), state boards (19%), and other sources (9-8%).
  • Many educators were uncertain about cadaver origins (27% uncertain, 22% unaccounted for), with only 56% confirmed as registered donors.

Conclusions:

  • A significant portion of PA educators (45%) are unaware of or uncertain about the origins of cadavers used in their programs.
  • Over 289 of 655 reported cadavers were not categorized as registered donors, highlighting potential ethical concerns.
  • Awareness of cadaver origins and ensuring informed consent are essential for ethical PA education, especially with program expansion.