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What do medical students learn from dissection?

Natasha A M S Flack1, Helen D Nicholson1

  • 1Department of Anatomy, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.

Anatomical Sciences Education
|December 6, 2017
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

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Medical students find cadaveric dissection a valuable tool for learning anatomy, appreciating the 3D body, and developing teamwork. The dissection experience also positively impacts personal growth and helps students cope with death.

Area of Science:

  • Medical Education
  • Anatomy
  • Human Anatomy

Background:

  • Cadaveric dissection is a traditional method for teaching anatomy to medical students.
  • Alternative, less resource-intensive methods for anatomy education are being explored.
  • Student perspectives on the efficacy and impact of dissection are crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify learning outcomes from cadaveric dissection for undergraduate medical students.
  • To explore how students cope with the dissection process and its effects.
  • To understand the personal impact of dissection on medical students.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort of 267 second-year medical students at Otago Medical School participated.
  • Three online surveys were administered: pre-dissection, post-musculoskeletal dissection, and post-anatomy course.
Keywords:
cadaver dissectiondeath and dyinggross anatomy educationmedical educationprofessional developmentstudent perceptionsteamworkundergraduate education

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  • Open-ended questions were analyzed using a general inductive approach to identify themes.

    • Main Results:

    • Students perceived dissection as an appropriate and valuable educational tool.
    • Key learning benefits included anatomical knowledge, 3D spatial understanding, teamwork, and coping with death.
    • Personal growth effects were varied but generally positive for most students.

    Conclusions:

    • Medical students at Otago Medical School view dissection as essential for anatomy learning.
    • Dissection contributes to teamwork, professional development, and emotional adjustment to mortality.
    • Student-centered evaluation supports the continued role of dissection in medical education.